Eric B. & Rakim - I Ain't No Joke REACTION

[@creamone]

Rakim is responsible for the evolution of rapping lyrics, flow, and cadence. He changed the game in 1986.

[@caseymays46]

He and KRS1

[@kaariaolujani2638]

​@@caseymays46And Chuck D

[@BODominicanYork]

Eric is the DJ, Rakim is the only person rhyming

[@brklynbomber]

Rakim = The God MC

[@Alkheezy]

Basically Nas father (God Son) lol

[@grg20111]

Facts 💯

[@andrewwalker1700]

I give that personally to KRS-One, but gotchu

[@donfreezer]

RAKIM - father of multi syllable rhyming

[@SonDialer]

86-89 Rakim had the streets on lock. This is ironically the sound of Crack Era east coast streets. Every brother getting money had a fly whip, and any Rakim song was definitely bumping out the speakers. Sht was lit!! 🔥🔥

[@maine1898]

Right though!! Just you saying that gave me nostalgic chills.

[@stobe187]

It ain't even hyperbolic to say that there are two eras of hiphop: before and after Rakim. This dude was so nice with it we're still talking about it close to 40 years later. One of the original multisyllable rhymers, massively important in the evolution of the artform.

[@wesramos7634]

7emcees reference is a lyric from one of Rakim’s other tracks called My Melody, it goes like this “I take seven emcees put ’em in a line And add seven more brothers who think they can rhyme Well, it’ll take seven more before I go for mine Now that’s twenty-one emcees ate up at the same time”

[@oldschoolhip-hopheadriorea9178]

HARDEST SHIT EVA!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@JasonLaMonica]

That was an Unholy verse by The God Emcee. We need more of that in our lives today 💯

[@shood7043]

Check out "My Melody" to understand the 7 Mc reference

[@ericedwards5034]

Eric B. & Rakim were sampling themselves in their own record...and then dropping lyrics from one track on another. Top shelf...

[@pfunk75024]

bruh - there should be 2 rules for all reactors reacting to Rakim for the first time. Rule #1. Understand that Rakim is the rapper (god emcee), Eric B made SOME of the beats (many don't know Ra made alot of his beats). Rule #2 - 1st reaction MUST be 'My Melody', then 'I ain't no joke', simply to get the DOPENESS of the 'or you'll be 1 of those 7 mc's' line in 'No Joke', especially right at the break, so powerful....DOPE line.

[@rodneybrown2496]

Rakim is doing all the rapping

[@57kwest]

I took my son to see Kane, Rakim and MC Lyte about 2 months ago. It was fantastic

[@stiemestyles6091]

I did the same in Chicago and my son was impressed. It's all love passing on the culture.

[@coolwata105]

Lyte is still FINE AS HELL 😍

[@acknickulus]

Your son will be telling his grandchildren about that time his pops took him to see Kane, Rakim and MC Lyte.

[@57kwest]

@acknickulus absolutely...it was at NJPAC which is a small theater. We had box seats and were really close to the stage. He's 12 now but I've put him on to hip hop since about 10. It's funny, he was telling me that his top Spotify wrap up was Nas, Big, Rakim, JID and Yelawolf

[@andrewwalker1700]

​@@57kwestthats a dope list

[@blaqpharaoh7732]

I was a emcee back in the 80’s born and raised in South Florida but when I was first introduced to Eric B and Rakim I thought Eric B was the rapper because his name appeared first but I figured out who the rapper was real quick after listening and at that time I had never in my life heard anyone spit lyrics like that as well as influence blackness at the same time HE LITERALLY BLEW MY MIND to the point that I patterned my rap style after his I also became more conscience and started studying the 5%er way of life he’s hands down the greatest emcee to grace a mic 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@KtotheG]

Rakim to rap is like Miles Davis to jazz. He's the rapper who raised the bar in lyricism and basically birthed the "new school" of hip hop. Before him, most rappers were still doing sing-songy ABC cadences and basic end rhyming. He brought the multis and internals into the game and he also brought in a lot of 5% terminology, the "gods and the earths." He totally changed the game. G. Rap came out a year later in '87 and then Kane a year after that in '88. Those three right there were the Holy Trinity of superior lyricism toward the late '80s.

[@jamesmcfadden9809]

Straight Facts

[@DPSLee]

BDP/KRS dropped in that same time frame the Trinity was more KRS/Rakim/Big Daddy Kane. G Rap was there but did not have the same glow like them three at the time.

[@realitydrakesrealitydpoet3727]

​@@DPSLeeKOOL G RAP was not directly in the lyrical holy trinity, but he was definitely part of the lyrical Mt. Rushmore with them in the late 80s for sure. Those four emcees dominated lyricism in that era, and if you were to add a fifth rapper at that time, it would be SLICK RICK.

[@toniteaCAFE]

no it was kool moe de first , thats why rakim have so much respect for him, rakim took it another level.

[@datdjdude8117]

Facts

[@Tmann760]

Watch the video

[@DJ_Katone]

The video is HIP HOP you will see what I mean once you watch it!💯✊🏾

[@make1thappen267]

The video is so ahead of it’s time. They birthed the concept of having the whole hood in the video💯

[@blancbanga7105]

I was def going to say watch the video

[@myround0]

This is why Rakim is labeled as the god of rap.

[@robertreardon4295]

Imagine being a kid in the 80's and hearing this for the first time and at that time your ears had never heard anything like it. You gotta understand, the radio only played rap on Friday and Saturday night for a couple of hours a night.

[@blaqpharaoh7732]

I’m born and raised in South Florida and was a emcee back in these days and when I first heard this IT BLEW MY MIND I even became more conscientious and studied 5%’s I patterned my rap style after the R he’s the most incredible emcee I’ve ever heard til this day in my entire life 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@johnmegalodon]

You just found "one of them ones" bro 🔥🔥

[@MentuSun]

this is where they got the hook for the TRES LECHES song you just reviewed "remember me the one you got your idea from"

[@onmysquare3536]

2 things about Rakim, he never curses in any of his rhymes and he never smiles in any of his videos and interviews

[@bigb2494]

He rarely curses, but he has on a few songs. Rakim said his Mom and Pops were his biggest fans and he always played his material to them first. They didn't curse, so he showed them respect by following suit.

[@rogerhayes1805]

Heavy James Brown sample...

[@olasimpson6638]

I’m from Philly.. Less than 2 hours from NY! As a kid growing up with boom box’s and breaking Rakim was the best period. Eric B for president would BUMP on rotation in cars and everyone would stop. It was so bad that if a car was Not rocking Eric B you thought he was a sucker lol. Nothing hit the same in a block party

[@olasimpson6638]

React to all these videos too

[@squarednupe4904]

Eric B and Rakim " Follow the Leader"

[@klasyk1532]

Just for context, Rakim is the Mc and Eric B was his DJ

[@DexTVReacts]

Man thats crazy lol im trippin

[@benjamincastleman8580]

Rakim Ain't No Joke 💯🐐💯

[@NJbakintheday]

React to their joint "My Melody" and you'll find out about those seven MCs... one of the coldest bars in hip hop. Eric B is the DJ. Rakim is the rapper... A.K.A. The God MC. You should also peep Follow The Leader.

[@ericedwards5034]

The picture he drew on Follow the Leader talking about taking us into outer space...Still gets me hyped today!

[@odellsumter805]

Rakim and Big Daddy Kane were throwing subliminals at each other for years

[@BODominicanYork]

Now we talking‼️I’m 49yrs old and this was one of my earliest hip hop memories as an adolescent.✌🏽🔥🔥

[@misterhyde1971]

The trumpet sounds were sampled from “Pass the Peas” by the J.B.s (1972).

[@aceking875]

This came out in 1987. Seven emcees refer to a line from another one of his songs; "I take 7 emcees put 'em in a line, I take 7 more brothers who think they can rhyme, it will take 7 more before I go for mines, now that's 21 emcees ate up at the same time" - - - Rakim Allah

[@marcuswalker22]

That line is from ‘My Melody’ It’s another banger

[@gclausen3080]

Rakim is the rap equivalent of the first controlled use of fire by man

[@Marvin-ut4xs]

D"mn 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@andrewmartin9735]

Rakim the God MC is from Wyandanch on Long Island

[@grg20111]

Rakim is rapping and Eric B is the DJ. I used to bump this in my car when it first came out. Had the block rocking lol

[@WHG369]

Rakim, KRS, Kane, Slick Rick and G Rap are the pillars of the next generation. Eric is the DJ

[@radamezprince3505]

Just made this comment, thankfully u added the King Slick Rick

[@MaccaveliPL]

Don't forget Big Daddy Kane.

[@franknitty43]

I feel like EPMD usually gets overlooked in this convo

[@franknitty43]

And Ice T

[@radamezprince3505]

@ majorly tbh

[@WardenSpectreCommander]

Love seeing the youngsters listen to what we were listening to in High School. Eric B is one of the coldest DJs out and Rakim is the GOAT MC

[@damonjones1291]

"Know the Ledge" Eric B & Rakim 🔥🔥🔥

[@lbagz202]

My favorite Eric B and Rakim song. The God Emcee went ape sh** on that one.

[@thecurtain]

That opening 2 bars comes into my head everyday. It’s that good 45 yrs later!

[@Philly2Gunz]

Rakim is the God Mc the father to ALL the so called GOATs!!!

[@DexTVReacts]

Thats what I been hearing. He was before Kool G?

[@57kwest]

​@@DexTVReactsThere's rap before and after The R. He is the Genesis of internal Rhymes. Before him, you had cat in a hat at bat.

[@Philly2Gunz]

@ G Rap 86 Rakim 87. Rakim started making his first album in 86 it was released in 87. My Melody has the absolute coldest bar in hip hop history “7 Mc’s”!!!

[@walteraskew6581]

his style give birth to Nas 💯💯💯💯

[@jphugo15]

Lets gooooo one of the GOAT rhymers and rap songs of all time!! Great reaction

[@DexTVReacts]

He was goin crazy! Beat was hard too!

[@OnlyOriginalSongs]

Greatest Mc Ever

[@xomack9344]

60’s and 70’s break beats give a whole different vibe 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

[@ArtisanWindchimes]

Just Rakim rapping

[@DexTVReacts]

I'm trippin lol

[@kairo431]

I'm happy to see people discovering this song for the first time. This is the definitive way to start off an album. This song in particular deserves an infinite amount of wheel ups. That first verse alone is worthy of 10x reloads!

[@djprideone1]

we rocked wit this in south central l.a in the 80s and 90s in the neighborhood !

[@klasyk1532]

My lil bro with another BANGER!! This one of his commercial songs, you wanna hear the joints the REVOLUTIONIZED the art of rap, check out "Make em clap to this" and the joint with the best bar in hip hop (imo) about 7 mc's and thats "My Melody"

[@DexTVReacts]

Lets go! Ima tap in! His flow impeccable bro!

[@IENetworkTV]

this had the fuckin basketball courts going crazy lol the barbeq and the house parties going nuts

[@shannonk.moorer9158]

Rakim was the first rapper to transition from hard synchronized rhymes to a conversational style. Check out My Melody & I Know You Got Soul.

[@mr.tomfoolery9159]

Eric b is not a rapper

[@shannonk.moorer9158]

@@mr.tomfoolery9159 Typed the wrong name. Thanks for the correction.

[@aceking875]

Rakim is the God EMCEE (MC). When it comes to rapping, Rakim is the difference between everyone who rapped before him, and everyone who rapped after him. I was a teen at the time, I seen how lyrically, everything changed. After him came Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap came, its like after Rakim we understood how to put our rhymes together 10 times better.

[@moebetta72]

LOVE IT! As an Old Head DJ, I ALWAYS play CLASSICS so the younger Generation can get a FULL understanding of The Culture.

[@seansimms8503]

They don't understand bro...yall Djs used to run the parties😂before we got into like high school, 1987, we was beat boxing, beating on walls or table and a cat would start spitting, in high school we had cash and went to keyboards, the Djs were the cats that had the rappers bragging on them, remember Ice T, Reckless?

[@ceedubb247]

Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap and KRS-1 changed how emcees rapped for the better with wordplay, metaphors, similes and punchlines

[@majr6852]

Don't forget L.L., people always forget L... Listen to the original "Rock the Bells"

[@Vcor9090]

%100!!

[@KoranCarlos]

PLEASE! 😂 Look up Eric B and Rakim (Eric B for President Live at the Apollo!!) Life Changing History

[@radamezprince3505]

A lot of Emcees follow after Rakim, Kane, Kool G Rap, Slick Rick & Kool Moe Dee … most influential 80’s-early90’s. @DexTV

[@williamwalsh1533]

Kool Moe Dee was before Rakim. He's even rapping in the hip-hop classic film Beat Street (1984).

[@radamezprince3505]

@@williamwalsh1533 definitely, the Treacherous Three were pioneers, also helping contributing rhyme patterns, etc

[@albertking3338]

Listen to move the crowd, eric b for president!

[@truther4life]

Both Paid In Full & Follow The Leader albums!! No Skipping tracks..Just let it play!!!

[@KtotheG]

He's talking to EPMD on this song. It's like a subliminal diss track. That's why they responded with "smack me and I'll smack ya back" on You're a Customer. They're both out of Long Island and apparently people were saying that Parrish sounded like Rakim.

[@torres176]

This came out way before EPMD. I was in the BX when this dropped. Rakim had the streets on fire. Rakim is from Brooklyn, and EPMD, which came out a few years later, is from Long Island.

[@KtotheG]

@@torres176 I think Parrish said they had a lil buzz in Long Island before they dropped and that's when they were getting the comparisons.. Parrish and Erick spoke on it.

[@YouKnowNothingComeAndSee]

​@@KtotheG Accurate. Rakim = Wyandanch LI / Eric & P = Brentwood LI. Ghetto, nobody was smiling.

[@richieeyez8137]

Back in the day the DJ/Producer was named first. Rakim is the rapper that Nas patterned his style after.

[@DexTVReacts]

Damn so only Rakim rappin on this track? lol

[@KtotheG]

Yeah, the DJ was the king of the set back in the day. It was his party, his stage and the MC was his employee.

[@SonDialer]

People say that. He was clearly influenced by G Rap and Ra. But I definitely think Nas’s rhyme style contains a lot mor of Grap than Rakim, and even more so Slick Rick at times. I think what Nas continued in terms of Rakim is his mystical gangsta poet prophetic Aura. They both have a Jazzy Gangsta but spiritual charisma. But far as flow, NY State of Mind, Halftime, One Love, those are definitely G Rap inspired flows. And it makes sense, G Rap was more hands on with Nas early on.

[@KtotheG]

@@SonDialer I also heard some Lord Finesse in early Nas... he was never a Rakim clone, but it was clear that he was inspired by him, as well as others.

[@IENetworkTV]

everybody favorite rapper is rakim young and old everyone has him somewhere in their top 5 the God Emcee from wyandanch long island I grew up in Hempstead I hung out in wyadanch all the time aka crimedanch he had bars that were years ahead o his time notice he is saying flow way back then he was the first rapper using flow and they still use flow to this day this is why he said in the song follow the leader " I can take a word that's rarely heard flip it now it's a daily word

[@malakbenyasharahla569]

In the early days of Hip Hop... The DJ was the main attraction at parties and clubs. The MC(Master of Ceremonies ) controlled the crowd and called attention to his DJ. The MC would rap over his beats and be like "check out my DJ!!" So, thats why you see earlier groups like "DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince" or "Grand Master Flash and the Furious 5". That's why Emcees was always giving big ups to their DJ's.

[@radamezprince3505]

Shout-out to Eric B., he was not only the Dj but also would later become the President of Death Row East … Fun Fact for you @DexTV

[@theenemyspublic681]

Rakim is the mc, Eric B is the dj. He, G Rap and Big Daddy Kane came through the same time. Marley Marl produced them all.

[@Iready7312]

Rakim the MC, Eric B the DJ

[@myround0]

“As the rhyme flows on;” can’t wait to see your reaction.

[@monteellis4436]

Rakim was the rapper, Eric B was the DJ and also the muscle. The Paid in Full Posse that rolled with them was gangsters from Fort Greene in Brooklyn. The Original 50 Cent (the man the rapper 50 Cent got his name from), Supreme Magnetic, his brother Rapp, etc...

[@YouKnowNothingComeAndSee]

Truth

[@CJ-vh2hf]

Rakim ~ God MC 🎤 any rapper that followed owes him royalties

[@Better_off_dead-j1i]

That's a good one! (Even Will Smith gave Rakim's style a test on one of his joints that goes something like --- "...you saw my blinker bitch!") There are too many Rakim "copy cats" to name so I'll leave it at that! ✌️☠️💀

[@Carps1520]

The DJ is the foundation of hip hop so their name would always be first in the name. Eric B. & Rakim, Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, etc...

[@darrenwilson83]

He the father of Pac Big Nas Jay and everyone great lyricist from the 90's looked up to him this is a fact!!!💯

[@xomack9344]

Rakim one of the only rappers that spit 🔥 🔥 🔥 and don’t kurrse

[@CraigW.]

Eric B is the DJ. Back in the days the DJ s name was the 1st name before the rapper cause historically DJs was the ones to start Hip Hop so it was a standard rappers to put the their DJ s name 1st. That rap is ALL Rakim!

[@seansimms8503]

One of my favorite songs before this was Ice Ts Reckless, the entire song is about his Dj Glove.

[@marshalljankins4526]

That beat is from James Brown..The Godfather of Soul...

[@lbagz202]

@@marshalljankins4526 the most sampled artist in Hip Hop of all time

[@marshalljankins4526]

@lbagz202 : Definately. He loved it too. He said use all you want..

[@charrsvader1454]

Public enemy black steel in the hour chaos. It’s a crime he hasn’t reacted to PE yet

[@Marvin-ut4xs]

U ain't lieing

[@ampthefreethinker5335]

Rakim is the one in the back !!! God emcee

[@williamwalsh1533]

You may want to check THE WATCHER Part 2 by Jay-Z featuring Dr. Dre & Rakim. Also HOODLUM by Mobb Deep with Rakim 🔥🔥🔥. Also I'LL BUSS EM, YOU PUNISH EM by Canibus featuring Rakim.

[@Troi-Anthoni23]

Rakim- follow the leader 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@marxmahoney]

Rakim changed how rappers rap. He’s why multiple syllable rap exists he birthed the style mastered in the 90s and still used today. We had never heard anything like that

[@alfredocano2923]

Dope asf 😎

[@bradleydevaughn8889]

Rakim - 👑👑👑👑

[@BKShark07]

The Rakim Bag is crazy…. and he doesn’t curse. Know the Ledge (Knowledge) My Melody Microphone Fiend Don’t Sweat the Technique Follow the Leader Casualties of War

[@MentuSun]

1 rapper 1 DJ, nas made a whole song dedicated to this man he and kool g rap were his main influences

[@2KILLAVILLE]

Slick Rick, Krs & Chuck D also

[@alvinyoungblood408]

Rakim is my favorite MC period! Eric B is the DJ. He does all his talking with his hands. You have to check out the songs, "The Microphone Fiend," "Move the Crowd," "You Know I Got Soul," and "Mahogany"

[@n.c.40g41]

He has a 7 mcs Bar in the song "Cheak out my melody" which is also classic and you can listen to "Move to Crowd" honestly this whole album is a CLASSIC 😂😂😂

[@MrJohnblz]

Rakim the first GOD MC.

[@Jaybarka]

My Melody by Eric B & Rakim Pound For Pound The Greatest Written Body Of Work Since The Bible😅😂 Fun Fact He Wrote It At 17 🤯 Great Reaction Young 👑

[@marshalljankins4526]

Rakim raps. Eric B is the DJ. Classic. It has never left my playlist since the 80's. The video is dope too.

[@kennethhinds7958]

He pioneered the idea that you could take your subject for a ride and hit the punchlines, 2-3-4-5 even 6 bars later. Before he arrived, folks were essentially doing A-B-A-B rhyme schemes. He would do A-C-B-B-C-A. or A-A-C-A-B-B-A-C then Throw a D on there 4 times in a row then close it out with a C-B. He was always surprising you. Also, especially by the time he got with Paul. C on the 3rd album, he had become an insanely great producer. Had Paul.C lived, I think Rakim would have developed even more and would have undoubtedly been the undeniable GOAT.

[@oldschoolhip-hopheadriorea9178]

THE GOD!!!!! #RakimAllah 🙏🏿🙏🏿🐐🐐

[@MentuSun]

rakim G rap Big daddy kane and krs-one are on the NY mount Rushmore one of the pioneers

[@jasenw215]

Fun fact: Eric B and Rakim used to run with some of the Brooklyn gangsters that you've been asking about like Domencio and the real 50 Cent.

[@walteraskew6581]

eric b is the DJ and rakim is master 💯

[@coachdoe]

Eric B is the DJ and Rakim is the MC. Rakim is considered to be the GOAT in many hip hop circles. His flow was way before it's time.

[@DJ_Katone]

CLASSIC 1987 HIP HOP! Rakim is the EMCEE & Eric B is the DJ. Rakim CHANGED Hip Hop by being the one who changed how emcees would spit BEFORE Rakim emcees all were “yelling” like Run DMC! DEFINITELY a game changer. That’s why he is called the GOD EMCEE!!! Check out Eric B & Rakim - Microphone Fiend GUARANTEED you will love it!!!!💯✌🏾🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@ladyghana5603]

THIS HIP HOP WAS ALL 🗽NEW YORK back in Our DAYS ‼️ We created this GENERATION X ✅👑🚦🗽

[@BruceJohnson-om5kl]

Rakim is the MC Eric B is the DJ. When Hip Hop began it was about the DJ until late eighties the MC took the front from the DJ Because of dude’s like RAKIM.

[@martindiaz8672]

Rakim the rapper Eric B the dj scratching

[@borisdodgingbullets]

Eric B. on the wheels. Rakim = the God MC

[@15CRWN]

You have to understand and put in perspective for this time period rappers weren’t rapping like this, Rakim is the sole purpose why rappers stopped rapping like Kurtis Blow or Sugar Hill Gang ( flow wise and lyrics ). He single handedly change how rappers rap

[@allengolladay4222]

Eric B is the DJ/Producer he doesn’t rhyme. Rakim is the GOAT!!!

[@smittybenzo4693]

Eric B & Rakim - Follow The Leader

[@GregoryBanks]

Rakim the LEGEND!!!!!! Classic!!!!

[@allenwalters1172]

Eric B is the DJ on the Wheels and Rakim is the MC

[@VinzClorthokeymasterofGozer]

When this came out I think I passed out trying to keep up rapping with Rakim. Maybe I passed out more than once. No one flowed like that. It was like a flood that just kept rising.

[@gmarcello6912]

Great Reaction!!!!!!! This came out in "87" and you can watch any video he doesn't curse...( rakim is the rapper & eric b is his DJ)

[@chrisfocus5833]

Rakim -follow the leader

[@Armil1]

Hakim is rapping on all 3 verses and the context behind "you'll be one of them 7 emcees" can be found in another Classic called Check Out My Melody. He breaks down "7 Emcees" clean!

[@OcieClelland]

Eric B is the DJ and Rakim is the one who’s rhyming.