Eric B. & Rakim — Don't Sweat the Technique

Fourth and final LP for Eric B. & Rakim, a duo that made hip-hop history and boasts one of the best discographies ever in the genre. Four classics, indisputable. This album has a simply inappropriate cover, it starts with a very rare pop-rnb filler that has never been seen in Rakim's career so far and is considered the worst album released by the duo. Rakim's worst album would still be 90% better than the material released by all other artists in the same period, and second of all, personally, this is even superior to his previous album, "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em".

The album is opened by "What's on Your Mind", tune for girls, but whose production is great: heavy funky boom bap, quick and pounding drum machine, piano looped in the background, mood smooth funky, rnb chorus, Rakim fast and smooth delivery. In the following tracks, Rakim adjusts his lyricism and brings political, socio-conscious and even braggadocio themes to the table, talking about the Gulf War, religion, abortion and topics closer to the ghetto, such as poverty, police brutality, black on black crime, delinquency and the crack epidemic in New York.

The production, credited to Eric B & Rakim and realized by the emerging producer Rashad Smith (never accredited, Large Professor works on some beats of this LP), is light funky jazzy, the rhythms are solid formed by a tight and thumping skinny drum machine to support Rakim's fast and smooth hardcore rapping, which also maintains an incredible flow in this document. The album suffers from a not excellent middle part, but solid enough, and ends with a sublime final section, with some of the best rhythms made by the duo and some of the best tracks on the record: "Know the Ledge" boasts a deep funky boom bap, heavy and fast, lively and energetic rhythm, crackling and festive chorus, Rakim delivers powerful, smoothness and fast and achieves an almost classic bomb cut. Behind the keyboards Large Professor is the ghost producer of this piece. The title track has an amazing sax sample looped in background, funky beat, honest drum pounding, and a silky delivery of the God MC. Closes "Kick Along" which is another funky solid cut.

Not a huge success for MCA, but a great way to close a career. How could you expect, Eric B will fall a couple of years later with his pop rap solo debut, while Rakim will continue to release classic records.

Highlights: "Casualties of War", "Know the Ledge", "Don't Sweat the Technique".

Rating: 8.5/10.