Search - Eric B & Rakim :: Don't Sweat the Technique

Last hurrah for EB and Ra- call this their fourth classic

DukeOfEarl | Phoenix, AZ United States | 08/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Don't Sweat The Technique" would be Eric B. and my all-time favorite emcee's last album together. It dropped in '92, two years after "Let The Rhythm Hit'em," and one year after the unofficial end of hiphop's Golden Age. It is not mentioned as often as their other three albums, but it is a classic mainly because they took some new approaches.

The thing that makes this album so endearing is that Rakim offers some heartfelt, sincere social commentary unlike anything he had done up to that point. I mean all you really ask from Ra is the smoothest voice and flow, some mind-blowing battle rhymes, and some Islam references. But once he starts speaking out against drugs, gun violence, and how the projects are treated by the government, it's like trying to give him three thumbs up! It's like a respected mayor who decides to speak up for his people to the state and federal governments. Powerful! The two songs to hear this are "Teach The Children" and "What's Going On," which you will have to listen to over and over again. They both have great beats in their own ways too.

"What's On Your Mind" starts off the album and is a great seductive ballad (even better than "Mahogany"). After "Teach The Children" is the uptempo, energetic "Pass The Hand Grenade"-which I think is a metaphor for the microphone. After this is the classic "Casualties of War," which Ra put his feet in the shoes of a soldier fighting against Hussein, which is still relevent today. It's a song you definitely need to hear, especially with a great beat. The album suffers a slow point, somewhat, tracks 5-8, but even these contain "The Punisher" (the most angry and straight out battle rhymes of Ra's career), the slower-paced "Relaxed With Pep" and "Keep The Beat" (another seductive track that is not necessarily needed). After these is "What's Going On" (need I say more) and the popular juice and clout tale "Know The Ledge." The title track is next and although the rhymes are pretty stale for Ra, but the jazzy chorus will keep your attention. It ends off on a strong point with "Kick Along."

Definitely add this album to your hiphop and Rakim collection. He expanded the limits of his lyrical capacity on the album "Don't Sweat The Technique." Although Public Enemy and KRS-One have spent most of their careers doing social commentary, when Rakim does it on this album you can't help but welcome it and really ponder what he's saying. Their fourth album, their fourth classic. What else can you say about the best and most influential duo that hiphop has ever witnessed?"

GREAT ALBUM

enuffodis | SF | 10/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You really have got to understand what is up with RAKIM before you can benifit from him. It's like studying math -- you've got to practice. You've got to put in the effort, you've got to become active instead of just sitting there expecting to be entertainedAnything that RAKIM rhymes on instantly has the capacity live forever -- that is, no matter how many times you listen to it, you can always catch new things (thoughts, ideas, messages). The density of his lyrical capacity is high on this record.A very unique thing about RAKIM and his music is that it might not hit you immediately. It's like fine wine -- first you need to understand what you are getting into, and what you are going to get. Then, over time, you will see that what you've got is not your average "fast-food hip-hop."RAKIM once said about this album:"I always go left. I wasn't looking for the familiar track sound. I was looking for classic [...] I did some things on there that I knew would never get played on the radio and I didn't care, but I knew that my dogs and my true listeners is gonna throw it in the walkman, in the truck, and zone out on it. That's what I like doing man and maybe that's why I'm still here 'cause people know I go the extra yard to try and get them to listen.It's my rhymes, sometimes you might not get that @#%$ the first time. Play that [...] the next time you might not get it but after a while you start pickin' up like oh okay I see what he did."If you can deal with that statement, then you need to get this album immediately and see why RAKIM is called "The God."I'm out"

Some of the Most Powerful Lyrics and Infectious Beats Ever

APH | NJ | 01/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a remarkable CD, Every song is better than average and Rakim's lyrical skills are at his peak -- Perhaps no other album in hip hop history has ever had more commanding and powerful lyrics...Pure Genious...Casualties of War, Teach The Children, What's Going On, Know The Ledge, Don't Sweat The Technique, Pass The Hand Grenade, and What's on Your Mind? are all excellent...Although Paid in Full is untouchable, D.S.T.T. is my second favoite Rakim album, and I strongly recommend it to anyone interested...Without a doubt five stars, you won't regret buying this. "My neighborhood don't look so good, Find a way out I would if I could -- But the government is doing a project, so I live in the projects" -- What's Going On?"