Eric "Eric B." Barrier and William Griffin, Jr. (aka Rakim) made up the celebrated rap crew of Eric B. & Rakim.  While Eric B. served as a passable DJ, Rakim broke barriers with his no-nonsense delivery and lyrics coded in the language of the Islamic street sect, The Five Percent Nation.  Their 1987 debut album Paid in Full is heralded by hip-hop enthusiasts as a classic.  Before the two dissolved the group, they recorded four albums.  Rakim released the long awaited The Seventh Seal on his own Ra Records to a lackluster reception in 2009.