REPLAY #8: Eric B & Rakim ‘Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em’ vs LL Cool J ‘Mama Said Knock You Out’ (1990)

Welcome to Hip Hop World Cup REPLAY – your chance to revisit classic matches between golden-age rap albums from the Hip Hop World Cup vault!

This episode is a heavyweight bout between two landmark albums from 1990 – Eric B & Rakim's Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em and LL Cool J's Mama Said Knock You Out.

One reaffirmed Rakim's reputation as hip-hop's greatest lyricist. The other marked LL's spectacular comeback, reminding everyone exactly why he was a superstar (although we're still not allowed to call it a comeback).

These albums showcased two of the finest MCs of their generation and helped redefine what it meant to be an elite rapper. One raised the bar for lyrical complexity, the other proved that swagger, charisma and commercial success didn't have to come at the expense of skills.

And let's not forget Eric B's pivotal role in all this. His ability to make a cup of tea that met Rakim's EXACTING standards during the recording sessions was second to none. Only joking – Rakim drank coffee.

So now, after all these years, we finally decide once and for all which of these two albums takes the belt and which is left on the canvas with blood dribbling from its mouth. You're welcome.

Sit back, relax and enjoy this classic clash!

WEBSITE:

⁠⁠https://hiphopworldcup.podview.com⁠⁠

EMAIL:

[email protected]

JOIN OUR PATREON!

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/HipHopWorldCup⁠⁠⁠⁠

ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE:

Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple, Spotify or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Follow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general:

Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @hiphopworldcup

Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978⁠