Changes to the look of John Peel Wiki will take place in the near future due to a new skin being rolled out over Oct/Nov across Wikia. Please see the Wikia Staff Blog for further details. On this site, the changes will affect the navigation from the left menu, as well as introduce a fixed page width with narrower content space. Please be patient while adjustments are made for the switch to the new system.
UPDATE: As the change is now in force for some users, I have switched the navigation to the simplified one for the new system. Please check Navigation in the Help section if you can't find things. I also initially made small adjustments to the front page layout, but have now reverted to the old look until all users are on the new system.
COUNTDOWN: Just a reminder for people still using Monaco that the final switch to the new skin is due on Nov. 3. After that, it will no longer be offered as an option. Sorry. Nothing to do with me.
Eric B. & Rakim are an American hip hop duo formed in Long Island, New York, in 1986, composed of Eric B. (born Eric Barrier) and MC Rakim (born William Michael Griffin Jr.). Eric Barrier was born and raised in the East Elmhurst section of Queens, New York. He played trumpet and drums throughout high school, and later switched to experimenting with turntables prior to graduation. The newly dubbed "Eric B." soon began DJing for radio station WBLS in New York City, including WBLS' promotional events around the city. Barrier wound up meeting Alvin Toney, a promoter based in Queens. Eric B. had been looking for rappers and Toney recommended he use Freddie Foxxx, a Long Island MC. Toney took Eric B. to Foxxx's home, but Foxxx was not there, so Toney suggested another option: William Griffin, a.k.a. Rakim. Griffin had begun writing rhymes as a teenager in Wyandanch and had taken the name "Rakim" as a result of his conversion to The Nation of Gods and Earths (a breakaway group from the black supremacist group, Nation Of Islam). (read more on wikipedia)
Peel started first playing Eric B. & Rakim records in the late 80's via import. When the duo released their album, Paid In Full, in 1987, Peel described it as one of the records of the year. He would continue play their material through the late 80's and early 90's and also nominated their track 'I Know You Got Soul' as his Peelenium 1987.
13 July 1987: Move The Crowd (LP - Paid In Full) 4th & Broadway
14 July 1987: I Ain't No Joke (LP - Paid In Full) 4th & Broadway
20 July 1987: My Melody (LP - Paid In Full) 4th & Broadway
21 July 1987: Chinese Arithmetic (LP - Paid In Full) 4th & Broadway (JP: 'If this isn't on your first fragile pencil list records of the year and you dear sir and madame are probably cream doughnut')
