Paid in Full

Recorded in 1987 at Power Play Studios in New York City as part of the duo’s debut album sessions, with Eric B. and Rakim handling the record themselves. Rakim wrote the lyrics shortly before the take, and the track was cut under deadline pressure along with other album material. The single stood out for Rakim’s relaxed, internally rhymed flow over Eric B.’s sample-driven production, and it quickly became a landmark statement of late-1980s hip-hop craft. It also drew notice for its use of Ofra Haza’s voice sample and for turning a stark, minimalist rap record into a club and critics’ favorite. The song became one of Eric B. & Rakim’s signature records and remains a reference point for elite rhyme structure and minimalist production in hip-hop. Its sound and sample choices were later echoed by other artists, and the Coldcut remix helped extend its cultural reach beyond rap audiences.