The title track to Eric B. & Rakim’s classic debut album Paid in Full was released as the album’s fifth and final single. One of the most iconic verses in hip-hop history, Rakim revealed in Brian Coleman’s book Check the Technique that he felt “it was kinda plain” and that he planned to write another verse but Eric B. told him “Yo, that’s it. You said it all right there.”

“Paid in Full” mixed the drum break from the Soul Searchers' “Ashley’s Roachclip” with the bassline from Dennis Edwards' “Don’t Look Any Further.” The song was later remixed into “Seven Minutes of Madness” by the UK’s Coldcut crew and their version was used in the music video. Rolling Stone praised “Paid in Full” on multiple lists, including a rank at #10 on their list of the 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time and #132 on their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.