Rakim & Eric B Show Off What it Means to Live and Breathe Hip-Hop

While some may not understand the difference between hip-hop culture and rap music, Rakim, one of the all-time greatest emcees, is an innovator in both of the symbiotic realms. He was one of the pioneers that introduced multisyllabic rhyme schemes, way beyond the commercial genesis of The Sugarhill Gang's single "Rappers Delight." Last year, he delivered an amazing live-band performance at Durham's Art of Cool festival with ZooCrü. Now he returns to Raleigh with renowned deejay and producer Eric B. Few hip-hop albums have been as influential as their debut, 1987's Paid in Full, a blueprint for how a body of work should represent hip-hop. There, Rakim cemented himself as the definitive example of what an emcee should be: someone who moves the crowd, a mike-checker, a master of ceremonies, and a voice for cheering on the art form. When this dynamic duo takes the stage, witness what it looks like to live hip-hop.