I still maintain that the greatest hiphop track ever made in the history of the art is Eric B. & Rakim’s “Follow the Leader.” Though recorded and released a little over 30 years ago, it has not lost any of its magic or beauty. The track arrived from the future and transformed the whole landscape of the genre. Rakim blasts through deep space with his galactic-powered Afro-proud raps, and Eric B.’s beats are like a shimmering garden on a planet with a purple sky and orange clouds. You will not understand what hiphop innovation means until you appreciate the sonic and lyrical achievements of Eric B. & Rakim. by Charles Mudede