Follow the Leader

The track was recorded in New York City for Eric B. & Rakim’s second album and issued as its lead single. The original release credited Eric B. and Rakim as the key creative personnel, with recording associated with Power Play Studios. It introduced the title track from one of the duo’s defining late-1980s releases and reinforced Rakim’s reputation as a technically advanced rapper. The single became a recognized showcase for the pair’s harder, more expansive sound than their debut period. The song remained one of Eric B. & Rakim’s signature recordings and a touchstone for later generations of hip-hop lyricists. It continued to be cited in retrospectives of classic rap and has been reinterpreted in later cover and remake projects.