Eric B. Is President

Rakim, Eric B. & Rakim

About Eric B. Is President

"Eric B. Is President" is the debut single released by hip-hop duo Eric B. & Rakim. The bassline is an interpolation of Fonda Rae's "Over Like a Fat Rat". Marley Marl is often credited with handling production duties for the song, but Eric B. has disputed this in recent interviews. Said Eric B.: "I took Fonda Rea's “Over Like A Fat Rat” and said 'This is the bass line I'm going to use for this record.' Rakim spit the beer all over the wall and thought it was the funniest shit in the world. I told Rakim, just like you laughing now you going to be laughing all the way to the bank and be a millionaire one day because of this record." As far as the production controversy, Eric B. told Allhiphop.com, "I took the records to Marley Marl's house in Queensbridge and paid Marley Marl to be the engineer. Marley got paid. That's why he's not a producer, that's why he is not getting publishing. I brought the music. I just couldn't work the equipment because that's not what I did..." 


6:15
103 
#2

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I came in the door, I said it before
I never let the mic magnetize me no more
But it's biting me, fighting me, inviting me to rhyme
I can't hold it back, I'm looking for the line
Taking off my coat, clearing my throat
The rhyme will be kicking until I hit my last note
My mind remains refined, all kind of ideas
Self-esteem makes it seem like a thought took years to build
But still say a rhyme after the next one
Prepared, never scared, I'll just bless one
And you know that I'm the soloist
So Eric B make 'em clap to this

I don't bug out or chill or be acting ill
No tricks in '86, it's time to build
Eric be easy on the cut, no mistakes allowed
Cause to me, MC means move the crowd
I made it easy to dance to this
But can you detect what's coming next from the flex of the wrist
Say indeed and I'll proceed cause my man made a mix
If he bleed he won't need no band-aid to fix
His fingertips sew a rhyme until there's no rhymes left
I hurry up because the cut will make 'em bleed to death
But he's kicking it cause it ain't no half stepping
The party is live, the rhyme can't be kept in-
Side, it needs erupting just like a volcano
It ain't the everyday style or the same old rhyme
Cause I'm better than the rest of them
Eric B is on the cut and my name is Rakim

Go get a girl and get soft and warm
Don't get excited, you've been invited to a quiet storm
But now it's out of hand cause you told me you hate me
And then you ask what have I done lately
First you said all you want is love and affection
Let me be your angel and I'll be your protection
Take you out, buy you all kinds of things
I must have got you too hot and burned off your wings
You caught an attitude, you need food to eat up
I'm scheming like I'm dreaming on a couch with my feet up
You scream I'm lazy, you must be crazy
Thought I was a donut, you tried to glaze me

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Eric B. & Rakim

Eric B. & Rakim were a hip-hop duo composed of DJ Eric Barrier (born November 8, 1965) and MC Rakim (born William Michael Griffin Jr. on January 28, 1968). more »

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Written by: ERIC BARRIER, WILLIAM GRIFFIN

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Introduction
"Eric B. Is President" is a song by American hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, from their debut album "Paid in Full."
Release Information
It was released as a single in 1986 and became one of the group's most popular tracks.
Name Origin
The title "Eric B. Is President" refers to Eric B.'s skills on the turntables, suggesting that he was the "President" of the DJ scene.
Notable Influence
This song is often credited with establishing the template for what would later be considered "golden age" hip hop.
Rakim's Flow
Rakim is praised for creating a new flow for MC’s that was smoother and more focused on complex lyricism, showcased in "Eric B. Is President".
Sample Use
"Eric B. Is President" famously contains a sample from Fonda Rae's "Over Like a Fat Rat" which became a mainstay in hip hop production.
Infamous Lyrics Reference
The lyrics "I came in the door, I said it before" have been sampled and referenced numerous times in other hip hop tracks, highlighting the song's lasting influence.
The Artists
Eric B. & Rakim are highly regarded, with Rakim often called one of the greatest MC's of all time, and their work on "Eric B. Is President" has been a significant part of their legacy.
Song Ranking
In 2012, Rolling Stone magazine placed "Eric B. Is President" at number 48 in their 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time.
Notable Accolade
The song "Eric B. Is President" was added to the National Recording Registry in 2021, highlighting its cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance in the musical landscape of the United States.
Music Video
The music video for "Eric B. Is President" features a young DJ scratching on the turntables which demonstrated the hip hop culture at the time.
Extended Version
An extended version of the song "Eric B. is President" was included in their 1987 album "Paid in Full". This extended version later appeared on several Eric B. & Rakim compilation records.

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