Eric B. & Rakim Name Their 5 Most Important Hip-Hop Songs Of All-Time (Video)

Eric B. & Rakim were on-hand for a celebration at Mikey Likes It Ice Cream shop in New York City’s Lower East Side last week. Currently celebrating 30 years since Follow The Leader, the Queens DJ/producer and the Long Island MC/producer collaborated in listing five of the most important Rap songs of all-time.

“I think for us, the Sugarhill Gang [‘Rapper’s Delight’] is the record that really took us into where we are now,” Eric says of the Englewood, New Jersey trio’s 1979 smash hit. Rakim follows putting Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five’s “The Message” and T La Rock’s “It’s Yours” on the list. That makes two Sugar Hill Records inclusions in total. Then, Ra’ shouts out JAY-Z’s 1998 hit “Hard Knock Life.” As Eric closes out the five, he salutes Nas, JAY-Z, LL Cool J, and Run-D.M.C., without naming songs. As Eric continues, Rakim interrupts to shout out M.O.P.’s 2000 hit, “Ante Up.” Eric agrees as Ra details, “One of the illest records, ever.”

Nas Names 5 Of His Favorite Rap Songs In Celebration Of Hip-Hop’s 45th Birthday (Video)

This summer, the reunited and touring duo released The Complete Collection 1987-1992. In addition to the legendary crew’s four albums, two discs of rare, official remixes, it also comes with a 36-page deluxe booklet, the albums’ original liner notes, a ridged slipcase and more. The Universal Music Group release is part of the Urban Legends series.

As a solo artist, Rakim worked with Jay on “The Watcher 2.” M.O.P.’s Lil Fame also produced and featured on a Rakim song called “I’m Back.” That song appeared on an Ecko Unlimited mixtape.

On his own list of five of his favorite Hip-Hop songs earlier this month, Nas listed “Eric B. Is President.”