Discover the story of the song > Paid in Full – Eric B. and Rakim

The song Paid in Full, written and performed by the American hip-hop duo Eric B. and Rakim, was released in 1987. It was the first single from the album of the same name, which was a commercial and critical success, and helped popularize the genre of new school rap. Paid in Full is considered one of the best hip-hop albums of all time, and the eponymous track is one of the duo's most famous.

The track begins with a sample of The Whole Darn Family's Seven Minutes of Funk, before launching into a driving beat accompanied by Rakim's raspy vocals and flowing lyrics. The song's lyrics deal with typical hip-hop themes such as money, power and respect, and reference many famous rap and R and B figures such as James Brown and Marvin Gaye.

Paid in Full was a commercial and critical success, and was hailed as one of the best hip-hop albums of all time. The eponymous track became one of the duo's most famous, and has been covered and remixed by numerous artists.