

One of the most intense dissections of game ever recorded, Paid in Full is spoken not from the perspective of a witness but as willing participant. The moments captured on this classic reflects a mindset later emulated by Nas, Biggie, 2Pac and the rest. Rakim reveals potential dangers unseen by the naked eye. Scarier, Ra demonstrates the multiple ways an MC can play themselves with an economy of words that, when stitched together, present an epic narrative worthy of a Martin Scorsese movie. "Move the Crowd," "I Ain't No Joke," "I Know You Got Soul," and "As My Rhyme Goes On" are all amazingly cinematic. An absolute classic.