Eric B. & Rakim

Today's hip hop cannot compare to groups like Eric B & Rakim. I enjoy the raw sound of funky beats and sampled James Brown tunes. I also enjoy a strong voice that can carry a rhyme without irritating the hell out of me. That's why Eric B. & Rakim were good. Like Public Enemy, they loved to sample James Brown, and Eric B's voice has a raw, naturally strong quality, even without layering it 50 times until he sounds like a barking dog. Songs like "I Ain't No Joke" and "Don't Sweat the Technique," while devoid of any message besides "I'm so cool," are comprised of good grooves to get down to, and are unmatched by anything you can find today.