| "I Ain't No Joke" | |
|---|---|
 Single by Eric B. & Rakim from the album "Paid in Full" | |
|
B-side |
"Eric B. Is on the Cut" |
|
Released |
1987 |
|
Format |
12" |
|
Recorded |
1987 |
|
Genre(s) |
|
|
Length |
3:54 |
|
Label |
4th & B'way Records |
|
Songwriter(s) |
|
|
Producer(s) |
|
"I Ain't No Joke" is a song by American hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim. It was released as the second single from their debut studio album Paid in Full (1987). The song peaked at number thirty-eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. A music video was made for the song that features dancing by Flavor Flav of Public Enemy.
"I Ain't No Joke" features in the soundtracks of the video games NBA 2K13 and Saints Row.
Recording[]
Rakim stated that "I Ain't No Joke" took four days to complete; the majority of the week-long recording session for Paid in Full.
"I Ain't No Joke" was produced by the duo using the samples from "Pass the Peas" by The J.B.'s and "Theme from the Planets" by Dexter Wansel. "I Ain't No Joke" was recorded at Power Play Studios in Long Island City, Queens, New York City.
Music video[]
Music video for "I Ain't No Joke" was directed by Vivien Goldman, a British journalist, writer, and musician. With a low budget for the music video, Goldman asked Eric B. and Rakim where they like to hang out and chose it as the locations for the music video. The video features Rakim rapping in three different locations: in front of a graffiti mural, on a playground with his crew, and outside of a Harlem electronics shop with a crowd and Eric B. performing on the turntables. Eric B. and Rakim feature golden age era outfits that consist of tracksuits and heavy gold jewelry. The video features a cameo appearance by Flavor Flav of Public Enemy, who dances on the playground and in front of the crowd near the store.
Track listing[]
Side A[]
- "I Ain't No Joke" – 3:54
- "Extended Beat" – 3:49
Side B[]
- "Eric B. Is on the Cut" – 3:48
Charts[]
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 38 |