Don't Sweat the Technique

Don't Sweat the Technique
Studio album by Eric B. & Rakim
Released	June 23, 1992
Genre	East Coast Hip Hop, Jazz rap
Length	47:21
Label	MCA
Producer	Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim chronology
Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em (1990) Don't Sweat the Technique (1992)

Don't Sweat the Technique is the fourth studio album by American hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, released on June 23, 1992, by 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.^[1] 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 album debuted at number 22 on the Billboard 200 chart in the week of July 11, 1992.^[2] It also charted at number nine on Top R&B Albums.^[3] 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. The single "What's on Your Mind" originally appeared on the soundtrack to the 1991 film House Party 2, whilst "Know the Ledge" first appeared in the film Juice under the title "Juice (Know the Ledge)".

Content

The album features more of Rakim's socially conscious lyrics. "Casualties of War" relates to the Gulf War in which the USA and other nations invaded Iraq. It mentions the concept of post-traumatic stress disorder, and relates to Rakim's Muslim faith.^[4] The track "What's Going On" relates to the crack epidemic that plagued New York in the late 1980s and early 1990s, poverty, black on black crime, police brutality, and abortion. The tenth track, "Know the Ledge" (which originally appeared on the soundtrack to the 1992 film Juice), showcases Rakim's storytelling 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.

Singles

Four singles were released from the album. The first single "What's on Your Mind" (which initially appeared in the soundtrack to the 1991 film House Party 2) charted at #34 and #20 on the Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs, making it the weakest single of the four. The second single "Know the Ledge" (which appeared in the 1992 film Juice) was the most successful single of all the four, charting at #96 on the Billboard Hot 100. The third single "Don't Sweat the Technique" peaked at #14 and #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs. The fourth and final single "Casualties of War" charted at #23 and #11 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs, respectively.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[5]
Boston Herald	A–[6]
Robert Christgau	A–[7]
Entertainment Weekly	C+[8]
Orlando Sentinel	[9]
Q	[10]
Rolling Stone	[11]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[12]
The Source	[13]

Don't Sweat the Technique received positive reviews from contemporary music critics. In his review for Rolling Stone magazine, Havelock Nelson said that "Eric B.'s tracks are mellow and mean, while Rakim's lyrics are at once eloquent and threatening".^[11] 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".^[11] Gil Griffin of The Washington Post praised Rakim's machismo lyrics and Eric B.'s "dense jazz tracks full of acoustic bass, brass, piano, and thick drumbeats".^[14] 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".^[9] The Boston Herald 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".^[6] 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".^[15]

In a mixed review, 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".^[8] Dimitri Ehrlich of Spin was ambivalent 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.^[16] 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".^[16] Q magazine felt the duo "may be one of the more venerable rap teams, but they're clearly still capable of adapting to changing styles".^[10] Robert Christgau, writing in The Village Voice, gave the album an "A–".^[7] He said that Rakim's metaphors exploit the "interface between horror movies and the postmodern imagination", and highlighted Eric B.'s "new groove" as the "star of the show", which, "when he hits it right," is "like the mouth you love doing the spot you forgot."^[7]

In a retrospective review, Allmusic editor Jason Elias called the album "another strong effort from one of rap's most respected acts" and highlighted "the brilliant ear of Eric B. who can cut the tension and exact magic out of a going-nowhere track".^[5]

Track listing

1. "What's on Your Mind?" – 5:31
2. "Teach the Children" – 3:01
3. "Pass the Hand Grenade" – 3:14
4. "Casualties of War" – 4:02
5. "Rest Assured" – 3:36
6. "The Punisher" – 4:10
7. "Relax with Pep" – 4:00
8. "Keep the Beat" – 4:15
9. "What's Going On?" – 3:52
10. "Know the Ledge" – 3:58
11. "Don't Sweat the Technique" – 4:22
12. "Kick Along" – 3:26

Personnel

Credits are adapted from Allmusic.^[17]

• 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

In popular culture

The third single "Don't Sweat the Technique" appeared in the 2002 video game Aggressive Inline as well as the 2011 Matthew McConaughey film The Lincoln Lawyer.^[19][20][21]

References

External links

• Don't Sweat the Technique at Discogs (list of releases)