“I Ain’t No Joke” is a song by rap duo Eric B. & Rakim, released as the second single from their debut studio album Paid in Full. It peaked at number thirty-eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. Described as one of the album’s “monumental singles”,[1] Michael Di Bella wrote in the All Music Guide to Rock that “Rakim grabs the listener by the throat and illustrates his mastery of the rhyming craft”. A music video was made for it, featuring dancing from Flavor Flav of the group Public Enemy.[2] The song was selected by Jay-Z for the NBA 2K13 soundtrack. It was also featured in the video game Saints Row.
Eric B and Rakim met in 1985, after Rakim responded to Eric B’s search for “New York’s top MC”.[3] In 1986 they released their debut single, “Eric B. Is President“, on an independent label Zakia Records.[4]Def Jam Recordings co-founder Russell Simmons found out about the duo and they were signed to Island Records. In early 1987 the duo started working on Paid in Full.[3]
DaVincci got the instrumental… and this happened next