One thing the rap audience will never be accused of is having the world's longest attention span. Even some of the most celebrated hip-hoppers can fade in popularity after only a few albums.
Eric B. & Rakim were extremely popular in the mid- to late '80s, but by 1990, rap buyers were starting to lose interest in them. Not much different from
Paid in Full or
Follow the Leader,
Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em makes rapping technique its number one priority. At time when West Coast MCs like
Ice-T and
Ice Cube were mainly interested in getting a political message across,
Rakim's goal was showing how much technique he had.
Rakim may rap in a deadpan tone, but "Step Back," "No Omega," and other tunes leave no doubt that he had sizable chops. There are a few message raps (including "In the Ghetto"), although
Rakim spends most of his time finding tongue-twisting ways to boast and brag about his microphone skills. The overall result is a CD that is enjoyable, yet limited. ~ Alex Henderson