Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em

Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em
Studio album by
Eric B & Rakim
ReleasedJune 19, 1990 (1990-06-19)[1]
Recorded1989–1990
StudioPower Play Studios, Long Island City, New York
Libra Digital Sound, Long Island City, New York
Skip Saylor Recording, Los Angeles, California
A&M Studios, Hollywood, California
Genre
Length54:16
LabelMCA
Producer
Eric B & Rakim chronology
Follow The Leader
(1988) 		Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em
(1990) 		Don't Sweat the Technique
(1992)
Singles from Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em
  1. "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em"
    Released: 1990
  2. "In the Ghetto"
    Released: 1990
  3. "Mahogany"
    Released: 1990
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Christgau's Consumer GuideA−[4]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[5]
Los Angeles Times[6]
Rolling Stone[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[8]
Select[9]
The Source5/5[10]
Tom Hull – on the WebB+ ((3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention))[11]

Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em is the third studio album by hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, released on June 19, 1990.[1] The group's sound develops further, with Rakim adopting a deeper, more aggressive tone of voice, and more mature and serious subject matter. Musically, the production ranges from smoother soulful tracks such as "In the Ghetto" to the hard-edged assault of the title track "Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em."

The back cover features a dedication to the memories of Rakim's father William and producer Paul C., who had worked on many of the album's tracks before his murder in July 1989.[12] Paul's protégé, Large Professor, completed his work; however, neither receive credit in the album's notes.[13][14]

  1. ^ a b "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em by Eric B. & Rakim". Genius.com. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  2. ^ "50 Greatest East Coast Hip-Hop Albums of the 1990s". The Boombox. October 20, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  3. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em - Eric B. & Rakim". Allmusic.
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert (June 1990). "Robert Christgau: CG: Eric B. and Rakim". Christgau's Consumer Guide.
  5. ^ Sandow, Greg (June 22, 1990). "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em - EW.com". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 1, 2007.
  6. ^ Gold, Jonathan (8 July 1990). "ERIC B. & RAKIM "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em" : MCA : Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five (a classic)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  7. ^ Futterman, Steve (August 23, 1990). "Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em - Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone.
  8. ^ Frere-Jones, Sasha (2004). "Eric B. & Rakim". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. pp. 281–82. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  9. ^ Harrison, Andrew (August 1990). "Played Out in Full". Select. No. 2. p. 92.
  10. ^ "Summer LP Preview: Eric B & Rakim – Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em". The Source. Vol. 3, no. 4. Summer 1990. p. 43. Archived from the original on May 24, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  11. ^ Hull, Tom (May 3, 2021). "Music Week". Tomhull.com. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  12. ^ "Fat Lace Magazine : "Paul C., he got that bass pumpin"". Fat Lace Magazine. May 28, 2008. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  13. ^ "CRUNKSTER: Traveling at the Speed of Thought". Crunkster.abstractdynamics.org. August 5, 2004. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  14. ^ "Large Professor: Revolve Around Science". Nodfactor.com. September 29, 2008. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009.