Know the Ledge

"Know the Ledge", originally released on the soundtrack for the film Juice under the title "Juice (Know the Ledge)", 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 features a distinctive sample from Nat Adderley's 1968 hit "Rise, Sally, Rise".

"Know the Ledge" is one of the most well-known showcases of Rakim's storytelling ability, as he shares a first-person narrative of a neighborhood thug and drug dealer who is forced to come to grips with his violent and reckless lifestyle. It became one of Eric B. & Rakim's final hits together as a duo, and was one of the most successful singles released from the Juice original motion picture soundtrack.

Background

The rapper played a more active role in the song than usual. He reveals this years later:

"They let me go up in a little room and see the movie. It was funny I was living in Manhattan downtown on 19th street. So when I got to the crib, me and wifey, she knew I was zoning in the cab. When I got to the crib I had my studio in a little room. I went straight up into the room and found the sample. The bass line. I took the bass line and put the regular drum sample underneath that shit. Half an hour later I had the lights off because I was in there zoning. Wifey came in I was like turn the lights off and close the door back. About an hour later I came out of there with three verses man. It was crazy."^[1]

Rakim also played live drums on the track.^[1]

Samples

• The main bass line is sampled from "Rise, Sally Rise" by Nat Adderley off his 1968 release The Scavenger^[2]

Sampling and other references

• The lyric "I guess I didn't know..." (from the last line of the last verse) is sampled in the 1997 song "Busy Child" by The Crystal Method.

• Promoe, a Swedish rapper, makes a reference to the title in the chorus of Spanish rapper Zatu's song "Al Filo", released in his album Odisea en el Lodo (2001).

In popular media

• The song is used in the movie Fish Tank, when Mia is dancing in the deserted flat.

• The song is also used during the third season of Prison Break, in the episode "Dirt Nap", when Sammy is shadow boxing in his room in preparation for an upcoming fight.

• The song is used in the American Dad! episode "Don't Look a Smith Horse in the Mouth", during the SUV Dramatization.

• The song was used in promos of the television series Archer.

• The song was featured in the video game EA Skate.

Notes