"Finding fame when James Brown sued them for their illegal use of a fragment of his music, hip-hop duo Eric B. and Rakim's single ""Eric B. is President"" has made them the premier DJ/MC team.The duo got their start in the ‘80s at the New York City radio station WBLS where Rakim was a DJ. Eric B. was born Eric Barrier in Elmhurst, Queens, while William Griffin, Jr. took the Islam name Rakim Allah at age 16. Rakim originally started playing with instruments like the guitar and the trumpet before turning to the turntables, and created a revolutionary sound that hip-hop artists over the decades have used.After their debut single ""Eric B. is President,"" the duo signed with indie label Zakia and produced more singles that made the Harlem streets signing for more. After the hit ""My Melody"" was released in 1986, the group saw instant street-success and signed with the larger label 4th & Broadway. A year later the duo released their first full length album, Paid in Full, which reached the number eight spot on Billboard's R&B Charts. Their next three albums continued to reach the Top 40 charts before the two separated after their 1992 jazzy album Don't Sweat the Technique. The duo, never close friends, had each wanted to start a solo career and thought that once their MCA contract ended (with which they had signed after their debut album), it would be an easy possibility. However, loads of legal battles spurred up after their last album, putting both boys' solo careers on hold until the court stuff was swept up. The first solo creation came with Rakim's ""Heat It Up,"" from the 1993 soundtrack Gunmen. Later, Eric B. issued a self-titled album in '95, followed by Rakin's own comeback albums."