Follow the Leader (Eric B. & Rakim album)

Infobox Album
Name = Follow the Leader
Type = studio
Artist = Eric B. & Rakim


Released = July 25 1988
Recorded =
Genre = East Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop
Length = 48:27
Label = Uni, MCA
UNID-3
Producer = Eric B. & Rakim
Reviews = *Allmusic rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:34620r1ac48p link]
*Pitchfork Media (8.5/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/17495 link]
*Robert Christgau (A-) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=428&name=Eric+B.+%26+Rakim link]
*"Rolling Stone" rating|3|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/130493/review/5943524 link]
Last album = "Paid in Full"
(1987)
This album = "Follow the Leader"
(1988)
Next album = "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em"
(1990)

"Follow the Leader" is the 1988 follow-up to Eric B. & Rakim's debut album "Paid in Full". Like that LP, "Follow the Leader" spawned no major hits at the time of its release, but is now generally recognized as one of the most groundbreaking and influential hip hop albums of all time. In 1998, the album was selected as one of "The Source" magazine's "100 Best Rap Albums", and in 2005, it was ranked twelfth on comedian Chris Rock's list of the "Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums". [ [http://rateyourmusic.com/list/tha_flu/chris_rocks_top_25_hip_hop_albums Chris Rock's Top 25 Hip Hop Albums] . Rate Your Music. Accessed August 9 2008.] The song, "Lyrics of Fury", was ranked number five in About.com's "Top 100 Rap Songs". [Adaso, Henry. [http://rap.about.com/od/top10songs/ss/Top100RapSongs_10.htm Top 100 Rap Songs] . About.com. Accessed August 9 2008.]

In the track, "Microphone Fiend", Rakim raps a portrait about his growth and addiction to hip hop. In 2000, Rage Against the Machine covered the song for their cover album "Renegades". The Fun Lovin' Criminals also did a cover of this track in their 2001 album "Loco".

Track listing

Charts

Reissue

*Remastered Expanded Edition (Geffen/Interscope/Universal 988 042) (2005, 1 CD)

References