Follow The Leader  by Eric B. & Rakim

Follow The Leader by Eric B. & Rakim is one of the most influential albums in the history of hip-hop, redefining the boundaries of lyricism and production. It was released on July 25, 1988, by Uni Records, following the massive success of their debut, Paid In Full.

The recording took place at Power Play Studios in New York. In contrast to the minimalism of the first album, the production here is darker and more complex. The musical style relies on jazz and funk samples (from artists like James Brown and The Nat Adderley Quintet), but with a more "threatening" and dense atmosphere. Rakim introduced a revolutionary rap style, using internal rhymes and jazz rhythms, breaking away from the simplistic pattern of the time.

The album achieved great commercial success, reaching No. 22 on the Billboard 200 and going gold. Its significance is immeasurable: it is considered the zero point for "complex lyricism," influencing generations of rappers from Nas to Eminem, and remains the gold standard for the hip-hop of the Golden Era.