ERIC B. & RAKIM | “Know The Ledge” | WATCH NOW | Throwback Exclusive Article
Today’s Throwback video comes from ERIC B. & RAKIM – “KNOW THE LEDGE”
“KNOW THE LEDGE” originally appeared on the soundtrack of the film JUICE starring Tupac Shakur & Omar Epps. For the Soundtrack the song was named as “JUICE (KNOW THE LEDGE)” as the song solidified itself as the film’s theme song.
The song was also released on ERIC B & RAKIM‘s 1992 album Don’t Sweat the Technique. 
The songs distinctive sample comes from the 1968 hit “Rise, Sally, Rise” by Nat Adderley. The song also contains samples from Sly Johnson “I Feel an Urge”, Pleasure “Celebrate the Good Things” & Billy Cobham “The Pleasant Pheasant” .
Rakim’s storytelling ability shines bright on “KNOW THE LEDGE” as he raps from a first person narrative of a person forced to face the difficulties of his violent and reckless lifestyle. The production of Eric B masterfully sets the feel of the song as it musically illustrates the emotions of Rakim’s lyrics. One can say the scratches heard in the song (created by Eric B) identifies with “Q”, the character played by Omar Epps. In the film Q was known as the DJ of the crew and actively competed in DJ competitions. Rakim’s first person narrative can be more so identified as Tupac’s character Bishop however in the last verse Rakim transitions to Q’s character as the verse identifies more with Q. In the last four bars of the song Rakim says:
“Coming out of the building, they set me up. Sprayed with automatics, they wet me up. In a puddle of blood, I lay close to the edge I guess I didn’t know the ledge”
At the end of the film Bishop attempts to set Q up with the shooting of their friend “Steel”.
JULY 4TH, 2018 |