Monday, January 14, 2008

‘Eric B. Is President (Original 12" Mix)’ by Eric B. featuring Rakim (1986)

I was a rap freak long before I was into dance music. One of my biggest pet peeves has always been that the original version of ‘Eric. B Is President’ can only be found on the original 12” releases (Zakia, and then 4th and B-way). The ‘Paid In Full’ LP featured a cheesy remix. Even on the super special re-mastered double CD release the original song is not included. What the fuck! This song is hands down one of the best rap songs of all time and I can’t believe it’s been omitted so many times. The average Joe probably thinks that mega-mix version is the original, having no idea that this raw cut is out there. I have two copies of the original 1986 4th and B-way release. One has been beat to shit, and the other remained sealed. I opened that copy to record for this post. Nasty.

18 comments:

Beezer B said...

That was real decent of you to open your sealed copy. My copy is like, shit with shit on it. If I recorded it to the computer it would sound like some lost pre-war jazz session.

Zartek said...

Hey Beezer,

Yeah, it was nice to have this sealed gem. You can hear that Marly mixed it pretty in your face. The vocals are harsh and sibilant, but that's the sound.

Beezer B said...

The echo/delay is crazy. I love some of the over the top effects on Hiphop tracks in 86/87. Before they knew how to use them properly. Like the echo on "You Gots to chill" WAY over the top, or the reverb on PSK. Hiphop production lost a little when they got engineers who fixed things.
I guess Patrick Adams and Elai Tubo were like "Sure Marley, do whatever the fuck you want, its your record" cos its not like they didn't know.

Anonymous said...

it's a hall of fame, it's awesome!!!!

Yup............cheers man!

Anonymous said...

Dont blog for free! create a blog at www.wyplanet.com and get paid to blog or post your music or art.
we need 30 more beta testers to test the site when it launches.sign up today

free music downloads

Mr.Brown said...

A million blessings Zartek, I've often wondered when I would hear the original again (what's it been 21 years?) outside of old cassette recordings of AM radio in my collection

mattymatt said...

this is beyond awesome. Eric B and Rakim always liked to make it real hard to get the good versions of songs. I wanted my record to say "musta got you too hot and burnt off your wings..."
or what about the check the technique 12" didn't it have some really busted jazzy remix, which was fine, except I wanted the album version with instrumental.

Hatch said...

This looks awesome, I didn't know there was an "original" version, many thanks.

Brik Mason said...

Good looking out on the original version. sweet.

Hoverock said...

Classic material....nuff said

Unknown said...

Hi There, lovin' your blog. Would you like to add a link to mine? It's mostly tracks from my vinyl collection of 70's, 80's and early 90's classic dance stuff plus some DJ mixes I've done over the years.

http://hactrax.blogspot.com

Let me know what you think.

Luv Laurie Laptop X

Tim said...

If you want the original version on CD, then look for the 1989 Various Artist CD called "Rapmasters, Vol. 4: Best of Hip Hop" on Priority Records. Here's a link - http://www.discogs.com/release/187251

It has the original 12" version of Eric B. is President on it. You're right about the Paid In Full version - it's cheesy.

Unknown said...

Thank you!!! I have been looking for this version for a LONG, LONG time. I have it on a MasterMix tape somewhere, recorded from Kiss FM or WBLS from way way way back in the day, but bless you for putting the original version on the net!!

Joe Hoyt said...

yesssss have it on vinyl, one of my fav's .. the instrumental is crazy good and can be sped up and slowed down and still sound great

Anonymous said...

Yessss!!! Thanks man!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Guys ELAI TUBO here. Happen to stumble on this site. Thanks for the love. Yes Patrick Adams is a genius and was my engineering mentor along with Tony Arfi the owner of Power Play studios. We did work with Marley alot @ Power Play but Marley did not mix or work on the paid in full Lp,Patrick and I did and I got to do the last three songs on the CD because patrick was burned out and behind schedule and the lp had to be turned in the next day.we Finished the recording and I mixed the last three songs all night..HIP HOP MAJIC ( I GOTTA RIGHT A BOOK)

LG said...

I agree with you completely. Can't believe this is not readily available. This is far better than the album cut.

Anonymous said...

100% agree. Also, there's a version of "This Is Something for the Radio" by Biz Markie where he's talking over the track like the video that I just could not find. I think Google is responsible somehow. I found it (and this website) right away searching Yandex. Google is trash now.