| Eric B. | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Birth name |
Eric Louis Barrier |
|
Born |
November 8, 1965 |
|
Origin |
Queens, New York, U.S. |
|
Genre(s) |
|
|
Occupations |
DJ, record producer, rapper |
|
Years active |
1986-present |
|
Labels |
4th & B'way, Uni, MCA, 95th Street |
|
Associated acts |
Eric B. & Rakim, Freddie Foxxx, Large Professor, Marley Marl |
Louis Eric Barrier (born November 8, 1965), better known by his stage name Eric B., is an American hip hop DJ, record producer and rapper from Queens, New York. He is best known for being one half of the duo Eric B. & Rakim with rapper Rakim.
Eric B. began his career DJing for radio station WBLS in New York City, and wound up meeting Alvin Toney, a promoter based in Queens, while Eric B. was in the process of looking for a rapper to team up with. Toney recommended Freddie Foxxx, but Foxxx missed meeting, so Toney instead recommended another rapper, Rakim. Eric B. & Rakim was formed in 1986, and they became under the tutelage of Marley Marl. The duo released their debut album Paid in Full in 1987, which has since been acclaimed as a classic hip hop album due to Rakim's rhymes and Eric B.'s production. The duo released three more albums before disassembling in 1993.
Eric B. released a self-titled solo album in 1995, but it was a critical and commercial failure and remains as his only solo album. He is now a entrepreneur, and owns 47 restaurants throughout the United States.[1]
Discography[]
Solo[]
- 1995: Eric B
With Rakim[]
- 1987: Paid in Full
- 1988: Follow the Leader
- 1990: Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em
- 1992: Don't Sweat the Technique