Don't Sweat The Technique
Encyclopedia
Don't Sweat the Technique is the fourth studio album
by American hip hop
duo Eric B. & Rakim
, released June 23, 1992, on MCA Records
. Their final album as a duo, it was recorded and produced by Eric B. & Rakim at The Hit Factory
in New York City. The album builds on the sounds of 1990's Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em
, with Rakim sounding more aggressive on Eric B.'s jazzy, soulful production.
The title track was a minor radio hit. "Casualties of War" was also released as a single and contains some of Rakim's most political lyrics. "Know the Ledge" first appeared in the film Juice under the title "Juice (Know the Ledge)". The album charted at number 22 on the US Billboard 200
and was well-received by music critic
s upon its release.
chart in the week of July 11, 1992. It also charted at number nine on Billboard Top R&B Albums
.
s upon its release. The Source
gave it a four out of five "mic" rating and praised Rakim's lyricism. Havelock Nelson
of Rolling Stone
gave it four out of five stars and stated "Eric B.'s tracks are mellow and mean, while Rakim's lyrics are at once eloquent and threatening". Nelson wrote that the duo "expound further on the funky-fresh aesthetic" with Don't Sweat the Technique, adding that it "activates the mind – it's erotic, playful, violent, dramatic, funky, jazzy and definitely dope". Gil Griffin of The Washington Post
complimented Rakim's machismo lyrics and Eric B.'s "dense jazz
tracks full of acoustic bass, brass, piano, and thick drumbeats". Orlando Sentinel
writer Parry Gettelman praised Rakim's "assured rhymes" and noted Eric B.'s beats as "economically laced with insistent vocal and instrumental riffs". Boston Herald
writer J.R. gave the album an A- rating and complimented Eric B.'s "diverse mix of beats and melodies [...] from hard funk
to more subdued blues
and jazz", concluding that "The potent combination of articulate raps and catchy beats makes Don't Sweat a real burner". Musician
stated similarly, "What keeps this duo dynamic is that they understand the importance of sticking with the basics—hard beats, sly samples and imaginative cadences—and foregoing fashion".
However, Entertainment Weekly
s James Bernard viewed that the album lacks "the roller coaster rush of 'Teach' or 'Casualties of War,'", writing that the duo "have gone back to the well too many times, retaining the technique without maintaining the energy". Dimitri Ehrlich of Spin
expressed a mixed response towards "Erik B.'s meat-and-potatoes approach to assembling tracks", but viewed the album as "a more cohesive and inspired effort" than Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em
. Ehrlich praised Rakim's rhymes as "lively, varied, and imaginative" and stated "With his gruffly evocative street reporting and fine sense of detail, he creates scenarios of urban apocalypse that seem to echo Erik B.'s survivalist grooves". Q
gave the album four out of five stars and commented that the duo "may be one of the more venerable rap teams, but they're clearly still capable of adapting to changing styles". In his consumer guide for The Village Voice
, critic Robert Christgau
gave the album an A- rating, indicating "the kind of garden-variety good record that is the great luxury of musical micromarketing and overproduction". Christgau commented that "Rakim calls Eric B.'s new groove—a jazzy minimalist funk trailing uncentered horn hook
s—relaxing with pep", adding that "When he hits it right, it's like the mouth you love doing the spot you forgot".
In a retrospective review of the album, Allmusic editor Jason Elias called it "another strong effort from one of rap's most respected acts" and noted "the brilliant ear of Eric B. who can cut the tension and exact magic out of a going-nowhere track".
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
duo Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim were a hip-hop duo composed of DJ Eric Barrier and MC Rakim .Hailing from Long Island, New York, the pair are generally considered by hip hop enthusiasts to be one of the most influential and innovative groups in the genre...
, released June 23, 1992, on MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. Their final album as a duo, it was recorded and produced by Eric B. & Rakim at The Hit Factory
The Hit Factory
The Hit Factory was a recording studio in New York City famous for its clientele. It was officially closed for business April 1, 2005 whereas other Hit Factory studio locations remained open, such as in Miami, Florida.-History:...
in New York City. The album builds on the sounds of 1990's Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em
Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em
Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em is the third album by groundbreaking hip-hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, released in 1990. The group's sound develops further, with Rakim adopting a deeper, more aggressive tone of voice, and more mature and serious subject matter...
, with Rakim sounding more aggressive on Eric B.'s jazzy, soulful production.
The title track was a minor radio hit. "Casualties of War" was also released as a single and contains some of Rakim's most political lyrics. "Know the Ledge" first appeared in the film Juice under the title "Juice (Know the Ledge)". The album charted at number 22 on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and was well-received by music critic
Music criticism
See also Music journalism for reporting on classical and popular music in the media.The Oxford Companion to Music defines music criticism as 'the intellectual activity of formulating judgments on the value and degree of excellence of individual works of music, or whole groups or genres'. In this...
s upon its release.
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 22 on the US Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart in the week of July 11, 1992. It also charted at number nine on Billboard Top R&B Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
.
Critical response
Don't Sweat the Technique received positive reviews from music criticMusic criticism
See also Music journalism for reporting on classical and popular music in the media.The Oxford Companion to Music defines music criticism as 'the intellectual activity of formulating judgments on the value and degree of excellence of individual works of music, or whole groups or genres'. In this...
s upon its release. The Source
The Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
gave it a four out of five "mic" rating and praised Rakim's lyricism. Havelock Nelson
Havelock Nelson
Havelock Nelson was a composer and conductor. He joined the BBC in Belfast in 1947, having been educated at Trinity College Dublin and the Royal Irish Academy of Music. He conducted the BBC Northern Ireland Orchestra, also the Studio Symphony Orchestra and the Ulster Singers...
of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
gave it four out of five stars and stated "Eric B.'s tracks are mellow and mean, while Rakim's lyrics are at once eloquent and threatening". Nelson wrote that the duo "expound further on the funky-fresh aesthetic" with Don't Sweat the Technique, adding that it "activates the mind – it's erotic, playful, violent, dramatic, funky, jazzy and definitely dope". Gil Griffin of The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
complimented Rakim's machismo lyrics and Eric B.'s "dense jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
tracks full of acoustic bass, brass, piano, and thick drumbeats". Orlando Sentinel
Orlando Sentinel
The Orlando Sentinel is the primary newspaper of the Orlando, Florida region. It was founded in 1876. The Sentinel is owned by Tribune Company and is overseen by the Chicago Tribune. As of 2005, the Sentinel’s president and publisher was Kathleen Waltz; she announced her resignation in February 2008...
writer Parry Gettelman praised Rakim's "assured rhymes" and noted Eric B.'s beats as "economically laced with insistent vocal and instrumental riffs". Boston Herald
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
writer J.R. gave the album an A- rating and complimented Eric B.'s "diverse mix of beats and melodies [...] from hard funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
to more subdued blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and jazz", concluding that "The potent combination of articulate raps and catchy beats makes Don't Sweat a real burner". Musician
Musician (magazine)
Musician was a monthly magazine that covered news and information about American popular music. Initially called "Music America", it was founded in 1976 by Sam Holdsworth and Gordon Baird. The two friends borrowed $20,000 from relatives and started the publication in a barn in Colorado...
stated similarly, "What keeps this duo dynamic is that they understand the importance of sticking with the basics—hard beats, sly samples and imaginative cadences—and foregoing fashion".
However, Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
s James Bernard viewed that the album lacks "the roller coaster rush of 'Teach' or 'Casualties of War,'", writing that the duo "have gone back to the well too many times, retaining the technique without maintaining the energy". Dimitri Ehrlich of Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
expressed a mixed response towards "Erik B.'s meat-and-potatoes approach to assembling tracks", but viewed the album as "a more cohesive and inspired effort" than Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em
Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em
Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em is the third album by groundbreaking hip-hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, released in 1990. The group's sound develops further, with Rakim adopting a deeper, more aggressive tone of voice, and more mature and serious subject matter...
. Ehrlich praised Rakim's rhymes as "lively, varied, and imaginative" and stated "With his gruffly evocative street reporting and fine sense of detail, he creates scenarios of urban apocalypse that seem to echo Erik B.'s survivalist grooves". Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
gave the album four out of five stars and commented that the duo "may be one of the more venerable rap teams, but they're clearly still capable of adapting to changing styles". In his consumer guide for The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
, critic Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
gave the album an A- rating, indicating "the kind of garden-variety good record that is the great luxury of musical micromarketing and overproduction". Christgau commented that "Rakim calls Eric B.'s new groove—a jazzy minimalist funk trailing uncentered horn hook
Hook (music)
A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often...
s—relaxing with pep", adding that "When he hits it right, it's like the mouth you love doing the spot you forgot".
In a retrospective review of the album, Allmusic editor Jason Elias called it "another strong effort from one of rap's most respected acts" and noted "the brilliant ear of Eric B. who can cut the tension and exact magic out of a going-nowhere track".
Track listing
- "What's on Your Mind?" – 5:31
- "Teach the Children" – 3:01
- "Pass the Hand Grenade" – 3:14
- "Casualties of War" – 4:02
- "Rest Assured" – 3:36
- "The Punisher" – 4:10
- "Relax with Pep" – 4:00
- "Keep the Beat" – 4:15
- "What's Going On?" – 3:52
- "Know the LedgeKnow the Ledge"Know the Ledge", originally released on the soundtrack for the film Juice under the title "Juice ", is a 1992 single released from hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim. It was the theme song for the film and a single released from the duo's 1992 album Don't Sweat the Technique. The song became one of Eric B...
" – 3:58 - "Don't Sweat the Technique" – 4:22
- "Kick Along" – 3:26
Sample credits
- "What's on Your Mind?"
- "Curious" by Midnight StarMidnight StarMidnight Star is an R&B and electro-funk group that had a string of R&B hits in the 1980s.-Band history:The group was formed in 1976 at Kentucky State University by trumpeter Reggie Calloway, vocalist Belinda Lipscomb, guitarist/vocalist Melvin Gentry, bassist Kenneth Gant, multi-instrumentalist...
.
- "Curious" by Midnight Star
- "The Punisher"
- "Gangster Boogie" by The Chicago Gangsters.
- "Casualities of War"
- "Amen Brother" by The WinstonsThe WinstonsThe Winstons were a 1960s funk and soul music group, based in Washington, D.C.. They are known for their 1969 recording of an EP featuring a song entitled "Color Him Father" on the A-side, and a song entitled "Amen, Brother" on the B-side. Half-way into "Amen, Brother", there is a drum solo The...
- "Breakout" by John Hammond
- "Amen Brother" by The Winstons
- "Rest Assured"
- "Think(About It)" by Lyn CollinsLyn CollinsLyn Collins was an African American soul singer best known for working with James Brown in the 1970s. Contrary to some reports, she is not related to Bootsy Collins, nor Catfish Collins....
- "Dump the Bump" by Olympic Runners
- "Life Could" by Rotary ConnectionRotary ConnectionRotary Connection was an American psychedelic soul band, formed in Chicago in 1966. The highly experimental band was the idea of Marshall Chess, son of Chess Records founder Leonard Chess. Marshall was the director behind a start-up label, Cadet Concept Records, and wanted to focus on music outside...
- "Think(About It)" by Lyn Collins
- "Relax With Pep"
- "Funky Drummer" by James BrownJames BrownJames Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
- "What's Up Front - That Counts" - by The CountsThe CountsThe Counts is a R&B doo-wop band that started in 1953 and is still performing today. Band members include lead singer Chester Brown, James Lee, Robert Penick, Robert Wesley, and Robert Young. The Counts are also known as The Original Counts for the fact they have not replaced any members in their...
- "Funky Drummer" by James Brown
- "Keep the Beat"
- "Blacks & Blues" by Bobbi HumphreyBobbi HumphreyBarbara Ann Humphrey is an American jazz flautist and singer who plays fusion, jazz-funk and soul-jazz styles. Bobbi Humphrey has performed for audiences around the world....
- "Blacks & Blues" by Bobbi Humphrey
- "What's Going On"
- "(I Know)I'm Losing You" by Rare EarthRare Earth (band)Rare Earth is an American rock band affiliated with Motown's Rare Earth record label , who prospered in 1970-1972. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members...
- "(I Know)I'm Losing You" by Rare Earth
- "Juice (Know the Ledge)"
- "Rise, Sally, Rise" by Nat AdderleyNat AdderleyNathaniel Adderley was an American jazz cornet and trumpet player who played in the hard bop and soul jazz genres. He was the brother of saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley....
- "Rise, Sally, Rise" by Nat Adderley
- "Don't Sweat The Technique"
- "Give It Up" by Kool and the Gang
- "Queen of the Nile" by Young-Holt UnlimitedYoung-Holt UnlimitedYoung-Holt Unlimited were an American soul and jazz instrumental musical ensemble from Chicago, Illinois.Drummer Isaac "Red" Holt and bassist Eldee Young, formerly members of Ramsey Lewis' jazz trio, formed a new outfit called the Young-Holt Trio with pianist Don Walker in 1966...
- "Right on for the Darkness" by Curtis MayfieldCurtis MayfieldCurtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
- "Take Me To The Mardi Gras" by Bob JamesBob James (musician)Robert McElhiney James is a jazz keyboardist, arranger and producer.-Biography:During the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in establishing the smooth jazz genre. "Angela", the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date...
Personnel
Credits for Don't Sweat the Technique adapted from Allmusic.- Louis Alfred III – assistant engineer
- Lee Anthony – engineer, mixing
- El Cimarrón – design
- Eric B. & Rakim – executive producer, producer, programming
- Dante Gioia – assistant engineer
- Carl Glanville – assistant engineer
- Andy Grassi – assistant engineer
- Mark Harder – engineer, mixing
- Large Professor – production coordination
- Herb Powers – mastering
- Rakim – performer, producer, programming, vocals
- Richard Simmons – production coordination
- Vartan – art direction
- Cesar Vera – photography
- Craig Winzelberg – assistant engineer
- Dann Wojnar – assistant engineer
- Kerwin Young – production coordination
Charts
| Charts (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
#22 |
| US Billboard Top R&B Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
#9 |
External links
- Don't Sweat the Technique at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...