Eric B. & Rakim Reunite For Historic Hip Hop 50 Performance

Eric B. and Rakim reunited in New Jersey this week for a historic performance to celebrate 50 years of hip-hop.

On Tuesday (June 13), the acclaimed hip-hop duo became the first rap act to perform at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey during the North to Shore Music Festival. became. Eric B says a performance at Stone Pony has been a long time coming for the legendary DJ.

“Performing with Stone Pony is definitely a dream come true,” Eric B said in a press release. “In my career I have been truly fortunate to have played in nearly every premier arena and venue around the world. To be in a hop group…is unprecedented, especially as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.”

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy thanked Eric B. and Rakim for their performance on Twitter. “Tonight, we were honored to introduce his two pioneers of hip-hop, @EricBandRakim, for a historic performance at @thestonepony @inAsburyParkNJ!” he wrote. “I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate his 50 years of hip-hop as part of the @NorthtoShore festival.”

Tonight, I am honored to introduce two pioneers of hip-hop. @EricBandRakim — for a historic performance at @thestonepony@inAsbury Park NJ!

I couldn’t have dreamed of a better way to celebrate 50 years of hip-hop. @northtoshore Festival. pic.twitter.com/4vVpoJyr4Q

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) June 14, 2023

Eric B. and Rakim are one of hip-hop’s most iconic groups.His 1987 debut album ushered in the golden age of hip-hop paid in full From a musical and stylistic point of view, it remains a constant reference point for many young and older artists.

Additionally, classic records like “I Ain’t No Joke,” “Eric B. For President,” and “Know The Ledge” have stood the test of time and are recognized as the foundational elements of hip-hop.

In 2016, Rakim said: hip hop DX about the group’s first single, “Eric B. Is President,” and about him laughing at the beat at first and admitting he didn’t like it.

“That means me and Eric B were in my mother’s crib, going through her records,” began the Divine MC. “And then we took out James Brown’s ‘Funky President’ as a beat (mimicking a drum pattern). And Eric B pulls out Fonda Ray’s “Over Like A Fat Rat.” So I burst into laughter, fell to the floor and literally cried with tears in my eyes.

“He was like, ‘Hey, this is going to work.'” was just laughing at him for 30-40 minutes. Every time I saw him I would make fun of the shit and look at him and just laugh the shit with him. ”

He continued: “But we went into the studio and made a beat, and I was so used to sampling at the time that I had no idea how he was going to pull it off. I sampled a little bit [a piece] of drums. I played a joint instead of using a sampled record and the results were kind of crazy. I was surprised that it worked out like that. It’s so big up to E. he got over it. word up. “

In the same interview, he also talked about the 30th anniversary. paid in full What happened at the time, what impact this album had on pop culture, and whether it was their goal to make history with the release of this album.

“Not at all,” said Rakim. “We had a vision and we knew what was important in the end. and it came back and expressed again and again, some negative ways and some good ways but at the end of the day we need to get that currency I mean, you should.”