From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1988 single by Eric B. & Rakim
"
Follow the Leader
" is a song by American
hip-hop
duo
Eric B. & Rakim
. It was written by group members Eric Barrier and
Rakim Allah
and released as the first single from their
second studio album of the same name
.
Composition and lyrics
[
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]
In contrast to their debut studio album,
Paid in Full
(1987), both
Follow the Leader
and its title track saw the duo updating their sound and departing from the minimalism of their debut, both production-wise and lyrically.
[1]
"Follow the Leader" has been described as a "space-age" track, featuring a "pulsing bass line" and an "almost-ambient use of
samples
."
[1]
[2]
Samples used in the song include "Nautilus" by jazz musician
Bob James
, "Listen to Me" by funk musician
Baby Huey
, and "I Wouldn't Change a Thing" by percussionist
Coke Escovedo
.
[3]
Critical reception
[
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]
The song received acclaim from music critics, and is generally regarded as one of the duo's most influential songs. In his book
Icons of Hip Hop: An Encyclopedia of the Movement, Music, and Culture
, Mickey Hess describes the song as an "event horizon that defined the stock in trade of the rap soloist."
[3]
Melody Maker
magazine placed the song at number 11 on their list of the top singles of 1988.
[4]
Damien Morgan writes that Rakim's wordplay "showcases his lyrical prowess, as he takes the listener on a metaphorical voyage into outer space."
[1]
Craig Hansen Werner wrote of the song: "When rap seemed to be settling into the interminable ego duels between
LL Cool J
and
Kool Moe Dee
, Eric B and Rakim's 'Follow the Leader' reminded the community of rap's visionary possibilities."
[5]
Spin
magazine cited "Follow the Leader" as an example of a hip hop song where "ingenuity, obsession and daring clash head on, spewing words and grammar in every direction."
[6]
Music video
[
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]
The song's music video was directed by
Scott Kalvert
and premiered on the August 6, 1988 pilot episode of television music program
Yo! MTV Raps
.
[3]
[7]
Described as the "first rap video epic and period piece of the new televised world of hip hop", the video featured Rakim as a
mob boss
in a variety of situations?including getting a shave, sparing a fellow gangster's life and engaging in phone calls with other mob bosses. Scenes from the video are inspired by the 1987 crime drama
The Untouchables
.
[3]
Charts
[
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]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
c
Morgan, Damien (2008).
Hip Hop Had a Dream, Vol. 1: The Artful Movement
.
Milton Keynes
,
England
:
AuthorHouse
. p. 112.
ISBN
978-1438902043
.
- ^
Watrous, Peter (September 9, 1988).
"Sounds Around Town"
.
The New York Times
. Retrieved
January 21,
2013
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Hess, Mickey (2007).
Icons of Hip Hop: An Encyclopedia of the Movement, Music, and Culture
. Greenwood. pp.
142, 153
.
ISBN
978-0313339028
.
- ^
"Singles of the Year".
Melody Maker
: 55. December 24?31, 1988.
- ^
Werner, Craig Hansen (2006).
A Change Is Gonna Come: Music, Race & the Soul of America
.
University of Michigan Press
. p.
295
.
ISBN
978-0472031474
.
- ^
"Wizards of a Word"
.
Spin
. Spin Media LLC: 58. October 1988.
ISSN
0886-3032
.
- ^
"Eric B. & Rakim"
.
Vevo
. Archived from
the original
on March 9, 2013
. Retrieved
January 21,
2013
.
- ^
"
Eric B. & Rakim ? Follow the Leader"
(in Dutch).
Single Top 100
. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
- ^
"Official Singles Chart Top 100"
.
Official Charts Company
. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
- ^
"Eric B. & Rakim Chart History (Dance Club Songs)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
- ^
"Eric B. & Rakim Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
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Studio albums
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Compilations
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Singles
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Related articles
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