I Ain't No Joke

It was recorded and mixed at Power Play Studios in New York City, with Eric B. and Rakim credited as the producers and Patrick Adams and Elai Tubo credited as engineers. Rakim later said the track took four days to complete during the Paid in Full sessions. Released in 1987 as the second single from Paid in Full, it became one of the early statements of Rakim’s streamlined, internal-rhyme-heavy style. It peaked at No. 38 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song is remembered as an early showcase of Rakim’s influence on rap delivery and remained a touchstone in later discussions of golden-age hip-hop. It later appeared in games and other media, extending its reach beyond its original release era.