ERIC B & RAKIM

After setting things ablaze with their debut album, Eric B. & Rakim dropped Follow The Leader, a hard-hitting sophomore effort that bolstered listeners’ awareness of the duo’s ongoing progression. Eric B.’s minimal production was perfectly tailored to Rakim’s expressive, fiery lyrics. Standouts like “Microphone Fiend” or one of Rakim’s most venerated performances, “Lyrics of Fury,” displayed a self-awareness that the duo knew they were onto something special. A great album from the golden age of hip-hop.