Paid In Full

In this early hip-hop classic, Rakim raps about the satisfaction of earning money by doing what he loves, which is making music. In contrast to many later rap songs where MCs flaunt their excessive wealth, Rakim is very humble in this song, with money allowing him the freedom to buy a plate of fish and get paid for honest work. Rakim's delivery also went against the grain, as most rappers shouted at the time, but he kept is smooth and laid back.

There are several samples used in this song, notably the bassline, which comes from the song "Don't Look Any Further" by Dennis Edwards and Siedah Garrett, and the drums, which are from "Ashley's Roachclip" by The Soul Searchers. The resulting beat was used in some form in many pop songs from 1988-1992, including "Sadeness (Part One)," "Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)" and "Close To You."

Long before he met Eric B, Rakim would rap over the breakbeat to "Don't Look Any Further," often in parks where DJs would create the loop for him. When he wrote the "Paid In Full" lyric, he synched up the bass line to the "Thinkin' of a master plan" line in consideration of the "Don't Look Any Further" lyric. "A brother lookin' for a job don't look no further," he told Hip-Hop Connection.