Download: A Salute To The Least Awful Eric B & Rakim Remixes

Posted on by Robbie Ettelson

For such an iconic group, Eric B & Rakim really had a rough trot as far as having shitty UK clun remixes tacked on to their singles. For reasons still I’m still trying to figure out, I thought it would be interesting to compile a collection of the least horrible remixes that were released over their four album career as a duo. While none of these actually surpass the originals, it’s still mildly enjoyable to hear Rakim delivering his timeless lyrics over some different versions of these classics. I know everyone loses their shit over the Coldcut remix of ‘Paid In Full,’ but I always thought it was a little overrated, despite it’s ‘historical significance.’

Download: A Salute To The Least Awful Eric B & Rakim Remixes

Track listing:

01 ‘As The Rhyme Goes On’ [Pumpin’ The Turbo – Jay In Effect]
02 ‘Put Your Hands Together’ [Parkside Mix]
03 ‘Don’t Sweat The Technique’ [Xtended]
04 ‘Let The Rhythm Hit Em’ [DJ Shadow Remix]
05 ‘Microphone Fiend’ [45 King Remix]
06 ‘No Omega’ [Extended Remix]
07 ‘Casualties Of War’ [Hip Hop Mix]
08 ‘Paid In Full’ [Seven Minutes Of Madness – The Cold Cut Remix]
09 ‘In The Ghetto’ [Drums and Rakim]
10 ‘The R’ [Work, Rest and Play Mix]

31 thoughts on “Download: A Salute To The Least Awful Eric B & Rakim Remixes”

  1. Mo City Don Freestyle is the only way to hear the Coldcut one. OG was always better, I was mad when I saw the video on telly out the blue and heard it for the first time.

  2. There’s a remix of I Know You Got Soul that Red Alert used to always play that sounded like a chopped up-Dance To The Drummer’s Beat. Been lookin’ for it for years…

  7. I have always hated the ‘Paid In Full’ remix. Always. Too long, too little Rakim, too much garbage to it.

  8. This is the best titled salute of them all! Great work as usual Robbie. The 45 King mix of Microphone Fiend still gives me goosebumps. I thought the Wild Bunch remix of Move The Crowd was alright. Here’s where I get excommunicated from the Unkut community – I own a copy of the Norman Cook remix of I Know You Got Soul with the Jackson 5 chorus.

  9. Man, i always thought that 45 King remix of “Microphone Fiend” was killer. I play it more than the original, which was already dope in it’s own right. The HORNS! That Gladys Knight sample… classic

  10. @oska

    I’m pretty sure the only version of the I Know You Got Soul Remix played on Red Alert is a cassette recording.

    It may exist as a 2″ tape in Red or 45 King’s archives if it didn’t fall apart or get lost…There’s some old school dude who bakes old 2″ tapes to restore and digitize them but his name eludes me right now.

  11. @Turd

    I wouldn’t be surprised, being that I haven’t heard it since the ’80’s…

  12. Man y’all buggin about ‘Paid In Full’ [Seven Minutes Of Madness – The Cold Cut Remix]. I was 10 or 11 when that hit and it got everyone to move/dance.

  13. The biggest problem with Eric B. And Rakim’s album releases after Paid in Full was the appallingly low quality pressing of the vinyl from MCA. Even the CDs aren’t much better. Rakim hated the “Seven Minutes of Madness” remix of “Paid in Full” until it blew up, crossed over and increased record sales, but he distance himself in the beginning. The 45 King “Microphone Fiend” remix wins hands down on this comp, but lyrically “In the Ghetto” is Rakim’s finest moment, even though, overall, lyrically, he was untouchable.

  14. In the picture, it would seem the R isn’t in a New York state of mind!

  16. The version of “What’s On Your Mind” on House Part 2 soundtrack is similar but superior than what made the Don’t Sweat The Technique album. Neither is listed as a remix though

  17. If I’m not mistaken, Juice (Know The Ledge) is actually a remix too. Rakim did the OG and the version that we all know was done by Gary G-Wiz.

  18. 45 Kings version of ‘Let the Rhythm Hit Em’ is a favourite of mine.
    Surprised not see it here.
    Personally I see the hype around Coldcuts Paid in Full more about their inventiveness in 87, at the time it was good, the original better, but it was a club tune that worked. It’s a little annoying now.
    That mix of ‘Don’t Sweat’ on here is new to me. Not a fan.
    Wild Bunch’s ‘Move The Crowd’ is another favourite.
    Side topic, has Rakim ever guested on someone else’s track, or a posse cut? Mind is blank to any.

  21. On the side topic, there’s a Hot 97FM promo with The Militia by Gang Starr that features Rakim and WC.

  22. Rakim also guests on “Addictive” by the R&B singer Truth Hurts produced by DJ Quik.

  24. Rakim did a track on canibus Second album and i Think he did a track with mobb and noyd off the hoodlum soundtrack

  25. yeah they did put out some bad remixes no doubt. however, microphone fiend, in the ghetto and casualties of war all have bangin’ remixes that still sound great today. rakim also did a feature with krs-one, nas and kanye called ‘classsic’.

  26. @ Chris Ward, that Militia Remix is on Gang Starr’s Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr album. Its basically a Gang Starr Greatest hits album that has all their b-sides and remixes. I believe there’s 32 songs on there.

  27. He also features on The Watcher Remix with Dr. Dre and Jay-Z and on I Am by G-Dep with Kool G Rap

  29. ^ @ dan e fresh – nor is he representing the ‘nobodies smiling’cut on in the ghetto.

  30. There is an alternate version of “I Know You Got Soul” on the Gunman soundtrack. Not labeled a remix but definitely different than the album version and definitely not wack.

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