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5:56 | 
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from Jay-Z - The Blueprint 2 : The Gift & The Curse (2002)
Jeah.. uhh.. it's what I do for a livin nigga Eat for a livin nigga (watcher) That's how I live for a livin nigga.. (watcher) Okay, let's do this (the watcher) [Verse One: Jay-Z] Things just ain't the same for gangsters But I'm a little too famous to shoot these pranksters All of these rap singers claimin they bangers Doin all sorts of twisted shit with they fingers Disrespectin the game, no home trainin or manners I was doin this shit when you was shittin Pampers I was movin them grams 'fore you, knew what a hand that hand was Duckin the vans, radars, the scanners 'Fore you knew what hard white to tame was I was hittin the turnpike, aight with the bammers I was nice with my hands, cuss aight with them hammers I was prickin my finger 'fore you knew what a Fam was I had it laid out 'fore you knew what a plan was Three hundred mill' later, now you understand us Y'all ain't see us comin through Vegas You ever seen so much cham' bust in one night Grand fucked up one fight I was on the Peter Pan bus You was Peter Pan up in your room, y'all fuckin with whom? Allowed me to be taught You cowards is just now learnin the shit that we talk You niggaz ain't know about a Robb Report Bout a high speed Porsche, i.e. You niggaz ain't know how to floss 'til I came through the door like "Eric B. for Pres," respect me in this BITCH! You can't disrespect us cause you got a little check cut You was suckin for so long, fuckin your little neck up Now you too big for your britches, you got a few little bitches You think you Hugh Hefner, you just ridiculous I blew breath for you midgets, I gave life to the game It's only right I got the right to be king Niggaz that got life really like what I sing Cause they know is he really like, niggaz feel my pain Know the shit I DON'T write be the illest shit that's ever been recited in the game word to the hyphen in my NAME! J, A, Y, DASH, Hoffa The past present nigga the future, proper The holy trinity of hip-hop is us We give, Dre his props BUT that's where it stops It's the Roc [Chorus: Truth Hurts] I know, you got your eyes on me I feel you watchin me But it ain't hard to see that you can't see me You try, but what you think you saw Ain't what you thought you saw You bed-da off not lookin at all (Everywhere that I go, ain't the same as befo') (People I used to know, just don't know me no mo') (But everywhere that I go, I got people I know) (Who got people they know, so I suggest you lay low) [Verse Two: Dr. Dre] I'm still on top of the game Still droppin flames, still cock and aim Still at the top had the Roc for the fame over setbacks, there's been a lot since I came You seen it all, how I got, how I gained The momentum when it dropped, how I got through the pain When I roll and shock, they watched me reclaim the streets, they made a special spot for my name Dre, haters wanna stop to my reign But the music lives in me, every drop in my veins The pride and the pain All the way back from the rise of my name See the world clear through the eyes of the mane See the world chear for the rhymes that I gave When the beat bangs it'll drive them insane The eyes that I played The best to emerge in the game is The Watcher [Chorus] [Verse Three: Rakim] I'm "Rated R," my brain contains graphics thangs It turn traumatic teens into addicts, and fiends It's like, watchin a movie through a panoramic screen Which means, I can see the whole planet in the scene Cash is the topic, the object, a fatter pocket Some take the crack and chop it, but those that haven't got it take away the added profit, it's catastrophic I take the gat and cock it, and I'll sit back and watch it These New York streets is ugly, I keep it gully The world is mine and can't nobody keep it from me Yo, my neighborhood is never sunny In the place where the number one cause of death is money You can try copin I've seen enough shit to leave your frame of mind broken I'm still alive and scopin Be another hundred years 'til my skies close in And I'ma die with my eyes open, the watcher [echoes] [Chorus] |
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7:10 |
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from American Psycho (아메리칸 사이코) by John Cale [ost] (2000)
[Eric B]: Yo Rakim what's up?
[Rakim]: Yo I'm doing the knowledge E. I'm trying to get paid in full [E]: Well check this out since Nobry Walters is our agency right? [R]: True [E]: Kara Lewis is our agent [R]: Word up [E]: Zakia/4th & Broadway is our record company [R]: Indeed [E]: Okay so who we rollin with? [R]: We rollin with Rush [E]: Of Rushtown Management. Check this out since we talking over this def beat that I put together, I wanna hear some of them def rhymes, know what I'm sayin? And together, we can get paid in full... [Rakim] Thinkin of a master plan Cuz ain't nuthin but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin up with lint So I start my mission- leave my residence Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents I need money, I used to be a stick-up kid So I think of all the devious things I did I used to roll up, this is a hold up, ain't nuthin funny Stop smiling, be still, don't nuthin move but the money But now I learned to earn cos I'm righteous I feel great! so maybe I might just Search for a 9 to 5, if I strive Then maybe I'll stay alive So I walk up the street whistlin this Feelin out of place cos, man, do I miss A pen and a paper, a stereo, a tape of Me and Eric B, and a nice big plate of Fish, which is my favorite dish But without no money it's still a wish Cos I don't like to dream about gettin paid So I dig into the books of the rhymes that I made To now test to see if I got pull Hit the studio, cos I'm paid in full |
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0:12 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
[interviewer, possibly Harry Allen]
What are you giving them back? [Rakim] Umm, I think what I'm givin them back man is umm... what they been waitin for yaknahmean? Umm... SKILLS |
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3:02 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
What, uhh, yo
Just when things seemed the same, and the whole scene is lame I come and reign with the unexplained for the brains 'til things change They strain to sling slang, I'm trained to bring game History that I arranged been regained by King James Go to practice, with tactics, when the track hits, theatrics Women that look like actress the status of Cleopatra's Stacks of mathematics took the ?ego-a-geatics? As I find out, what the facts is, for geographic No time to sip Mo's with hostess, never mind what the total gross is I rip shows, stay focused, and split cheese, with soldiers While you hit trees and coast I spit flows that be ferocious And with these explosives, I split seas for Moses Shine permanently only my mind's concernin me Fire burns in me eternally time's eternity Followers turn on me they'll be in a mental infirmary Determinely advance technology better than Germany Since the first days you know of, till the last days is over I was always the flow-er, I made waves for Noah From a compound, to the anatomy, to the breakdown of a atom Some of my rap patterns, still surround Saturn From the ancient hieroglyphics, to graffiti painted pictures I study I know the scriptures but nowaday ain't it vicious Date back I go beyond, check the holy Qu'ran To speeches at the autobahn, now we get our party on So being benificent, I bless em with dialogue They expectin the next testament, by the God I roam through battlezones with chrome for chaperone Blast beat with saxophones one of the baddest rappers known Every country city and borough, sidestreet and ghetto Isle and alley and meadow, theories thorough enough to echo When it was one mass of land, with one nash' of man And the whole mass was ran under one master plan Since the world's metamorphis, and the plan is kept in orbit Turntables we spin awkward but needles never skip off it Rhythms we expressin similar to our ancestors It'll answer your questions if you understand the message From the days of the slave choppers, to the new age of prophets As heavy as hip-hop is I'm always ready to drop it From the mind which is one of Allah's best designs And mines'll stand the test of time, when I rhyme *The 18th Letter, the prophecy professor I stay clever, long as the planet stay together Bring up praise from Mecca, make a phrase for the better In new days to remember, always and forever *repeat (x2) The R baby |
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0:19 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
It feel good, ya knahmean?
To uhh, come back and and get embraced That's that's like the best part y'know? Bein bein gone for a while y'know Walk through the streets 'Yo Ra yo when you comin out, you gotta come out' this and that Y'know, so y'know I always want to come back Had little setbacks, but umm To comeback and get embraced man, that's the best part |
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3:58 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
It's been a long time..
It's been a long time.. It's been a long time.. It's been a long time.. .. Rakim, the microphone soloist Follow procedures, the crowd couldn't wait to see this Nobody been this long awaited since Jesus Who wouldn't believe this - I heard the word on the street is I'm still one of the deepest on the mic since Adidas They said I changed the times from the rhymes that I thought of So I made some more to put the New World in Order with Mathematics, put your status above the average And help you rappers, make paragraphs with graphics Cause new days is dawnin, new ways of peformin Brainstormin, I write and watch the night turn to mornin On and on and, I got the whole world respondin Rock, I keep it hot and blow the spot without warnin The Emperor, well known for, inventin a sentence full of adventure, turnin up the temperature Rush with adrenaline, how long has it been again to be in the state of mind that Rakim is in? It's been a long time.. .. Rakim, the microphone soloist It's been a long time.. It's been a long time.. .. Rakim When I'm out proppin - either, hangin or shoppin People see me stop and ask me when the album droppin The wait is over, in-formation like a soldier like I told ya, greater stronger, now that I'm older I broke the, code of silence with overloads of talents My only challenge, is not to explode in violence I'm Asiatic, and blazin microphones a habit At least once durin the course of a day, it's automatic In ghetto apparel, mind of a Egyptian Pharoah Far from shallow, thoughts travel like an arrow Allah's monotony, so far they can't stop me You know, Ra want property like Mumar Khadafi More thoughts than Bibles, recital - taught disciples A sawed off mic, so words scatter like a rifle Thoughts that's trifle, I'm bustin these for you Aiyyo, technical difficulties is through It's been a long time.. .. Rakim, the microphone soloist It's been a long time.. .. Rakim, the microphone soloist It's been a long time.. .. Rakim, the microphone soloist It's been a long time.. It's been a long time.. When I float at night, I show em new heights, I go to write They know I strike with new prototypes to blow the mic Critics and biters, don't know where my source of light is Still leave authors and writers with arthritis Cursed kids like the Pyramids when they found the style First to ever let a rhyme flow down the Nile The rebirth of hip-hop'll be dropped now cause the crowd didn't hear the original in a while So be alarmed, what you bout to see is the bomb Like, 3-D in 'Nam, vivid like CD-Rom Info kept like "internet.com" My note-book's my bond like the Holy Qu'ran Since I came in the door, said it before But no I ain't down with Eric B. no more At night the open mic be invitin me to rhyme So yo I'm online, it's been a long time It's been a long time.. It's been a long time.. .. Rakim, the microphone soloist It's been a long time.. .. Rakim, the microphone soloist It's been a long time.. It's been a long time.. It's been a long time.. It's been a long time.. It's been a long time.. |
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4:40 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Remember that?
Turn the beat up, I get lost in the mind come across the rhyme kick my feet up, then I find myself in time I was on a train, destination Marley Marl's domain I entertained things'll never be the same DJ's are conveyed if the label OK it Teddy Ted and Special K was the first ones to play it On the radio, with the crazy flow I pay dues until it pays me dough to do a show When I'm at the helm I cover the whole realm In control and leave your soul overwhelmed Another influence of beats and instruments Lyrics make it intricate and elements are tense When you was playin Pac Man it was the jams I packed Peeps would swarm when I was perform in, black I'm all that Back before they turned hip-hop to rap It always a place to party at, remember that? I remember the spots that used to be hot Just like the roof top, a place that only few can rock on a wild ass block, yeah you find me there a lot Until you hear gunshots, that's when the fun stops Here come the cops, time to go home, get in order Cause I'll be back in Manhattan if somethings happenin at the Latin Quarter House of havoc when it came to fourteen carat And if you had it yeah kids'd try to grab it It's cool at the Red Parrot we was doin it there I was the first one to rip it at the Union Square Me and DJ Red Alert did work A crazy concert, a lot of kids got hurt I did encores at the Encore, they wanted more I kicked a freestyle til I heard the crowd roar Like the Funhouse, Bronx Center never endin black Place to be was the Brooklyn Armory, remember that? Remember that? (3X) Open the door, let the crowds in, over twenty thousand Wildin music's loud and microphone's growlin Tickets are sold out, parties is packed and on tour rippin basketball arenas back then Even afterparties, posses of players and hotties Everybody was Gotti, spreadin bucks like shotties Spendin cash, to make a good time last Thoughts that I had give me a blast of the past Memories of unforgettable times on my mind Dollar signs and melodies and incredible rhymes The people I met, and the sets that got wrecked All the mics I checked, most of all life's effects And peace to all the people I grew up around in the streets back when beats had a rougher sound I used to be wild me and my crew sit back and we smile Keep piles of pictures filed in case I go senile Cause some things are just too good to be forgot Like your neighborhood block or your favorite spot Certain records always seem to make me reminisce And when it hits, and then it clicks, remember this My life flashed before me I'm there from the sounds I hear pinpoint the year, it's perfectly clear I like the way it went down and alla that, in fact It mean a lot, cause you can't bring it back, remember that Remember that? (3X) |
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4:22 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
*singing* Ahhhh, ahhhh, ahhhh...
*whistle* "Ghetto Music" --> KRS-One (here we go...) "Yo" --> Mobb Deep "And my name is Rakim..." --> The R (repeat 5X) Yo, the saga begins, my eyes is the photography lens Properly push pens, and show quality gems The horrors be grim, but yo maybe tomorrow we win If we follow the trends and keep count of the dollars we spend I want a mahogany Benz, I want lottery ends I want property, friends, plus my hobby is skins If I decide we in sin, then my prophesy ends But the God'll begin, watchin my odyssey spin in the place where war be, based on a true story Territory was made for me to pursue glory Blast alone masses in zones have to be sewn Every capacity blown, I'm internationally known, yo *So all hail the honorable, microphone phenomenal Persona is unbombable?, trust me son I continue like a saga do, bringin you the drama to allow you that the chronicle has just begun **"The saga begins" --> Mobb Deep "The soul controller, Rakim" --> Rakim "Set it off... yo, the saga begins" --> Mobb Deep "Still say a rhyme after the next one" --> Rakim (repeat 2X except 8th line is "You know that I'm the soloist" --> Rakim) Yo, my never-ending epic, got the world spinning hectic I quickly spread it, till the whole city's infected Suspense that I supply intensify Then commence as my daily events go by You get involved in this, paragraphologist Narratin novelist, market this, sound marvelous I'm the star in this, which means the author's authentic Most definite, every episode's a epidemic So when you research, check it, here go the evidence They represent with lyrical negligence for presidents My science existed, without the fiction Every inscription is a special edition * Repeat ** Repeat Yo, the legacy lives, let em see what the pedigree is Mega-thesis, blessin these kids with extra features The depth's deep as, the deepest sea is Telepathy increases melody gets speakers, telekinesis Ideas appear as clear as, pictures in movie theaters Lyrics you hear it, devestating the way you ear it So stay tuned for sequels, part two's and more So soon you and your peoples can bumrush the store The names have changed the game remain the same How one came to reign on his claim to fame No stoppin this I'm droppin this with hip-hop in this And when the topic is topicless, then I'm writing the apocalypse * Repeat ** Repeat |
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0:19 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Kind of glad I ain't come out in this y'know the last few years, y'know
But umm right now I think everybody want a change Back to hip-hop and, knowhatI'msayin rhymes skills and things of that nature, so timing man, timing is perfect Plus this is ninety-seven, which is Born God, knahmean? And I'm back, straight up |
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4:11 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
"Once again back is the incredible" --> Chuck D
Yeah, yeah It's the return of the Wild Style fashionist Smashin hits, make it hard to adapt to this Put pizazz and jazz in this, and cash in this Mastered this, flash this and make em clap to this DJ's throw on cuts and obey the crowd Just pump the volume up, and play it loud Hip-Hop's embedded, before I said I wouldn't let it But me and the microphone is still magnetic Straight off the top, I knew I'd be forced to rock Dancefloors just stop, the spot's scorchin hot Hoping I open Rakim Allah seminars Massage at the bar smokin ten dollar cigars while I admire midas, with more vision than TV's I find it easy catchin diabetes from fly sweeties Sit back and wait to hear a slammin track Rockin jams by popular demand, I'm back *I control the crowd, you know I hold it down When it drop you know it's jiggy when you hear the sound From town to town, until it's world reknowned And I rock New York City all year around Check it out It's on so you can swerve when it's heard in clubs Thought patterns displayed on Persian rugs Equations are drawn up in paisley form Mic it stay warm, my flow is Evian Deep as a Nautilus, you stay dipped in Ra style from the shores of Long Island to Panama Canal Intellect pitches new trends like a clothes designer I'm in effect, quicker than medicines in China Split the mic open fill it with somethin potent to go in and take a toke then, mental planes start floatin Hot science is smokin altitudes cause chokin Product is hypnotic you're soakin and still smokin Showin better scenes than grams of amphetamines Plans to scheme, means I'll forever fiend Long as the mic is loud and the volume is pumpin I'ma move crowds to 2000 * Repeat Yo, my rhymes and lyrics, find spirits like a seance Since fat Cray-ons, I write and display chaos My plan is damage, the diagram to where the jam I take advantage, until the crowd go bananas What a rush I hear cuts then I lust to touch Microphones get clutched by the illustrious Word spread I inherited, many ways to say the unsaid Born with three 7's in my head In time no one can seem to blow your mind as far as this To find you'll need philosophers and anthropologists Astrologists, professors from your smartest colleges with knowledge of scholarships, when Ra be droppin this Some of the things I know, will be in your next Bible When I die go bury me and my notebook in Cairo with the great God from Egypt manifest was write rhymes align with the stars, I come back to bless the mic * Repeat (x2) "Once again, back is the incredible" --> Chuck D Word up, Rakim Allah the Microphone Fiend is back, yaknahmean? "Rakim Allah" --> Rakim Till death do us part "Once again, back is the incredible" --> Chuck D It's on "Rakim Allah" --> Rakim *CD sample, *Ra sample in sequence to 3:50 "Once again back is the incredible The incredible, the incredible The incredible... Once again back is the incredible Rhyme animal, the incredible..." --> Chuck D |
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4:25 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Rakim... Clark Kent bring it on
What you wanna say to make me stay awhile What you wanna say to make me wanna stay (repeat 2X) Just me and my peeps we gettin buzzed, lookin for clubs Misses with kisses and hugs, lookin for love She gotta be nice with hers, even with cookin some grub Once I'm in I meet her friends, then I'm hookin my thugs We'll be blowin hundreds, always knowin where the fun is Roadrunners findin more spots than Columbus Pocket full of phone numbers from some of the world wonders I take my time, and find where the right one is Smooth as jazz but more than a half, ready for math And on a steady path, like Betty Shabazz And when I see the wiz I'ma step to my biz And there she is, let's see if she pass the quiz It's appropriate we go get soakin wet Toast, we met, become close associates The place is ours by now I can embrace your style So much flavor I can taste your smile, stay awhile *Why don't you, stay a little while Stayyayyayyy, stay a little while, child Baby, why don't you, stay a little while Stayyayyyayy, ayyyayyy, stay a little while, child Baby, why don't you We on the low matin, infiltratin, negotiatin We both be makin moves and dough, M.O.'s relatin She ain't takin I want it but yo I know she waitin I throw the bait in, and before you know we datin I want the format, to the doormat Contacts fast, callbacks and all that Your deepest ecstasy see you wear accesory Your secret recipes to your bear necessities She real exotic body feel like Lucile Roberts Name brand closets, culturized products Claws like a scorpion caught me in deeper But juice sweeter, enough to buy a two seater Every mile I plan to have your mind beguiled Til it informs me more than you would normally allow Raised more than an eyebrow with a flagrant style By now I can taste your smile, stay awhile * Repeat Sometimes it's hard to fight it and not let her see me get excited But she know I like it, she know the deal like a psychic Mind is haunted, because I always find her on it She know what I want, where I want, when I want it Blowin up my Motorola, daddy you comin over? She on the sofa, holdin a remote controller Candles burnin lower, favorite dish gettin colder She hot as solar, cause I told her I wanna hold her But her mission she sittin in one position like Yoda A TV show is on to top it off she dead sober Then I open the door up, and kiss her on the shoulder She say I'm rollin, like Mr. Lover Lover We had a hard day, ready to parlay My thirsts they obey everything that God say Okay let's play awhile and I'll embrace your style So much flavor I can taste your smile, stay awhile * Repeat |
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4:06 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
{*from the movie "Wildstyle"*}
If you was born in New york City let me hear say "You know that"! YOU KNOW THAT [Rakim] Aiyyo, once upon a rhyme where the scenery sets, you see stress Streets a matter of life and death, no regrets Life's a test, strife, wit special effects Neighbourhood's full of reps, cities are projects Where the young cadets get stripes from the vets And comrades quest to be the next, to finess Collect debts and select bets with death threats Object - Chedder, better your total net Where trends are set from ways to express the outfits Friends get wet tryin' to make ends connect Avenues to check, boulevards to sweat The smell of gunsmoke more common than cigarettes WE GOT clicks for wreck WE LIKE Pits for pets WE GOT Giants and Jets, the Knicks, Yanks and Mets WE LIKE much respect and sex extra wet And High-Tech dialect you ain't catch yet (The Bronx Ya out there? No doubt Brooklyn ya out there) [Rakim] Aiyyo, we got blocks and glocks with Big shots with big knots and big props Yo this is where the bullshit stops Where herbs get got, if you snitch you get shot We get down and leave the town in a state of shock WE GOT dangerous hang out spots and slick cops Place called Riker's Island where kids get locked A lotta gear to rock with blocks of clothes shops Styles are top notch, this is the place to watch So bust the box the radio station is hot Ease your mind staring at skylines from rooftops Flip scripts for chips, and new whips off the lot Quick to call a shot, pollitic with thick plots And the Garden of Eden against the sea that we got to make sure the core of the Big Apple don't rot Where seeings believing we be achieving a lot Since disc jocks created hip hop, check it out! (Queens - ya out there? no doubt Manhattan - no doubt New York city, Staten Island New York, New York, Long Island New York - ya out there?) [Rakim] Aiyyo, we got five bouroughs of ghettos with many places to meet, you get lost in city streets the city that never sleeps Mecca ? Medina the population increase The desert and the oasis, New York, the far east With Gods and sheiks, pretty Amazons for weeks Player dons that fleece the family's black sheep Icons that teach that we all act unique We got stats to reach so we all have to eat A mass of peeps, with they own masterpiece The crafts elite, we going past the beat The latest technique no other place get as deep Who parks release some of the worlds greatest athletes DJ's and MC's and graffiti artistes Who use walls and subway trains for marquees We go back to b-boys, breakdancing, breakbeats And it'll never cease and on that note, we say peace |
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4:19 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Yeah... check it out... show me love
Promise you won't do me wrong (for sure) If I turn you on (yeah) Promise you'll stay all night long (on on) Makin love til dawn Yo, it's time to bring the day in, fresh out the crib sauteein Around the way-in, swerve on, surveyin That's when I saw her, the kind you wanna see more of The sexy aura, it made it hard to ignore her Expression her posession of property skyrocket I'm investin in her presence and in time it profits I take a acre for you, fertilize the soil and make it boil, til it produce black oil The Shorty sweet as, the flavor of forty divas Photos and features, worth more than Mona Lisa's It's lady lucious, tender touches my blood rushes Smiles and blushes, on billboards and buses And me, I'm just a bronze skinned calm gentleman Slim fit and open arms mellow wit a Don's grin Ghetto disciplined, could be your confidant beyond friend It's one of Allah's men, Rakim, show me love Promise you won't do me wrong (uh) If I turn you on (go ahead, uh) Promise you'll stay all night long (uh, yeah) Makin love til dawn (turn me on love) Promise you won't do me wrong (mmm) If I turn you on (mmm, mmm, yeah) Promise you'll stay all night long So we can get it on (check it out) I'm in effect mode, I keep the ep sewed When you express your finesse to your dress code Every step's a pose, you've been blessed and it shows My interest grows, the effervesce explodes Because this chick's, characteristics, mystic Hips are thick, just a little bit of lipstick Can't resist it, description Egyptian smile Queen of the Nile, that means she dipped in style She re-mind of Nefretiti, yes indeed-y But it's hard to get it like hieroglyphic graffiti Studied her exhibits and checked her colorful curves Intellect with swerves I coulda wrecked my nerves That's my word, diggin her enigma that exist in a sister, carefully wrapped in her figure We connect like a collision and hug, just to knowledge her wisdom, speed up my metabolism, show me love Promise you won't do me wrong If I turn you on (uh, yeah) Promise you'll stay all night long (YEAH) Makin love til dawn (check it out) Promise you won't do me wrong (go ahead, go ahead) If I turn you on (yeah, yeah) Promise you'll stay all night long So we can get it on Your M.O. is hard not to notice, so my motives is to stay focused, body moves like aerobics Attractions, vibes I caught came from your ways and actions but mindframe hard to explain No actin or mindgames, but thinkin of what can happen is migraines, the x-rated though remains We relaxin, and you naggin me for the agony to your anatomy, by the fractions Your measurements, the pleasure's in every inch of your temple I travel twenty-three million miles of your mental Chemistry, between you and me, in harmony Causin angles to meet, like trigonometry or pyramids, that's where your deepest, treasures are hid Then it gets, odiferous, cause I know where it is I mastered that, cause it's easy when you react The all-natural aphrodisiac, show me love Promise you won't do me wrong If I turn you on (yeah) Promise you'll stay all night long (go ahead, go ahead) Making love til dawn (uh) Promise you won't do me wrong (straight up) If I turn you on (go ahead, uh) Promise you'll stay all night long (yeah) So we can get it on (show me love) Promise you won't do me wrong If I turn you on Promise you'll stay all night long Making love til dawn Promise you won't do me wrong (uh, yeah) If I turn you on (check it out, uh) Promise you'll stay all night long (and you don't stop) So we can get it on (uh) Promise you won't do me wrong If I turn you on Promise you'll stay all night long Making love til dawn... |
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5:22 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
*If you can see if you can solve the mystery
The answer revolves around your history So carefully, I drop this degree Scientifically, and realistically (Who is God?) * Repeat In eternal blackness, in the midst of the darkest night Proteins and minerals, exist within specks of light Solids liquids and gases, and sparks of light within infinite lengths and widths and depths and heights No beginning or ending, the seven dimensions Enough space for more than a million words and inventions To travel through time within enough room to be the womb of the most high's great mind which he will soon make shine With intelligent elements in sight that he will gather In the realms of relativity electricity struck matter Energies explode he below to keep releasin Atoms by the millions, til the numbers increasin Til it was burnin he kept returnin itself to the source The hotter his thoughts it gave the center more force He gave birth to the sun which would follow his laws All caused by his mental intercourse, who is God? * Repeat He began to explain his craft, the master in the attic He dealt with measurements his language, was mathematics His theoretical wisdom of the numerical system The complete number nine which means born or existed He gave birth to all planets, inorganic, and organic So you wouldn't take it for granted They rotated they own distance around the sun And fully submit to the existance of one And each one was promised everlasting perfection If each one keeps spinnin in the same direction To the East, and each speak the motion of peace and harmony, and each show devotion to teach The universe is to come, the whole world must go according Know your galaxies and mirages stars start fallin So stay in your orbit maintain safe and sound Like the planets each cipher remains perfectly round * Repeat From unconciousness, to conciousness By knowledging his wisdom his response is this A understanding, which is the best part He picked the third planet where new forms of life would start He pursued show and prove every move in order Back to the source he let off his resources in the water Climb his climax, where the climate is at, high degrees See he start to breathe deep in the darkest seas And the plan is, to lay in the clays to form land And expand, usin the same clays to born man In his own image our origin begins in the East Culture rise to breed, with the powers of peace Deal in equality nature's policy is to be God Build or destroy positively born life like Allah And each one was given everlasting perfection If each one keep living in the same direction And life was life, and love was love We went according by the laws of the world above They showed us physically, we could reach infinity But mentally, through the century we lost our identity Life start and ending, we got trife and started sinning Lost touch with the beginning now ciphers stop spinnin And what was once easy became confused and hard Which brings us back, to the mystic question, who is God? Sixty-six trillion years since his face was shown When the seventh angel appears, the mystery will be known Check Revelations and Genesis, St. Luke and John It even tells us we are Gods in the Holy Qu'ran Wisdom Strength and Beauty, one of the meanings of God G.O.D. you and me ?Gomars O Dubar? Knowledge Wisdom Understanding Sun Moon and Star Man Woman and Child, and so is Allah * Repeat Bear witness to Allah, gave birth to all For Allah was all, and therefore, life itself And the universe gave birth to man The universe was man, and man was the universe And the universe was always existed And existance was life And life is Allah And Allah had no beginning because he is, what always was Rakim Allah, peace Now who is God? |
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5:04 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Yes yes y'all, check it out y'all (repeat 2X)
*(Yo) I find a show, rhyme til it's time to go I'm designed to blow, my mind's inclined to flow Yo, my M.O., makin all kind of dough From the info that Rakim show, y'know? Yes yes y'all, I still fiend by any means to flow, and I go through extremes don't intervene My adventures show like a three dimensional screen Cause I mention many things and I'm presentin many scenes Guess I'm telegraphic, motions energentic Better tell em forget it, cause I'm telekinetic Crowds is screamin, I choke the mic and keep squeezin Styles seemin like I used a thousand words without breathin Bustin techs like Russian Roulette I doubt you win Freestyles like hand grenades without the pin Composin, then leave the mic full of corrosion Don't test this, or best to expects this explosion At shows I spit flows with seven deadly venoms Killin syllables with poisonous synonyms in em Ideas is blowin, mics is blowin from what I'm showin, see it, I keep it goin when I'm flowin * Repeat When I'm flowin, theoretically speakin like a drummer I take you through the streets to the parks in the summer or illustrate, a time and place you never been in and make you focus on the future after seein the beginning And my style wilds, like Miles on the trumpet Volume dial was kind of low, need to pump it Up another notch turn the dial til it stops More watts you got, more things to watch Third eye's wide open, you're focused on the theory Keep scopin til you hear me, words is spoken clearly It's no smokescreens on the scenes that I'm showin Man I keep it goin, damn I keep it flowin * Repeat (x2) Two pages cause panic, freestyles is frantic Thoughts is organic, flow is aerodynamic Mic is volcanic, rhymes spread across the planet I send out the scribe now the vibes gigantic Now, I'm internationally known, mental capacities blown I hope your microphone's accident prone Raw footage is shown, but only showin scenes of my own Leavin your periphereal vision in a zone But not the twilight, from the insight that I write and recite, in my mic'll be bright, cause I like the night glowin, it's out of sight when I'm showin Man I keep it goin, damn I keep it flowin * Repeat (x2) Yo, accurate tactics "Make Em Clap to This" When I "Move the Crowd", my "Rhythm" still don't miss Breeze through melodies cause "It's Been A Long Time" My "Lyrics" is "Fury" and rappers hate to hear me rhyme Every antidote that I quote, is "No Joke" Nobody's smilin "In The Ghetto" from the notes I wrote My high techniques wreck and disrepect beats Have you "Follow-in The Leader" up and down the streets So "Kick Along" as I rip a song with pull As the rhyme goes on I get "Paid In Full" It's Rakim, I'm indicatin rhymes for the showin Check it out y'all, I keep it goin when I'm flowin * Repeat (x2) Straight up, Rakim Allah the Fiend of the Microphone still flowin You know? One love to ? comin through your livin room soon, straight up ?, one love The whole tri-state, one love Rakim Allah baby, y'know? It's on, what, check it out y'all, check it out |
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3:59 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
"It's been a long time.."
"It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" Follow procedures, the crowd couldn't wait to see this Nobody been this long awaited since Jesus Who wouldn't believe this - I heard the word on the street is I'm still one of the deepest on the mic since Adidas They said I changed the times from the rhymes that I thought of So I made some more to put the New World in Order with Mathematics, put your status above the average And help you rappers, make paragraphs with graphics Cause new days is dawnin, new ways of peformin Brainstormin, I write and watch the night turn to mornin On and on and, I got the whole world respondin Rock, I keep it hot and blow the spot without warnin The Emperor, well known for, inventin a sentence full of adventure, turnin up the temperature Rush with adrenaline, how long has it been again to be in the state of mind that Rakim is in? "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" "It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim" When I'm out proppin - either, hangin or shoppin People see me stop and ask me when the album droppin The wait is over, in-formation like a soldier like I told ya, greater stronger, now that I'm older I broke the, code of silence with overloads of talents My only challenge, is not to explode in violence I'm Asiatic, and blazin microphones a habit At least once durin the course of a day, it's automatic In ghetto apparel, mind of a Egyptian Pharoah Far from shallow, thoughts travel like an arrow Allah's monotony, so far they can't stop me You know, Ra want property like Mumar Khadafi More thoughts than Bibles, recital - taught disciples A sawed off mic, so words scatter like a rifle Thoughts that's trifle, I'm bustin these for you Aiyyo, technical difficulties is through "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" "It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." When I float at night, I show em new heights, I go to write They know I strike with new prototypes to blow the mic Critics and biters, don't know where my source of light is Still leave authors and writers with arthritis Cursed kids like the Pyramids when they found the style First to ever let a rhyme flow down the Nile The rebirth of hip-hop'll be dropped now cause the crowd didn't hear the original in a while So be alarmed, what you bout to see is the bomb Like, 3-D in 'Nam, vivid like CD-Rom Info kept like "internet.com" My note-book's my bond like the Holy Qu'ran Since I came in the door, said it before But no I ain't down with Eric B. no more At night the open mic be invitin me to rhyme So yo I'm online, it's been a long time "It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" "It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." {extended scratch} "It's been a long time.." {extended scratch} "It's been a long time.." |
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4:11 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
"Once again back is the incredible" --> Chuck D
Yeah, yeah It's the return of the Wild Style fashionist Smashin hits, make it hard to adapt to this Put pizazz and jazz in this, and cash in this Mastered this, flash this and make em clap to this DJ's throw on cuts and obey the crowd Just pump the volume up, and play it loud Hip-Hop's embedded, before I said I wouldn't let it But me and the microphone is still magnetic Straight off the top, I knew I'd be forced to rock Dancefloors just stop, the spot's scorchin hot Hoping I open Rakim Allah seminars Massage at the bar smokin ten dollar cigars while I admire midas, with more vision than TV's I find it easy catchin diabetes from fly sweeties Sit back and wait to hear a slammin track Rockin jams by popular demand, I'm back *I control the crowd, you know I hold it down When it drop you know it's jiggy when you hear the sound From town to town, until it's world reknowned And I rock New York City all year around Check it out It's on so you can swerve when it's heard in clubs Thought patterns displayed on Persian rugs Equations are drawn up in paisley form Mic it stay warm, my flow is Evian Deep as a Nautilus, you stay dipped in Ra style from the shores of Long Island to Panama Canal Intellect pitches new trends like a clothes designer I'm in effect, quicker than medicines in China Split the mic open fill it with somethin potent to go in and take a toke then, mental planes start floatin Hot science is smokin altitudes cause chokin Product is hypnotic you're soakin and still smokin Showin better scenes than grams of amphetamines Plans to scheme, means I'll forever fiend Long as the mic is loud and the volume is pumpin I'ma move crowds to 2000 * Repeat Yo, my rhymes and lyrics, find spirits like a seance Since fat Cray-ons, I write and display chaos My plan is damage, the diagram to where the jam I take advantage, until the crowd go bananas What a rush I hear cuts then I lust to touch Microphones get clutched by the illustrious Word spread I inherited, many ways to say the unsaid Born with three 7's in my head In time no one can seem to blow your mind as far as this To find you'll need philosophers and anthropologists Astrologists, professors from your smartest colleges with knowledge of scholarships, when Ra be droppin this Some of the things I know, will be in your next Bible When I die go bury me and my notebook in Cairo with the great God from Egypt manifest was write rhymes align with the stars, I come back to bless the mic * Repeat (x2) "Once again, back is the incredible" --> Chuck D Word up, Rakim Allah the Microphone Fiend is back, yaknahmean? "Rakim Allah" --> Rakim Till death do us part "Once again, back is the incredible" --> Chuck D It's on "Rakim Allah" --> Rakim *CD sample, *Ra sample in sequence to 3:50 "Once again back is the incredible The incredible, the incredible The incredible... Once again back is the incredible Rhyme animal, the incredible..." --> Chuck D |
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1:20 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
What is, the one, main thing that you have
that you would want people to remember you by? Or not one but the, those things that are dear to you that you would, want to be remembered as I guess I guess it's my words man, yaknahmean? Just my words, and, if people remember my words they'll remember me forever Y'know? God by nature mind raised in Asia, y'know? But umm... it's like y'know to live forever you you you gotta set y'know, not not set trends but you gotta apply yourself a certain way and you gotta do certain things y'know? Maybe, maybe when I'm gone twenty years from now Somebody might be tellin, tellin they little son "Oh yo you think Shorty bad? Yo I 'member this cat way back in like nineteen-ninety. Kid named Rakim, bananas." YouknowhatI'msayin? If that can happen man, I'm aight man, y'know? I got I got I got kids y'know? They gonna umm, finish this for me anyway yknahmsayin so regardless, y'know the legacy lives But umm as far as the masses just remember my words Straight up |
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| from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987) | |||||
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7:10 |
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from Brown Sugar (브라운 슈가) by Robert Hurst [ost] (2002)
[Eric B]: Yo Rakim what's up?
[Rakim]: Yo I'm doing the knowledge E. I'm trying to get paid in full [E]: Well check this out since Nobry Walters is our agency right? [R]: True [E]: Kara Lewis is our agent [R]: Word up [E]: Zakia/4th & Broadway is our record company [R]: Indeed [E]: Okay so who we rollin with? [R]: We rollin with Rush [E]: Of Rushtown Management. Check this out since we talking over this def beat that I put together, I wanna hear some of them def rhymes, know what I'm sayin? And together, we can get paid in full... [Rakim] Thinkin of a master plan Cuz ain't nuthin but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin up with lint So I start my mission- leave my residence Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents I need money, I used to be a stick-up kid So I think of all the devious things I did I used to roll up, this is a hold up, ain't nuthin funny Stop smiling, be still, don't nuthin move but the money But now I learned to earn cos I'm righteous I feel great! so maybe I might just Search for a 9 to 5, if I strive Then maybe I'll stay alive So I walk up the street whistlin this Feelin out of place cos, man, do I miss A pen and a paper, a stereo, a tape of Me and Eric B, and a nice big plate of Fish, which is my favorite dish But without no money it's still a wish Cos I don't like to dream about gettin paid So I dig into the books of the rhymes that I made To now test to see if I got pull Hit the studio, cos I'm paid in full |
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4:43 |
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| from Grand Theft Auto [ost] (2004) | |||||
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3:48 |
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0:12 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
interviewer possibly Harry Allen]
What are you giving them back? [Rakim] Umm I think what I'm givin them back man is umm... what they been waitin for yaknahmean? Umm... SKILLS |
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3:01 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
What uhh yo
Just when things seemed the same and the whole scene is lame I come and reign with the unexplained for the brains till things change They strain to slang sling I'm trained to bring game History that I arranged been regained by King James Go to practice with tactics when the track hits theatrics Women that look like actress the status of Cleopatra's Stacks of mathematics took the ?ego-a-geatics? As I find out, what the facts is, for geographic No time to sip Mo's with hostess, never mind what the total gross is I rip shows, stay focused, and split cheese, with soldiers While you hit trees and coast I spit flows that be ferocious And with these explosives, I split seas for Moses Shine permanently only my mind's concernin me Fire burns in me eternally time's eternity Followers turn on me they'll be in a mental infirmary Determinely advance technology better than Germany Since the first days you know of, till the last days is over I was always the flow-er, I made waves for Noah From a compound, to the anatomy, to the breakdown of a atom Some of my rap patterns, still surround Saturn From the ancient Hieroglyphics, to graffiti painted pictures I study I know the scriptures but nowaday ain't it vicious Date back I go beyond check the holy Qu'ran To speeches at the altar on, now we get our party on So being benificent, I bless em with dialogue They expectin, the next testament by the God I blow em through battlezones with chrome for chaperone Blast beats with saxophones one of the baddest rapper's known Every country city and borough, sidestreet and ghetto isle and alley and meadow theories ferile enough to echo When it was one mass of land, with one nash' of man And the whole mass w |
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0:24 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Kind of glad I ain't come out in this y'know the last few years, y'know
But umm right now I think everybody want a change Back to hip-hop and, knowhatI'msayin rhymes skills and things of that nature, so timing man, timing is perfect Plus this is ninety-seven, which is Born God, knahmean? And I'm back, straight up |
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3:58 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
DJ Premier cuts early Eric B. & Rakim records}
"It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim the microphone soloist" [Rakim] Follow procedures the crowd couldn't wait to see this Nobody been this long awaited since Jesus Who wouldn't believe this I heard the word on the street is I'm still one of the deepest on the mic since Adidas They said I changed the times from the rhymes that I thought of So I made some more to put the New World in Order with Mathematics, put your status above the average And help you rappers, make paragraphs with graphics Cause new days is dawnin, new ways of peformin Brainstormin, I write and watch the night turn to mornin On and on and, I got the whole world respondin Rock, I keep it hot and blow the spot without warnin The Emperor, well known for, inventin a sentence full of adventure, turnin up the temperature Rush with adrenaline, how long has it been again to be in the state of mind that Rakim is in? {DJ Premier cuts early Eric B. & Rakim records} "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" "It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim" [Rakim] When I'm out proppin - either, hangin or shoppin People see me stop and ask me when the album droppin The wait is over, in-formation like a soldier like I told ya, greater stronger, now that I'm older I broke the, code of silence with overloads of talents My only challenge, is not to explode in violence I'm Asiatic, and blazin microphones a habit At least once durin the course of a day, it's automatic In ghetto apparel, mind of a Egyptian Pharoah Far from shallow, thoughts travel like an arrow Allah's monotony, so far they can't stop me You know, Ra want property like Mumar Khadafi More thoughts than Bibles, recital - taught disciples A sawed off mic, so words scatter like a rifle Thoughts that's trifle, I'm bustin these for you Aiyyo, technical difficulties is through {DJ Premier cuts early Eric B. & Rakim records} "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" "It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." [Rakim] When I float at night, I show em new heights, I go to write They know I strike with new prototypes to blow the mic Critics and biters, don't know where my source of light is Still leave authors and writers with arthritis Cursed kids like the Pyramids when they found the style First to ever let a rhyme flow down the Nile The rebirth of hip-hop'll be dropped now cause the crowd didn't hear the original in a while So be alarmed, what you bout to see is the bomb 이 뒤부터 왜 가사가 없나요 |
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4:40 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Remember that?
Turn the beat up, I get lost in the mind come across the rhyme kick my feet up, then I find myself in time I was on a train, destination Marley Marl's domain I entertained things'll never be the same DJ's are conveyed if the label OK it Teddy Ted and Special K was the first ones to play it On the radio, with the crazy flow I pay dues until it pays me dough to do a show When I'm at the helm I cover the whole realm In control and leave your soul overwhelmed Another influence of beats and instruments Lyrics make it intricate and elements are tense When you was playin Pac Man it was the jams I packed Peeps would swarm when I was perform in, black I'm all that Back before they turned hip-hop to rap It always a place to party at, remember that? I remember the spots that used to be hot Just like the roof top, a place that only few can rock on a wild ass block, yeah you find me there a lot Until you hear gunshots, that's when the fun stops Here come the cops, time to go home, get in order Cause I'll be back in Manhattan if somethings happenin at the Latin Quarter House of havoc when it came to fourteen carat And if you had it yeah kids'd try to grab it It's cool at the Red Parrot we was doin it there I was the first one to rip it at the Union Square Me and DJ Red Alert did work A crazy concert, a lot of kids got hurt I did encores at the Encore, they wanted more I kicked a freestyle til I heard the crowd roar Like the Funhouse, Bronx Center never endin black Place to be was the Brooklyn Armory, remember that? Remember that? (3X) Open the door, let the crowds in, over twenty thousand Wildin music's loud and microphone's growlin Tickets are sold out, parties is packed and on tour rippin basketball arenas back then Even afterparties, posses of players and hotties Everybody was Gotti, spreadin bucks like shotties Spendin cash, to make a good time last Thoughts that I had give me a blast of the past Memories of unforgettable times on my mind Dollar signs and melodies and incredible rhymes The people I met, and the sets that got wrecked All the mics I checked, most of all life's effects And peace to all the people I grew up around in the streets back when beats had a rougher sound I used to be wild me and my crew sit back and we smile Keep piles of pictures filed in case I go senile Cause some things are just too good to be forgot Like your neighborhood block or your favorite spot Certain records always seem to make me reminisce And when it hits, and then it clicks, remember this My life flashed before me I'm there from the sounds I hear pinpoint the year, it's perfectly clear I like the way it went down and alla that, in fact It mean a lot, cause you can't bring it back, remember that Remember that? (3X) |
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4:22 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
*singing* Ahhhh, ahhhh, ahhhh...
*whistle* "Ghetto Music" --) KRS-One (here we go...) "Yo" --) Mobb Deep "And my name is Rakim..." --) The R (repeat 5X) Yo, the saga begins, my eyes is the photography lens Properly push pens, and show quality gems The horrors be grim, but yo maybe tomorrow we win If we follow the trends and keep count of the dollars we spend I want a mahogany Benz, I want lottery ends I want property, friends, plus my hobby is skins If I decide we in sin, then my prophesy ends But the God'll begin, watchin my odyssey spin in the place where war be, based on a true story Territory was made for me to pursue glory Blast alone masses in zones have to be sewn Every capacity blown, I'm internationally known, yo *Chorus A* So all hail the honorable, microphone phenomenal Persona is unbombable?, trust me son I continue like a saga do, bringin you the drama to allow you that the chronicle has just begun *Chorus B* "The saga begins" --) Mobb Deep "The soul controller, Rakim" --) Rakim "Set it off... yo, the saga begins" --) Mobb Deep "Still say a rhyme after the next one" --) Rakim (repeat 2X except 8th line is "You know that I'm the soloist" --) Rakim) Yo, my never-ending epic, got the world spinning hectic I quickly spread it, till the whole city's infected Suspense that I supply intensify Then commence as my daily events go by You get involved in this, paragraphologist Narratin novelist, market this, sound marvelous I'm the star in this, which means the author's authentic Most definite, every episode's a epidemic So when you research, check it, here go the evidence They represent with lyrical negligence for presidents My science existed, without the fiction Every inscription is a special edition *Chorus A*, *Chorus B* Yo, the legacy lives, let em see what the pedigree is Mega-thesis, blessin these kids with extra features The depth's deep as, the deepest sea is Telepathy increases melody gets speakers, telekinesis Ideas appear as clear as, pictures in movie theaters Lyrics you hear it, devestating the way you ear it So stay tuned for sequels, part two's and more So soon you and your peoples can bumrush the store The names have changed the game remain the same How one came to reign on his claim to fame No stoppin this I'm droppin this with hip-hop in this And when the topic is topicless, then I'm writing the apocalypse *Chorus A*, *Chorus B* *variations of Chorus B to fade* |
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0:19 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Kind of glad I ain't come out in this y'know the last few years, y'know
But umm right now I think everybody want a change Back to hip-hop and, knowhatI'msayin rhymes skills and things of that nature, so timing man, timing is perfect Plus this is ninety-seven, which is Born God, knahmean? And I'm back, straight up |
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4:11 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Once again back is the incredible" >Chuck D
Yeah yeah It's the return of the Wild Style fashionist Smashin hits make it hard to adapt to this Put pizazz and jazz in this and cash in this Mastered this flash this and make em clap to this DJ's throw on cuts and obey the crowd Just pump the volume up and play it loud Hip Hop's embedded before I said I wouldn't let it But me and the microphone is still magnetic Straight off the top, I knew I'd be forced to rock Dancefloors just stop, the spot's scorchin hot Hoping I open Rakim Allah seminars Massage at the bar smokin ten dollar cigars while I admire midas, with more vision than TV's I find it easy catchin diabetes from fly sweeties Sit back and wait to hear a slammin track Rockin jams by popular demand, I'm back *chorus* I control the crowd, you know I hold it down When it drop you know it's jiggy when you hear the sound From town to town, until it's world reknowned And I rock New York City all year around Check it out It's on so you can swerve when it's heard in clubs Thought patterns displayed on Persian rugs Equations are drawn up in paisley form Mic it stay warm, my flow is Evian Deep as a Nautilus, you stay dipped in Ra style from the shores of Long Island to Panama Canal Intellect pitches new trends like a clothes designer I'm in effect, quicker than medicines in China Split the mic open fill it with somethin potent to go in and take a toke then, mental planes start floatin Hot science is smokin altitudes cause chokin Product is hypnotic you're soakin and still smokin Showin better scenes than grams of amphetamines Plans to scheme, means I'll forever fiend Long as the mic is loud and the volume is pumpin I'ma move crowds to 2000 *chorus* Yo, my rhymes and lyrics, find spirits like a seance Since fat Cray-ons, I write and display chaos My plan is damage, the diagram to where the jam I take advantage, until the crowd go bananas What a rush I hear cuts then I lust to touch Microphones get clutched by the illustrious Word spread I inherited, many ways to say the unsaid Born with three 7's in my head In time no one can seem to blow your mind as far as this To find you'll need philosophers and anthropologists Astrologists, professors from your smartest colleges with knowledge of scholarships, when Ra be droppin this Some of the things I know, will be in your next Bible When I die go bury me and my notebook in Cairo with the great God from Egypt manifest was write rhymes align with the stars, I come back to bless the mic *chorus* 2X "Once again, back is the incredible" >Chuck D Word up, Rakim Allah the Microphone Fiend is back, yaknahmean? "Rakim Allah" >Rakim Till death do us part "Once again, back is the incredible" >Chuck D It's on "Rakim Allah" >Rakim *CD sample, *Ra sample in sequence to 3:50 "Once again back is the incredible The incredible, the incredible The incredible... Once again back is the incredible Rhyme animal, the incredible..." >Chuck D |
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4:25 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Rakim... Clark Kent bring it on
What you wanna say to make me stay awhile What you wanna say to make me wanna stay (repeat 2X) Just me and my peeps we gettin buzzed, lookin for clubs Misses with kisses and hugs, lookin for love She gotta be nice with hers, even with cookin some grub Once I'm in I meet her friends, then I'm hookin my thugs We'll be blowin hundreds, always knowin where the fun is Roadrunners findin more spots than Columbus Pocket full of phone numbers from some of the world wonders I take my time, and find where the right one is Smooth as jazz but more than a half, ready for math And on a steady path, like Betty Shabazz And when I see the wiz I'ma step to my biz And there she is, let's see if she pass the quiz It's appropriate we go get soakin wet Toast, we met, become close associates The place is ours by now I can embrace your style So much flavor I can taste your smile, stay awhile Why don't you, stay a little while Stayyayyayyy, stay a little while, child Baby, why don't you, stay a little while Stayyayyyayy, ayyyayyy, stay a little while, child Baby, why don't you We on the low matin, infiltratin, negotiatin We both be makin moves and dough, M.O.'s relatin She ain't takin I want it but yo I know she waitin I throw the bait in, and before you know we datin I want the format, to the doormat Contacts fast, callbacks and all that Your deepest ecstasy see you wear accesory Your secret recipes to your bear necessities She real exotic body feel like Lucile Roberts Name brand closets, culturized products Claws like a scorpion caught me in deeper But juice sweeter, enough to buy a two seater Every mile I plan to have your mind beguiled Til it informs me more than you would normally allow Raised more than an eyebrow with a flagrant style By now I can taste your smile, stay awhile Chorus Sometimes it's hard to fight it and not let her see me get excited But she know I like it, she know the deal like a psychic Mind is haunted, because I always find her on it She know what I want, where I want, when I want it Blowin up my Motorola, daddy you comin over? She on the sofa, holdin a remote controller Candles burnin lower, favorite dish gettin colder She hot as solar, cause I told her I wanna hold her But her mission she sittin in one position like Yoda A TV show is on to top it off she dead sober Then I open the door up, and kiss her on the shoulder She say I'm rollin, like Mr. Lover Lover We had a hard day, ready to parlay My thirsts they obey everything that God say Okay let's play awhile and I'll embrace your style So much flavor I can taste your smile, stay awhile Chorus w/ variations to end |
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4:04 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
[from the movie _Wildstyle_
If you was born in New york City let me hear say "You know that"! YOU KNOW THAT Aiyyo, once upon a rhyme where the scenery sets, you see stress Streets a matter of life and death, no regrets Life's a test, strife, wit special effects Neighbourhood's full of reps, cities are projects Where the young cadets get stripes from the vets And comrades quest to be the next, to finess Collect debts and select bets with death threats Object - Chedder, better your total net Where trends are set from ways to express the outfits Friends get wet tryin' to make ends connect Avenues to check, boulevards to sweat The smell of gunsmoke more common than cigarettes WE GOT clicks for wreck WE LIKE Pits for pets WE GOT Giants and Jets, the Knicks, Yanks and Mets WE LIKE much respect and sex extra wet And High-Tech dialect you ain't catch yet (The Bronx Ya out there? No doubt Brooklyn ya out there) [Rakim] Aiyyo, we got blocks and glocks with big shots with big knots and big props yo this is where the bullshit stops where herbs get got if you snitch you get shot we get down and leave the town in a state of shock WE GOT dangerous hang out spots and slick cops place called Riker's Island where kids get locked a lotta gear to rock with blocks of clothes shops styles are top notch, this is the place to buy so bust the box the radio station is hot ease your mind staring at skylines from rooftops flip scripts for chips and new Whips of the lot quick to call a shot, pollitic with thick plots and eh, Carnegie niggers a see what we got to make sure the core of the big apple don't rot where seeings believing we be achieving a lot since disc jocks created hip hop, check it out! (Queens ya out there? no doubt Manhatten no doubt New York city Staten Island New york new york long Island New york ya out there) [Rakim] Aiyo, we got five bouroughs of ghettos with amny places to meet, you get lost in city streets the city that never sleeps Mecca ? Medina the population increase the desert and the oasis, New York, the far east with gods and Sheiks pretty amazons for weeks player dons that fleece the family's black sheep icons that teach that we all act unique we got stats to reach so we all have to eat a mass of peeps, with they own masterpiece the crafts elite, we going past the beat the latest technique no other place get as deep who parks release some of the worlds greatest athletes DJs and MCs and graffiti artistes who use walls and subway trains for marquees we go back to b-boys, breakdancing, breakbeats and it'll never cease and on that note we say peace |
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4:19 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Yeah... check it out... show me love
Promise you won't do me wrong (for sure) If I turn you on (yeah) Promise you'll stay all night long (on on) Makin love til dawn Yo, it's time to bring the day in, fresh out the crib sauteein Around the way-in, swerve on, surveyin That's when I saw her, the kind you wanna see more of The sexy aura, it made it hard to ignore her Expression her posession of property skyrocket I'm investin in her presence and in time it profits I take a acre for you, fertilize the soil and make it boil, til it produce black oil The Shorty sweet as, the flavor of forty divas Photos and features, worth more than Mona Lisa's It's lady lucious, tender touches my blood rushes Smiles and blushes, on billboards and buses And me, I'm just a bronze skinned calm gentleman Slim fit and open arms mellow wit a Don's grin Ghetto disciplined, could be your confidant beyond friend It's one of Allah's men, Rakim, show me love Promise you won't do me wrong (uh) If I turn you on (go ahead, uh) Promise you'll stay all night long (uh, yeah) Makin love til dawn (turn me on love) Promise you won't do me wrong (mmm) If I turn you on (mmm, mmm, yeah) Promise you'll stay all night long So we can get it on (check it out) I'm in effect mode, I keep the ep sewed When you express your finesse to your dress code Every step's a pose, you've been blessed and it shows My interest grows, the effervesce explodes Because this chick's, characteristics, mystic Hips are thick, just a little bit of lipstick Can't resist it, description Egyptian smile Queen of the Nile, that means she dipped in style She re-mind of Nefretiti, yes indeed-y But it's hard to get it like hieroglyphic graffiti Studied her exhibits and checked her colorful curves Intellect with swerves I coulda wrecked my nerves That's my word, diggin her enigma that exist in a sister, carefully wrapped in her figure We connect like a collision and hug, just to knowledge her wisdom, speed up my metabolism, show me love Promise you won't do me wrong If I turn you on (uh, yeah) Promise you'll stay all night long (YEAH) Makin love til dawn (check it out) Promise you won't do me wrong (go ahead, go ahead) If I turn you on (yeah, yeah) Promise you'll stay all night long So we can get it on Your M.O. is hard not to notice, so my motives is to stay focused, body moves like aerobics Attractions, vibes I caught came from your ways and actions but mindframe hard to explain No actin or mindgames, but thinkin of what can happen is migraines, the x-rated though remains We relaxin, and you naggin me for the agony to your anatomy, by the fractions Your measurements, the pleasure's in every inch of your temple I travel twenty-three million miles of your mental Chemistry, between you and me, in harmony Causin angles to meet, like trigonometry or pyramids, that's where your deepest, treasures are hid Then it gets, odiferous, cause I know where it is I mastered that, cause it's easy when you react The all-natural aphrodisiac, show me love Promise you won't do me wrong If I turn you on (yeah) Promise you'll stay all night long (go ahead, go ahead) Making love til dawn (uh) Promise you won't do me wrong (straight up) If I turn you on (go ahead, uh) Promise you'll stay all night long (yeah) So we can get it on (show me love) Promise you won't do me wrong If I turn you on Promise you'll stay all night long Making love til dawn Promise you won't do me wrong (uh, yeah) If I turn you on (check it out, uh) Promise you'll stay all night long (and you don't stop) So we can get it on (uh) Promise you won't do me wrong If I turn you on Promise you'll stay all night long Making love til dawn... |
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0:19 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
So just knowin that people umm, compare me with with every hot kid that
come out and, y'know, the the expressions people give me when I see em in the streets sometime y'know people be lookin at me like I'm a martian like "Yo, it's the God" y'knowhatI'msayin? But that alone man keep keep me lovin this man, lovin this |
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5:20 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Intro/Chorus:
If you can see if you can solve the mystery The answer revolves around your history So carefully, I drop this degree Scientifically, and realistically (Who is God?) Repeat Chorus In eternal blackness, in the midst of the darkest night Proteins and minerals, exist within specks of light Solids liquids and gases, and sparks of light within infinite lengths and widths and depths and heights No beginning or ending, the seven dimensions Enough space for more than a million words and inventions To travel through time within enough room to be the womb of the most high's great mind which he will soon make shine With intelligent elements in sight that he will gather In the realms of relativity electricity struck matter Energies explode he below to keep releasin Atoms by the millions, til the numbers increasin Til it was burnin he kept returnin itself to the source The hotter his thoughts it gave the center more force He gave birth to the sun which would follow his laws All caused by his mental intercourse, who is God? Chorus He began to explain his craft, the master in the attic He dealt with measurements his language, was mathematics His theoretical wisdom of the numerical system The complete number nine which means born or existed He gave birth to all planets, inorganic, and organic So you wouldn't take it for granted They rotated they own distance around the sun And fully submit to the existance of one And each one was promised everlasting perfection If each one keeps spinnin in the same direction To the East, and each speak the motion of peace and harmony, and each show devotion to teach The universe is to come, the whole world must go according Know your galaxies and mirages stars start fallin So stay in your orbit maintain safe and sound Like the planets each cipher remains perfectly round Chorus From unconciousness, to conciousness By knowledging his wisdom his response is this A understanding, which is the best part He picked the third planet where new forms of life would start He pursued show and prove every move in order Back to the source he let off his resources in the water Climb his climax, where the climate is at, high degrees See he start to breathe deep in the darkest seas And the plan is, to lay in the clays to form land And expand, usin the same clays to born man In his own image our origin begins in the East Culture rise to breed, with the powers of peace Deal in equality nature's policy is to be God Build or destroy positively born life like Allah And each one was given everlasting perfection If each one keep living in the same direction And life was life, and love was love We went according by the laws of the world above They showed us physically, we could reach infinity But mentally, through the century we lost our identity Life start and ending, we got trife and started sinning Lost touch with the beginning now ciphers stop spinnin And what was once easy became confused and hard Which brings us back, to the mystic question, who is God? Sixty-six trillion years since his face was shown When the seventh angel appears, the mystery will be known Check Revelations and Genesis, St. Luke and John It even tells us we are Gods in the Holy Qu'ran Wisdom Strength and Beauty, one of the meanings of God G.O.D. you and me ?Gomars O Dubar? Knowledge Wisdom Understanding Sun Moon and Star Man Woman and Child, and so is Allah Chorus Bear witness to Allah, gave birth to all For Allah was all, and therefore, life itself And the universe gave birth to man The universe was man, and man was the universe And the universe was always existed And existance was life And life is Allah And Allah had no beginning because he is, what always was Rakim Allah, peace Now who is God? |
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5:04 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Yes yes y'all check it out y'all (repeat 2X)
Chorus: Rakim (Yo) I find a show rhyme til it's time to go I'm designed to blow my mind's inclined to flow Yo my M.O. makin all kind of dough From the info that Rakim show y'know? Verse One: Rakim Yes yes y'all I still fiend by any means to flow and I go through extremes don't intervene My adventures show like a three dimensional screen Cause I mention many things and I'm presentin many scenes Guess I'm telegraphic, motions energentic Better tell em forget it, cause I'm telekinetic Crowds is screamin, I choke the mic and keep squeezin Styles seemin like I used a thousand words without breathin Bustin techs like Russian Roulette I doubt you win Freestyles like hand grenades without the pin Composin, then leave the mic full of corrosion Don't test this, or best to expects this explosion At shows I spit flows with seven deadly venoms Killin syllables with poisonous synonyms in em Ideas is blowin, mics is blowin from what I'm showin, see it, I keep it goin when I'm flowin Chorus Verse Two: Rakim When I'm flowin, theoretically speakin like a drummer I take you through the streets to the parks in the summer or illustrate, a time and place you never been in and make you focus on the future after seein the beginning And my style wilds, like Miles on the trumpet Volume dial was kind of low, need to pump it Up another notch turn the dial til it stops More watts you got, more things to watch Third eye's wide open, you're focused on the theory Keep scopin til you hear me, words is spoken clearly It's no smokescreens on the scenes that I'm showin Man I keep it goin, damn I keep it flowin Chorus 2X Verse Three: Rakim Two pages cause panic, freestyles is frantic Thoughts is organic, flow is aerodynamic Mic is volcanic, rhymes spread across the planet I send out the scribe now the vibes gigantic Now, I'm internationally known, mental capacities blown I hope your microphone's accident prone Raw footage is shown, but only showin scenes of my own Leavin your periphereal vision in a zone But not the twilight, from the insight that I write and recite, in my mic'll be bright, cause I like the night glowin, it's out of sight when I'm showin Man I keep it goin, damn I keep it flowin Chorus 2X Verse Four: Rakim Yo, accurate tactics "Make Em Clap to This" When I "Move the Crowd", my "Rhythm" still don't miss Breeze through melodies cause "It's Been A Long Time" My "Lyrics" is "Fury" and rappers hate to hear me rhyme Every antidote that I quote, is "No Joke" Nobody's smilin "In The Ghetto" from the notes I wrote My high techniques wreck and disrepect beats Have you "Follow-in The Leader" up and down the streets So "Kick Along" as I rip a song with pull As the rhyme goes on I get "Paid In Full" It's Rakim, I'm indicatin rhymes for the showin Check it out y'all, I keep it goin when I'm flowin Chorus 2X Straight up, Rakim Allah the Fiend of the Microphone still flowin You know? One love to ? comin through your livin room soon, straight up ?, one love The whole tri-state, one love Rakim Allah baby, y'know? It's on, what, check it out y'all, check it out |
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3:59 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
DJ Premier cuts early Eric B. & Rakim records}
"It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim the microphone soloist" [Rakim] Follow procedures the crowd couldn't wait to see this Nobody been this long awaited since Jesus Who wouldn't believe this I heard the word on the street is I'm still one of the deepest on the mic since Adidas They said I changed the times from the rhymes that I thought of So I made some more to put the New World in Order with Mathematics, put your status above the average And help you rappers, make paragraphs with graphics Cause new days is dawnin, new ways of peformin Brainstormin, I write and watch the night turn to mornin On and on and, I got the whole world respondin Rock, I keep it hot and blow the spot without warnin The Emperor, well known for, inventin a sentence full of adventure, turnin up the temperature Rush with adrenaline, how long has it been again to be in the state of mind that Rakim is in? {DJ Premier cuts early Eric B. & Rakim records} "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" "It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim" [Rakim] When I'm out proppin - either, hangin or shoppin People see me stop and ask me when the album droppin The wait is over, in-formation like a soldier like I told ya, greater stronger, now that I'm older I broke the, code of silence with overloads of talents My only challenge, is not to explode in violence I'm Asiatic, and blazin microphones a habit At least once durin the course of a day, it's automatic In ghetto apparel, mind of a Egyptian Pharoah Far from shallow, thoughts travel like an arrow Allah's monotony, so far they can't stop me You know, Ra want property like Mumar Khadafi More thoughts than Bibles, recital - taught disciples A sawed off mic, so words scatter like a rifle Thoughts that's trifle, I'm bustin these for you Aiyyo, technical difficulties is through {DJ Premier cuts early Eric B. & Rakim records} "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" "It's been a long time.." ".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" "It's been a long time.." "It's been a long time.." [Rakim] When I float at night, I show em new heights, I go to write They know I strike with new prototypes to blow the mic Critics and biters, don't know where my source of light is Still leave authors and writers with arthritis Cursed kids like the Pyramids when they found the style First to ever let a rhyme flow down the Nile The rebirth of hip-hop'll be dropped now cause the crowd didn't hear the original in a while So be alarmed, what you bout to see is the bomb 이 뒤부터 왜 가사가 없나요 |
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4:11 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Once again back is the incredible" >Chuck D
Yeah yeah It's the return of the Wild Style fashionist Smashin hits make it hard to adapt to this Put pizazz and jazz in this and cash in this Mastered this flash this and make em clap to this DJ's throw on cuts and obey the crowd Just pump the volume up and play it loud Hip Hop's embedded before I said I wouldn't let it But me and the microphone is still magnetic Straight off the top, I knew I'd be forced to rock Dancefloors just stop, the spot's scorchin hot Hoping I open Rakim Allah seminars Massage at the bar smokin ten dollar cigars while I admire midas, with more vision than TV's I find it easy catchin diabetes from fly sweeties Sit back and wait to hear a slammin track Rockin jams by popular demand, I'm back *chorus* I control the crowd, you know I hold it down When it drop you know it's jiggy when you hear the sound From town to town, until it's world reknowned And I rock New York City all year around Check it out It's on so you can swerve when it's heard in clubs Thought patterns displayed on Persian rugs Equations are drawn up in paisley form Mic it stay warm, my flow is Evian Deep as a Nautilus, you stay dipped in Ra style from the shores of Long Island to Panama Canal Intellect pitches new trends like a clothes designer I'm in effect, quicker than medicines in China Split the mic open fill it with somethin potent to go in and take a toke then, mental planes start floatin Hot science is smokin altitudes cause chokin Product is hypnotic you're soakin and still smokin Showin better scenes than grams of amphetamines Plans to scheme, means I'll forever fiend Long as the mic is loud and the volume is pumpin I'ma move crowds to 2000 *chorus* Yo, my rhymes and lyrics, find spirits like a seance Since fat Cray-ons, I write and display chaos My plan is damage, the diagram to where the jam I take advantage, until the crowd go bananas What a rush I hear cuts then I lust to touch Microphones get clutched by the illustrious Word spread I inherited, many ways to say the unsaid Born with three 7's in my head In time no one can seem to blow your mind as far as this To find you'll need philosophers and anthropologists Astrologists, professors from your smartest colleges with knowledge of scholarships, when Ra be droppin this Some of the things I know, will be in your next Bible When I die go bury me and my notebook in Cairo with the great God from Egypt manifest was write rhymes align with the stars, I come back to bless the mic *chorus* 2X "Once again, back is the incredible" >Chuck D Word up, Rakim Allah the Microphone Fiend is back, yaknahmean? "Rakim Allah" >Rakim Till death do us part "Once again, back is the incredible" >Chuck D It's on "Rakim Allah" >Rakim *CD sample, *Ra sample in sequence to 3:50 "Once again back is the incredible The incredible, the incredible The incredible... Once again back is the incredible Rhyme animal, the incredible..." >Chuck D |
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1:20 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
[interviewer possibly Harry Allen]
What is the one main thing that you have that you would want people to remember you by? Or not one but the those things that are dear to you that you would want to be remembered as [Rakim] I guess I guess it's my words man yaknahmean? Just my words and if people remember my words they'll remember me forever Y'know? God by nature mind raised in Asia y'know? But umm... it's like y'know to live forever you you you gotta set y'know, not not set trends but you gotta apply yourself a certain way and you gotta do certain things y'know? Maybe, maybe when I'm gone twenty years from now Somebody might be tellin, tellin they little son "Oh yo you think Shorty bad? Yo I 'member this cat way back in like nineteen-ninety. Kid named Rakim, bananas." YouknowhatI'msayin? If that can happen man, I'm aight man, y'know? I got I got I got kids y'know? They gonna umm, finish this for me anyway yknahmsayin so regardless, y'know the legacy lives But umm as far as the masses just remember my words Straight up |
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4:43 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to Think of how many weak shows you slept through Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you Thinking of this, you keep repeating you miss The rhymes from the microphone soloist And you sit by the radio, hand on the dial, soon As you hear it, pump up the volume Dance wit the speaker 'till you hear it blow, Then plug in the headphone 'cause here it go It's a 4 letter word when it's heard, it control your body to dance (You got it) soul, Ditects the tempo like a red alert Reaches your reflex, so let it work When this is playing, you can't get stuck wit The steps, so get set and I'm a still come up wit A gift to be swift, follow the leader, the rhyme will go Def wit the record that was mixed a long time ago It can be done but only I can do it For those that can dance and clap your hands to it I start to think and then I sink Into the paper like I was ink When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines, I escape when I finish the rhyme... I got soul You got it (4x) I know you got soul Picture a mic, the stage is empty A beat like this might tempt me To pose, show my rings and my fat gold chain Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train But I'll wait 'cause I mastered this Let the others go first so the brothers don't miss Eric B. break the sticks (you got it) Rakim will begin when you make the mix I'll experiment like a scientist You wanna rhyme, you gotta sign my list 'Cause I'm a manifest and bless the mic I hold You want it next? then you gotta have soul 'Cause if you ain't got it, I'm a make an encore Take the mic, make the people re |
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5:32 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Verse One:
Follow me into a solo Get in the flow - and you can picture like a photo Music mixed mellow maintains to make Melodies for MC's motivates the breaks I'm everlastin, I can go on for days and days With rhyme displays that engrave deep as X-rays I can take a phrase that's rarely heard, FLIP IT Now it's a daily word I can get iller than 'Nam, a killin bomb But no alarm - Rakim will remain calm Self-esteem make me super superb and supreme But for a microphone still I fiend This was a tape I wasn't supposed to break I was supposed to wait, but let's motivate I want to see who can keep followin and swallowin Takin the making, bitin it and borrowin Brothers tried and others died to get the formula But I'ma let ya sweat - you still ain't warm You a step away from frozen, stiff as if ya posin Dig into my brain as the rhyme gets chosen So follow me and were ya thinkin' you were first? Let's travel at magnificent speeds around the Universe What could ya say as the Earth gets further and further away Planets are small as balls of clay Astray into the Milky Way - world's outasight Far as the eye can see - not even a satellite Now stop and turn around and look As ya stare in the darkness, ya knowledge is took! So keep starin soon ya suddenly see a star You better follow it cause it's the R This is a lesson if ya guessin and if ya borrowin Hurry hurry step right up and keep followin The Leader Verse Two: This is a lifetime mission, vision of prison Aight listen In this journey you're the journal I'm the journalist Am I Eternal? Or an eternalist? I'm about to flow long as I can possibly go Keep ya movin cause the crowd said so Dance - cuts rip ya pants Eric B on the blades, bleedin to death - call the ambulance Pull out my weapon and start to squeeze A magnum as a microphone murderin' MC's Let's quote a rhyme from a record I wrote (follow the leader) Yeah - dope Cause everytime I stop it seems ya stuck Soon as ya try to step off ya self-destruct I came to overcome before I'm gone By showin and provin and lettin knowledge be born Then after that I'll live forever - you disagree? You say never? Then follow me! >From century to century you'll remember me In history - not a mystery or a memory God by nature, mind raised in Asia Since you was tricked, I have to raise ya >From the cradle to the grave, but remember You're not a slave Cause we was put here to be much more than that But we couldn't see it because our mind was trapped But I'm here to break away the chains, take away the pains Remake the brains, reveal my name I guess nobody told you a little knowledge is dangerous It can't be mixed, diluted; it can't be changed or switched Here's a lesson if ya guessing and borrowing Hurry hurry, step right up and keep following The leader Verse Three: A furified freestyle, lyrics of fury My third eye makes me shine like jewelry You're just a rent-a-rapper, your rhymes are minute-maid I'll be here when it fade to watch you flip like a renegade I can't wait to break and eliminate On every traitor or snake - so stay awake and follow and follow, because the tempo's a trail The stage is a cage, the mic is a third rail I'm Rakim the Fiend of a Microphone I'm not HIM, so leave my mic alone Soon as the beat is felt, I'm ready to go So fasten your seatbelt, cause I'm about to flow No need to speed slow down to let the leader lead Word to daddy, indeed! The R's a rollin stone, so I'm rollin Directions is told, then the rhymes are stolen Stop buggin', a brother said, dig em, I never dug 'em He couldn't follow the leader long enough so I drug 'em into danger zone, he should arrange his own Face it, it's basic, erase it, change ya tone There's one R in the alphabet It's a one-letter word and it's about to get More complex from one rhyme to the next Eric B be easy on the flex I've been from state to state, followers tailgate Keep comin but you came too late, but I'll wait So back up, regroup, get a grip, come equipped You're the next contestant - clap ya hands, you won a trip! The price is right - don't make a deal too soon How many notes could you name this tune? Follow the Leader is the title, theme, task Now ya know, you don't have to ask Rap is Rhythm And Poetry, cuts create sound effects You might catch up if you follow the records E. wrecks Until then keep eatin and swallowin You better take a deep breath and keep followin The leader |
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6:15 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
I came in the door, i said it before
I never let the mic magnatize me no more But it's biting me, fighting me, inviting me to rhyme I can't hold it back, I'm looking for the line, Taking off my coat, clearing my throat My rhyme will be kicking it until I hit my last note My mind'll range to find all kinds of ideas Self-esteem makes it seem like a thought took years to build But still say a rhyme after the next one Prepared, never scared, I'll just bless one And you know that I'm the soloist So Eric B, make 'em clap to this I don't bug out or chill or be acting ill No tricks in '86, it's time to build Eric B easy on the cut, no mistakes allowed Cuz to me, MC means move the crowd I made it easy to dance to this But can you detect what's coming next from the flex of the wrist Saying indeed that I precede cuz my man made a mix If he bleed he won't need no band-aid to fix If they can get some around until there's no rhymes left I hurry up because the cut will make 'em bleed to death But he's kicking it because it ain't no half stepping The party is live, the rhyme can't be kept in- Side, it needs erupting just like a volcano It ain't the everyday style of the same old rhyme Because I'm better then the rest of them Eric B is on the cut and my name is Rakim Go get a girl and get soft and warm, Don't get excited, you've been invited to a quiet storm But now it's out of hand cuz you told me you hate me And then you ask what have I done lately First you said all you want is love and affection Let me be your angel and I'll be your protection Take you out, buy you all kinds of things I must of got you too hot and burned off your wings You caught an attitude, you need food to eat up I'm scheming like I'm dreaming on a couch wit my feet up You scream I'm lazy, you must be crazy Thought I was a donut, you tried to glaze me Funky |
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5:13 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
I was a fiend before I became a teen
I melted microphone instead of cones of ice cream Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated 'Cause I grabbed the mic and try to say, |
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3:52 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
I ain't no joke, I use to let the mic smoke
Now I slam it when I'm done and make sure it's broke When i'm gone I wrote this song cuz I won't let Nobody press up and mess up to seen I set I like to stand in a crowd and watch the people wonder damn Bu think about it then you'll understand I'm just an addict addicted to music Maybe it's a habit, I gotta use it Even if it's jazz or the quiet storm I hook a beat up convert it in a hip-hop form Write a rhyme in graffitti in every show you see me in Deep concentration cuz I'm no comedian Jokers are wild if you wanna be tame I treat you like a child then you're gonna be named Another enemy, not even a friend of me Cuz you'll get fried in the end if you pretend to be ?Can be? cuz I just put your mind on pause And I can beat you when you compare my rhyme wit yours I wake you up and as I stare in your face you seem stun Remember me, the one you got your idea from But soon you start to suffer but you only get rougher When you start to stutter that's when you had enuff of Biting it, I make you choke, you can't provoke You can't cope, you should of broke cuz I ain't no joke I got a question, it's serious as cancer Who can keep the average dancer Hyper as a heart attack nobody smiling Cuz you're expressing the rhyme that I'm styling This is what we all sit down to write You can't make it so you take it home, break it and bite Use pieces and bits of all the hip-hop hits Get the style down pack then it's time to ?swit? Put my tape on pause and add some more to yours Then you figure you're ready for the neighborhood chores The E-M-C-E-E don't even try to be When you come up to speak, don't even lie |
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4:12 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Verse one:
I'm rated "R", this is a warning, ya better void, Poets are paranoid, DJ's D-stroyed, Cuz I came back to attack others in spite- Strike like lightnin', It's quite frightenin'! But don't be afraid in the dark, in a park, Not a scream or a cry, or a bark, more like a spark; Ya tremble like a alcoholic, muscles tighten up, What's that, lighten up! You see a sight but, Suddenly you feel like your in a horror flick, You grab your heart then wish for tomorrow quick! Music's the clue, when I come your warned, Apocolypse Now, when I'm done, ya gone! Haven't you ever heard of a MC-murderer? This is the death penalty,and I'm servin' a death wish, so come on, step to this hysterical idea for a lyrical professionist! Friday the thirteenth, walking down Elm Street, you come in my realm ya get beat! This is off limits, so your visions are blurry, All ya see is the meters at a volume, pumping Lyrics of Fury! it's a ....fearified freestyle! Terror in the styles, never error-files, indeed I'm known-your exiled! For those that oppose to be level or next to this... I ain't a devil and this ain't the Exorcist! worse than a nightmare, you don't have to sleep a wink, the pain's a migraine every time ya think, Flashbacks interfere, ya start to hear: The R-A-K-I-M in your ear; Then the beat is hysterical, that makes Eric go get a ax and chops the wack, soon the lyrical format superior, faces of death remain, MC's decaying, cuz they never stayed, the scene of a crime every night at the show, the fiend of a rhyme on the mic that you know, It's only one capable, breaks-the unbreakable, melodies-unmakable, pattern-unecscapable, a horn if want the style I posses, I bless the child, the earth, the gods and bomb the rest, for those that envy a MC it can be, hazardous to your health so be friendly, a matter of life and death, just like a ethch-a-sketch, shake 'till your clear, make it disappear, make the next, after the ceremony, let the rhyme rest in peace, if not, my soul'll release! the scene is recreated, reincarnated, updated, I'm glad you made it, cuz your about to see a disastrous sight, a performance never again performed on a mic: Lyrics of fury! a fearified freestyle! the "R" is in the house-too much tension! Make sure the system's loud when I mention Phrases that's fearsome... You want to hear some sounds that not only pounds but please your eardrums; I sit back and observe the whole scenery, then nonchalantly tell you what it mean to me, strictly business I'm quickly in this mood, and I don't care if the whole crowd's a witness! I'm a tear you apart but I'm a spare you a heart, program into the speed of the rhyme, prepare to start, rhythm's out of the radius, insane as the craziest musical madness MC ever made, see it's now an emergency, open-heart surgery... open your mind, you will find every word'll be furier than ever, I remain the furture, battle's tempting...whatever suits ya! For words the sentence, there's no resemblance, you think you're ruffer, then suffer the consequences! I'm never dying-terrifying results, I wake ya with hundreds of thousands of volts, mic-to-mouth resuscitation, rhythm with radiation, novicane ease the pain it might save him, if not, Eric B.'s the judge, the crowd's the jury... How do I plead to homicide? Lyrics of Fury! they're getting furier! a fearified freestyle! |
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6:47 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Verse One:
Turn up the bass, check out my melody, hand out a cigar I'm lettin knowledge be born, and my name's the R A-k-i-m not like the rest of them, I'm not on a list That's what I'm sayin, I drop science like a scientist My melody's in a code, the very next episode Has the mic often distortin, ready to explode I keep the mic in Fahrenheit, freeze MC's and make em colder The listener's system is kickin like solar As I memorize, advertise, like a poet Keep you goin when I'm flowin, smooth enough, you know it But rough that's why the middle of my story I tell E.B. Nobody beats the "R", check out my melody... Verse Two: So what if I'm a microphone fiend addicted soon as I sing One of these for MC's so they don't have to scream I couldn't wait to take the mic, flow into it to test Then let my melody play, and then the record suggest That I'm droppin bombs, but I stay peace and calm Any MC that disagree with me just wave your arm And I'll break, when I'm through breakin I'll leave you broke Drop the mic when I'm finished and watch it smoke So stand back, you wanna rap? All of that can wait I won't push, I won't beat around the bush I wanna break upon those who are not supposed to You might try but you can't get close to Because I'm number one, competition is none I'm measured with the heat that's made by sun Whether playin ball or bobbin in the hall I just writin my name in graffiti on the wall You shouldn't have told me you said you control me So now a contest is what you owe me Pull out your money, pull out your cut Pull up a chair, and I'ma tear shit up My name is Rakim Allah, and R & A stands for "Ra" Switch it around, but still comes out "R" So easily will I e-m-c-e-e My repetition of words is "check out my melody" Some bass and treble is moist, scratchin and cuttin a voice And when it's mine that's when the rhyme is always choice I wouldn't have came to ?set? my name ?around the? same weak shit Puttin blurs and slurs and words that don't fit In a rhyme, why waste time on the microphone I take this more serious than just a poem Rockin party to party, backyard to yard Now tear it up, y'all, and bless the mic for the gods Verse Three: The rhyme is rugged, at the same time sharp I can swing off anything even a string of a harp Just turn it on and start rockin, mind no introduction Til I finish droppin science, no interruption When I approach I exercise like a coach Usin a melody and add numerous notes With the mic and the R-a-k-i-m It's a task, like a match I will strike again Rhymes are poetically kept and alphabetically stepped Put in order to pursue with the momentum except I say one rhyme and I order a longer rhyme shorter A pause, but don't stop the tape recorder I'm not a regular competitor, first rhyme editor Melody arranger, poet, etcetera Extra events, the grand finale like bonus I am the man they call the microphonist With wisdom which means wise words bein spoken Too many at one time watch the mic start smokin I came to express the rap I manifest Stand in my way and I'll lead a ??? words protest MC's that wanna be dissed they're gonna Be dissed if they don't get from in fronta All they can go get is me a glass of Moet A hard time, sip your juice and watch a smooth poet I take 7 MC's put em in a line And add 7 more brothas who think they can rhyme Well, it'll take 7 more before I go for mine And that's 21 MC's ate up at the same time Easy does it, do it easy, that's what I'm doin No fessin, no messin around, no chewin No robbin, no buyin, bitin, why bother This slob'll stop tryin fightin to follow My unusual style will confuse you a while If I was water, I flow in the Nile So many rhymes you won't have time to go for your's Just because of a cause I have to pause Right after tonight is when I prepare To catch another sucka duck MC out there Cos my strategy has to be tragedy, catastrophe And after this you'll call me your majesty My melody... Verse Five: Marley Marl synthesized it, I memorize it Eric B made a cut and advertised it My melody's created for MC's in the place Who try to listen cos I'm dissin ??? ?Take off your necklace, you try to detect my pace? ?Now? you're ?buggin? over ??? off my rhyme like bass The melody that I'm stylin, smooth as a violin Rough enough to break New York from Long Island My wisdom is swift, no matter if My momentum is slow, MC's still stand stiff I'm genuine like leather, don't try to be clever MC's you'll beat the "R", I'll say "Oh never" So Eric B cut it easily And check out my melody |
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3:59 |
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| from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997) | |||||
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3:36 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Standing by the speaker, suddenly I had this Fever, was it me or either summer madness Cuz I just can't stand around So I get closer and the closer I get, the better it sound My mind starts to activate, rhymes collaborate Cuz When i heard the beat, I just had to make Something from the top of my head So I fell into the groove of the wax and I said How could I move the crowd First of all, ain't no mistakes allowed Here's the instruction, put it together It simple ain't it but quite clever Some of you been trying to write rhymes for years But weak ideas irritate my ears Is this the best that you can make? Cuz if not and you got more, I'll wait But don't make me wait too long coz I'm a move on The dancefloor when they put something smooth on So turn up the bass, it's better when it's loud Cuz I like to move the crowd Move the crowd... Verse two: Imagine me wit the heat that's made by solar, It gets stronger everytime I hold a Microphone, check the tone to get started The line for the microphone is departed So leave it up to me, my DJ is mixing Everyone is moving or eager to listen Your hands in the air, your mouth, shut! Cuz I'm on the mic and Eric B is on the cut For those that know me, indeed I like to flow Especially when the music's going slow It gives me a chance to let everybody know It's time to bust out the Rakim show I'm the intelligent wise on the mic I will rise Right in front of your eyes cuz I am a surprise So I'ma let my knowledge be born to a perfection All praise due to Allah and that's a blessing Wit knowledge of self, there's nothing I can't solve At 360 degrees, I revolve This is actual fact, it's not an act, it's been proven, Indeed and I proceed to make the crowd keep moving Move the crowd |
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5:24 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
I'm the arsenal I got artillery, lyrics of ammo Rounds of rhythm Then I'm 'a give 'em piano Bring a bullet-proof vest Nothin' to ricochet ready to aim at the brain ~Now what the trigger say Tempos triflin' Felt like a rifle Massage 'n' melodies Might go right through Simultaneously like an Uzi Nothin' can bruise me Lyrics let up when lady say don't lose me So re-load quickly And you better hit me While I'm lettin' this fifi get wit me You steppin' with .007 Better make it snappy No time to do your hair, baby Brothers are bustin' at me Beats and bullets pass me None on target They want the R hit But wtch the god get Quicker, the tongue is the trigger 'Cause I'm real fast Let off some rhythm at 'em Let 'em feel the blast Penetrate at a crazy rate This ain't no .38 Hit 'em at point blank range And watch 'em radiate Runnin' out of ammunition I'm done wit' em You ask me how I did 'em I let the rhythm hit 'em I push a power that's punishable Better be a prisoner The hit man is the Brother wit' charisma Showing you that I have Powerful paragraphs Followers will become leaders But without a path Ya mentally paralyzed Crippled ya third eye Rhymes are blurred Then it occurred that you heard I Reduced the friction with crucifixion Let loose the mix then Boost the piston Eric hit 'em with' some of that Cut like a lumberjack And me gettin' hit back It won't be none of that I'm untouchable You see me in 3-D When I let the rhythm hit an |
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4:28 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Verse One:
Me and Eric B was coolin' at the Paladium Seen a all-world covered girl, I said "Hey lady I'm Sorry if You're in a rush - Don't let me hold ya up Or interveen or interrupt, but. . . You got the look - I wanna get to know ya better I had to let her know - but yo, I didn't sweat her 'Cause if you woulda seen what I was seein' Almost looked Korean, but European. When she spoke, her accent was self-explanatory - Even her body language told the story Her name was Mahogony - twin's name was Ebony I said "My name is Ra - and this is Eric B" Since the music was loud, I said "let's take a walk, So we could talk and see New York. Show time doesn't start until one o'clock And once I entered your mind I wouldn't wanna stop Caressin' ya thoughts till we was thinkin' the same Calm ya nerves, massage ya brain Each mic is a mineral, poetry's protein Verse is a vitamin - Affects like Codine So tell me how you feel and I'll reveal A pill that'll heal ya pain - 'cause I'm real She musta OD'd 'cause she couldn't resist She spoke slowly when she told me this, she said Chorus: Over Me, She's goin' crazy She'll rub me on my chest and call me Mr. Sexy She said she'd have my kids and help me make my next G Tell me I ain't finesse Mahogony . . . Verse Two: So I prescribed her, something to revive And surprise her, she's liver and much more wiser Than the light I shine when my brain cells spark, Come to me so we can glow in the dark And soon, you can represent the moon As long as I keep ya in tune I'll tell ya who ya are and why ya here Take it in stride 'cause it might take a year It's funny - how time flies when ya havin' fun We got close and it was almost one She kissed me slow, but you know how far a kiss can go F*ck around and miss the show So I told her to hold that thought real tight We can finish where we left off later on tonite Back to the scene of the crime on time As they introduced the 'Fiend of the Rhyme' She stood with a birds-eye view of me Thinkin' of later on of what she would do to me The back of the room I could see her eyes gloom Patient, but hopin' that the show was over soon As the place was ripped in half, she made her way to the front row So I said "let's go" I packed my mic as they screamed for an encore The speakers were blown, plus my mic was sore Besides I got places to go, ladies to see And she could tell me how crazy she was over me We drove off - she said she liked the way that I performed And couldn't wait to get 'soft and warm', I said, "I've been watchin' you, watchin' me Looks I received made it hard to MC I can take a hint, so I knew that she Wanted my "Agony Agony Ag-on-y" in her bod-y Showed her some sights, then I took her to the Condo She was pipin' hot, but I kept my calm So She asked how come I don't smile I said, "Everything's fine, but I'm in a New York state of mind!" As we reached the kingdom, she said bring some Champagne, she'll entertain then sing some Sentimental, songs real gentle, It hit the spot and you know where it went to As we embraced I felt her heart pumpin' I knew she was in the mood for somethin' So I laid on my back and relaxed It wasn't the Perignon that made her collaspe Over me Chorus |
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5:26 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Planet Earth was my place of birth
Born to be the soul controller of the universe Besides the part of the map I hit first Any a rhyme that I can adapt when it gets worst The rough gets going, the going gets rough When I start flowing, the mic might bust The next state, I shake from the power I generate People in Cali used to think it was earthquakes 'Cause times was hard on the Boulevard So I vote God and never get scarred and gauled But it seems like I'm locked in hell Looking over the edge but the R never fell A trip to slip 'cause my Nikes got grip Stand on my own two feet and come equip Any stage I'm seen on, a mic I fiend on I stand alone and need nothing to lean on Going for self wit a long way to go So much to say but I still flow slow I come correct and I won't look back 'Cause it ain't where you're from, it's where you're at Even the (ghetto) I learn to relax in my room and escape from New York And return through the womb of the world as a thought Thinking how hard it was to be born Me being queen wit no physical form Millions have settled wit one destination To reach the best part, it's life creation 9 months later, a job well done Make way, 'cause here I come Since I made it this far, I can't stop now There's a will and a way and I got to know how To be all I can be and more And see all there is to see before Called and go back to the essence It's alot to learn so I study my lessons I thought the ghetto was the worst that could happen to me I'm glad I listen when my father was rapping to me 'Cause back in the days, they lived in caves Exile from the original man, a straight way Now that's what I call hard times I rather be here to exercise the mind Then I take a thought around the world twice >From knowledge to born back to knowledge precise Across the desert, that's how to store a radiant But they couldn't cave me in 'cause I'm the Asiant REaching for the city, a Mecca, visit medina Visions of Neffertiti then I seen a Mind keeps traveling, I'll be back after I Stop and think about the brothers and sisters in Africa Return the thought through the eye of a needle For miles I thought and I just fought the people Under the dark skies on a dark side Not only there but right here's an apartheid So now is the time for us to react Take a trip through the mind and when you get back Understand you're third eye seen all of that It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at Even the (ghetto) Even the (ghetto) No more props, I want property In every borough, nobody's stopping me Because I'm thorough, rhymes are making real estate for me to own Wherever I bless a microphone 007 is back and relaxing On poignant reacting and ready for action I'm so low key that you might not see me Incognito and taking it easy Quiet, it's kept on a hush hush In front of a crowd, I get loud, there's a bumrush Be calm, keep a low pro, and play the background Over the wack rapper, put the mic back down So rip it, break it in half, go head and slam it 'Cause when it's time to build, I'm a mechanic I'm bonding and mending, attaching and blending So many solos, there is no ending People in my neighborhood, they know I'm good >From London to Hollywood, wherever I stood Footprints remain on stage ever since As I walk the street, I leave fossils and dents When I had sex, I left my name on necks My trademark was left throughout the projects I used to get rich when I played celo When I rolled 4, 5, 6, they go we know So I collect my cash then slide I got my back, my gun's on my side It shouldn't have to be like that I guess it ain't where you're from, it's where you're at Even the (ghetto) I'm from the (ghetto) Word up, peace |
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4:03 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Casualties of War!
Casualties of war; as I approach the barricade Where's the enemy? Who do I invade? Bullets of Teflon bulletproof vest rip Tear ya outta ya frame with a bag full of clips Cause I got a family that waits for my return To get back home is my main concern I'ma get back to New York in one piece but I'm bent in the sand that is hot as the city streets Sky lights up like fireworks blind me Bullets, whistlin over my head remind me... President Bush said attack Flashback to Nam, I might not make it back Missile hits the area, screams wake me up from a war of dreams, heat up the M-16 Basic training, trained for torture Take no prisoners, and I just caught ya Addicted to murder, send more bodybags They can't identify em, leave the nametags I get a rush when I see blood, dead bodies on the floor CASUALTIES OF WAR! (4X) Day divides the night and night divides the day It's all hard work and no play More than combat, it's far beyond that Cause I got a kill or be killed kind of attack Area's mapped out, there'll be no, Stratego Me and my platoon make a boom wherever we go But what are we here for? Who's on the other side of the wall? Somebody give the President a call But I hear warfare scream through the air Back to the battlegrounds, it's war they declare A Desert Storm: let's see who reigns supreme Something like Monopoly: a government scheme Go to the Army, be all you can be Another dead soldier? Hell no, not me So I start letting off ammunition in every direction Allah is my only protection But wait a minute, Saddam Hussein prays the same and this is Asia, from where I came I'm on the wrong side, so change the target Shooting at the general; and where's the sergeant? Blame it on John Hardy Hawkins for bringing me to America Now it's mass hysteria I get a rush when I see blood, dead bodies on the floor CASUALTIES OF WAR! (4X) The war is over, for now at least Just because they lost it don't mean it's peace It's a long way home, it's a lot to think about Whole generation, left in doubt Innocent families killed in the midst It'll be more dead people after this So I'm glad to be alive and walkin Half of my platoon came home in coffins Except the general, buried in the Storm in bits and pieces no need to look for em I played it slick and got away with it Rigged it up so they would think they did it Now I'm home on reserves and you can bet when THEY call, I'm going AWOL Cause it ain't no way I'm going back to war when I don't know who or what I'm fighting for So I wait for terrorists to attack Every time a truck backfires I fire back I look for shelter when a plane is over me Remember Pearl Harbor? New York could be over, G Kamikaze, strapped with bombs No peace in the East, they want revenge for Saddam Did I hear gunshots, or thunder? No time to wonder, somebody's going under Put on my fatigues and my camoflouge Take control, cause I'm in charge When I snapped out of it, it was blood, dead bodies on the floor CASUALTIES OF WAR! (4X) |
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4:07 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Try to identufy the man in front of ya But it ain't the role, the gear, or the money, the swift intellectionist with pleny, ya bite, if it's dark I'll spark every one of ya, I throw a mic in the crowd, it's a question, I got the answer..it includes directions: "Go manufacture a mask, show me after a glass of a master that has to make musical massacre..." Attack your wack 'till it's handicapped, you'll never hold the mic again, try to hand it back, cuz every rapper that comes, I cut off his thumbs, put a record to his neck, if he swallows it hums! Slice from ear to ear-so 'till can hear better, Before he bleed to death, here, hear every letter! and you can see quick and thick the blood can get if you try to change the style or the subject; as I get deep in the rhyme I'm becomin' a emcee murderer...before I'm done, I'm a prepare the chamber, the torture's comin' up, Trip through the mind, at the end you'll find it's the punisher.... Kill 'em again! I hold the mic as hostage, emcees are ransome, rhymes'll punish 'em cuz they don't undertsand 'em, I heat up his brain, then explain then I hand him a redhot microphone...that's how I planned 'em, rhymes call information(?), unite midnught(?), like a platoon putting bullet wounds in the mic, if ya curse me, it ain't no mercy, give him a autopsy, killed by a verse of me, I took a kid and cut off his eyelid, kill him slow so he could see what I did, and if he don't understand what I said, I'm pushing his eyeballs way to the back of his head so he can see what he's getting into, a part of the mind that he never been through, a journey is coming cuz ya getting sent to a place harder to find but it's all in the mental, I ran a brainscan to locate his game plan, when I'm through with his brain he ain't the same, man! did he lose his mind or lost in his mind, but this ain't the lost and found because ya can't find your foundation; coasting, your mind is drifting, in slow motion..frozen, looks like another murder at the Mardi Gras, B! Too late to send out a search party, once ya out of ya head then ya can't get back, I give 'em a map, but he still get trapped, so prepare the chamber, the torture's coming up, trip through the mind, at the end you'll find it's The Punisher.... Kill 'em again! Dangerous rhymes (are) performed like surgery, Cuts so deep you'll be bleeding burgundy, My intellect wrecks and disconnects your cerebral cortex, your cerebellum is next! Your conscience becomes sub-conscious, soon your response is nonsense.... the last words are blurred...mumbled then slurred, then your verbs are no longer heard, you get your lung fried so good you're tongue-tied, he couldn't swing or hang so he hung 'till he died, reincarnate him...and kill him again...again and again...again and again... I leave him in the mausoleum so you can see him, I got a dead-MC'ing museum, when I create 'em, I cremate 'em and complicate 'em, you can't save 'em...there's no ultamatum, mic's lay around full of ashes, with the victim's name in slashes, got a long list and I'm a get every one of ya... Beware of The Punisher! Then I'm a kill 'em again! Wake 'em up...kill 'em again |
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3:48 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
[Eric B]: Yo Rakim, what's up?
[Rakim]: Yo, I'm doing the knowledge, E., I'm trying to get paid in full [E]: Well, check this out, since Nobry Walters is our agency, right? [R]: True [E]: Kara Lewis is our agent [R]: Word up [E]: Zakia4th |
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3:01 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
What uhh yo
Just when things seemed the same and the whole scene is lame I come and reign with the unexplained for the brains till things change They strain to slang sling I'm trained to bring game History that I arranged been regained by King James Go to practice with tactics when the track hits theatrics Women that look like actress the status of Cleopatra's Stacks of mathematics took the ?ego-a-geatics? As I find out, what the facts is, for geographic No time to sip Mo's with hostess, never mind what the total gross is I rip shows, stay focused, and split cheese, with soldiers While you hit trees and coast I spit flows that be ferocious And with these explosives, I split seas for Moses Shine permanently only my mind's concernin me Fire burns in me eternally time's eternity Followers turn on me they'll be in a mental infirmary Determinely advance technology better than Germany Since the first days you know of, till the last days is over I was always the flow-er, I made waves for Noah From a compound, to the anatomy, to the breakdown of a atom Some of my rap patterns, still surround Saturn From the ancient Hieroglyphics, to graffiti painted pictures I study I know the scriptures but nowaday ain't it vicious Date back I go beyond check the holy Qu'ran To speeches at the altar on, now we get our party on So being benificent, I bless em with dialogue They expectin, the next testament by the God I blow em through battlezones with chrome for chaperone Blast beats with saxophones one of the baddest rapper's known Every country city and borough, sidestreet and ghetto isle and alley and meadow theories ferile enough to echo When it was one mass of land, with one nash' of man And the whole mass w |
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0:24 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
It feel good, ya knahmean?
To uhh, come back and and get embraced That's that's like the best part y'know? Bein bein gone for a while y'know Walk through the streets 'Yo Ra yo when you comin out, you gotta come out' this and that Y'know, so y'know I always want to come back Had little setbacks, but umm To comeback and get embraced man, that's the best part |
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4:04 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
[from the movie _Wildstyle_
If you was born in New york City let me hear say "You know that"! YOU KNOW THAT Aiyyo, once upon a rhyme where the scenery sets, you see stress Streets a matter of life and death, no regrets Life's a test, strife, wit special effects Neighbourhood's full of reps, cities are projects Where the young cadets get stripes from the vets And comrades quest to be the next, to finess Collect debts and select bets with death threats Object - Chedder, better your total net Where trends are set from ways to express the outfits Friends get wet tryin' to make ends connect Avenues to check, boulevards to sweat The smell of gunsmoke more common than cigarettes WE GOT clicks for wreck WE LIKE Pits for pets WE GOT Giants and Jets, the Knicks, Yanks and Mets WE LIKE much respect and sex extra wet And High-Tech dialect you ain't catch yet (The Bronx Ya out there? No doubt Brooklyn ya out there) [Rakim] Aiyyo, we got blocks and glocks with big shots with big knots and big props yo this is where the bullshit stops where herbs get got if you snitch you get shot we get down and leave the town in a state of shock WE GOT dangerous hang out spots and slick cops place called Riker's Island where kids get locked a lotta gear to rock with blocks of clothes shops styles are top notch, this is the place to buy so bust the box the radio station is hot ease your mind staring at skylines from rooftops flip scripts for chips and new Whips of the lot quick to call a shot, pollitic with thick plots and eh, Carnegie niggers a see what we got to make sure the core of the big apple don't rot where seeings believing we be achieving a lot since disc jocks created hip hop, check it out! (Queens ya out there? no doubt Manhatten no doubt New York city Staten Island New york new york long Island New york ya out there) [Rakim] Aiyo, we got five bouroughs of ghettos with amny places to meet, you get lost in city streets the city that never sleeps Mecca ? Medina the population increase the desert and the oasis, New York, the far east with gods and Sheiks pretty amazons for weeks player dons that fleece the family's black sheep icons that teach that we all act unique we got stats to reach so we all have to eat a mass of peeps, with they own masterpiece the crafts elite, we going past the beat the latest technique no other place get as deep who parks release some of the worlds greatest athletes DJs and MCs and graffiti artistes who use walls and subway trains for marquees we go back to b-boys, breakdancing, breakbeats and it'll never cease and on that note we say peace |
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5:21 |
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from Rakim - The 18Th Letter / The Book Of Life (1997)
Intro/Chorus:
If you can see if you can solve the mystery The answer revolves around your history So carefully, I drop this degree Scientifically, and realistically (Who is God?) Repeat Chorus In eternal blackness, in the midst of the darkest night Proteins and minerals, exist within specks of light Solids liquids and gases, and sparks of light within infinite lengths and widths and depths and heights No beginning or ending, the seven dimensions Enough space for more than a million words and inventions To travel through time within enough room to be the womb of the most high's great mind which he will soon make shine With intelligent elements in sight that he will gather In the realms of relativity electricity struck matter Energies explode he below to keep releasin Atoms by the millions, til the numbers increasin Til it was burnin he kept returnin itself to the source The hotter his thoughts it gave the center more force He gave birth to the sun which would follow his laws All caused by his mental intercourse, who is God? Chorus He began to explain his craft, the master in the attic He dealt with measurements his language, was mathematics His theoretical wisdom of the numerical system The complete number nine which means born or existed He gave birth to all planets, inorganic, and organic So you wouldn't take it for granted They rotated they own distance around the sun And fully submit to the existance of one And each one was promised everlasting perfection If each one keeps spinnin in the same direction To the East, and each speak the motion of peace and harmony, and each show devotion to teach The universe is to come, the whole world must go according Know your galaxies and mirages stars start fallin So stay in your orbit maintain safe and sound Like the planets each cipher remains perfectly round Chorus From unconciousness, to conciousness By knowledging his wisdom his response is this A understanding, which is the best part He picked the third planet where new forms of life would start He pursued show and prove every move in order Back to the source he let off his resources in the water Climb his climax, where the climate is at, high degrees See he start to breathe deep in the darkest seas And the plan is, to lay in the clays to form land And expand, usin the same clays to born man In his own image our origin begins in the East Culture rise to breed, with the powers of peace Deal in equality nature's policy is to be God Build or destroy positively born life like Allah And each one was given everlasting perfection If each one keep living in the same direction And life was life, and love was love We went according by the laws of the world above They showed us physically, we could reach infinity But mentally, through the century we lost our identity Life start and ending, we got trife and started sinning Lost touch with the beginning now ciphers stop spinnin And what was once easy became confused and hard Which brings us back, to the mystic question, who is God? Sixty-six trillion years since his face was shown When the seventh angel appears, the mystery will be known Check Revelations and Genesis, St. Luke and John It even tells us we are Gods in the Holy Qu'ran Wisdom Strength and Beauty, one of the meanings of God G.O.D. you and me ?Gomars O Dubar? Knowledge Wisdom Understanding Sun Moon and Star Man Woman and Child, and so is Allah Chorus Bear witness to Allah, gave birth to all For Allah was all, and therefore, life itself And the universe gave birth to man The universe was man, and man was the universe And the universe was always existed And existance was life And life is Allah And Allah had no beginning because he is, what always was Rakim Allah, peace Now who is God? |
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2:29 |
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| from Take The Lead (2006) | |||||
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3:56 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
I ain't no joke, I use to let the mic smoke
Now I slam it when I'm done and make sure it's broke When i'm gone no one gets on cuz I won't let Nobody press up and mess up the seen I set I like to stand in a crowd and watch the people wonder damn But think about it then you'll understand I'm just an addict addicted to music Maybe it's a habit, I gotta use it Even if it's jazz or the quiet storm I hook a beat up convert it into hip-hop form Write a rhyme in graffitti in every show you see me in Deep concentration, cuz I'm no comedian Jokers are wild if you wanna be tamed I treat you like a child then you're gonna be named Another enemy, not even a friend of me Cuz you'll get fried in the end when you pretend to be Competin' cuz I just put your mind on pause and I complete when - you compare my rhyme wit yours I wake you up and as I stare in your face you seem stunned Remember me, the one you got your idea from But soon you start to suffer, the tune'll get rougher When you start to stutter that's when you had enuff of Biting, it'll make you choke, you can't provoke You can't cope, you should've broke because I ain't no joke I got a question, as serious as cancer Who can keep the average dancer Hyper as a heart attack nobody smiling Cuz you're expressing the rhyme that I'm styling This is what we all sit down to write You can't make it so you take it home, break it and bite Use pieces and bits of all the hip-hop hits Get the style down pat then it's time to switch Put my tape on pause and add some more to yours Then you fake it you're ready for the neighborhood chores The E-M-C-E-E don't even try to be When you come up to speak, don't even lie to me You like to exaggerate, dream and imaginate Then change the rhyme around, that can aggravate me So when you see me come up, freeze Or you'll be one of those 7 MC's They think that I'm a new jack but only if they knew that They who think wrong are they who can't do that Style that I'm doing, they might ruin Patterns and paragraphs based on you and Your offbeat DJ, if anything he play Sound familiar, I'll wait til E say Play 'em, so I'ma have to diss and bro You could get a smack for this, I ain't no joke I hold the microphone like a grudge B'll hold the record so the needle don't budge I hold a conversation cuz when I invent I nominated my DJ to president When I'm see I'll, keep a freestyle, going steadily So pucker up and whistle my melody But whatever you do, don't miss one They'll be another rough rhyme after this one Before you know it, you're following and fiending Waiting for the punchline to get the meaning Like before the middle of my story I'm telling Nobody beats the R so stop yelling Save it, put it in your pocket for later Cuz I'm moving the crowd and B'll wreck the fader No interruptions til the mic is broke When I'm gone, then you can joke Cuz everything is real on a serious tip Keep playing and I varies quick And take you for a walk through hell Freeze your dome then watch your eyeballs swell Guide you out of triple stage darkness When it get dark again then I'ma spark this Microphone cuz the heat is on, you see smoke then I finish when the beat is gone, I'm no joke |
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3:44 |
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| from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987) | |||||
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6:47 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Turn up the bass, check out my melody, hand out a cigar
I'm lettin knowledge be born, and my name's the R A-k-i-m, not like the rest of them, I'm not on a list That's what I'm sayin, I drop science like a scientist My melody's in a code, the very next episode Has the mic often distortin', ready to explode I keep the mic at Fahrenheit, freeze MC's to make 'em colder The listener's system is kickin' like solar As I memorize, advertise, like a poet Keep you goin' when I'm flowin', smooth enough, you know with the rough That's why the moral of my story I tell'll be Nobody beats the R, check out my melody So what, I'm a microphone fiend addicted soon as I seen One of these four MC's so they don't have to scream I couldn't wait to take the mic, flow into it to test it, Let 'My Melody' play, then a record suggest it I'm droppin bombs, but I stay peace and calm Any MC that disagree with me wave your arm And I'll break, when I'm through breakin' I'll leave you broke Drop the mic when I'm finished and watch it smoke So stand back, you wanna rap? All of that can wait I won't push, I won't beat around the bush I wanna break upon those who are not supposed to You might try but you can't get close to Because I'm number one, competition is none I'm measured with the heat that's made by sun 'Cause I'm playin ball or bobbin' in the hall Or just writin my name in graffiti on the wall You shouldn't have told me you said you controlled me So now a contest is what you owe me Pull out your money, pull out your cut Pull up a chair, and I'm a tear shit up My name is Rakim Allah, and R and A stands for Ra Switch it around, it still comes out R So easily will I e-m-c-e-e My repetition of words is check out my melody Some bass and treble is moist, scratch in and cut in a voice And when it's mine that's when the rhyme is always choice I wouldn't a came and said my name and run same weak shit Puttin' blurbs and slurs and words that don't fit In a rhyme, why waste time on the microphone I take this more serious than just a poem Rockin party to party, backyard to yard I tear it up, y'all, and bless the mic for the gods The rhyme is rugged, at the same time sharp I can swing off anything even a string of a harp Just turn it on and start rockin, mine, no introduction 'Til I finish droppin science, no interruption When I approach I exercise like a coach Usin' a melody and add new verse(?) and notes So when the mic and the R-a-k-i-m It's attached, like a match I will strike again Rhymes are poetically kept and alphabetically stepped Put in a order to pursue with the momentum except I say one rhyme out of order, a longer rhyme shorter, A pause, but don't stop the tape recorder I'm not a regular competitor, first rhyme editor Melody arranger, poet, etcetera Extra event, the grand finale-like bonus I am the man they call the microphonist With wisdom, which means wise words bein' spoken Too many at one time watch the mic start smokin' I came to express the rap I manifest Stand in my way and I'll veto on the word's protest MC's that wanna be vissed(?), they're gonna Be dissed if they don't get from in fronta All they can go get is me a glass of Moet A hard time, sip your juice and watch a smooth poet I take 7 MC's put 'em in a line And add 7 more brothas who think they can rhyme Well, it'll take 7 more before I go for mine Now that's 21 MC's ate up at the same time Easy does it, do it easy, that's what I'm doin' No fessin', no messin' around, no chewin' No robbin', no buyin', bitin', why bother This slob'll stop tryin', fightin' to follow My unusual style will confuse you a while And if I was water, I'd flow in the Nile So many rhymes you won't have time to go for yours Just because of applause I have to pause Right after tonight is when I prepare To catch another sucka duck MC out there 'Cause my strategy has to be tragedy, catastrophe And after this you'll call me your majesty My melody Yes, my melody Eric B. Marley Marl synthesized it, I memorize it Eric B. made a cut and advertised it My melody's created for MC's in the place They try to listen cuz I'm dissin them so pick up your face Shook off your neck cuz you try to detect my pace Now you're buggin', almost doggin' off my rhyme-like bass The melody that I'm stylin', smooth as a violin Rough enough to break New York from Long Island My wisdom is swift, no matter if My momentum is slow, MC's still stand stiff I'm genuine like leather - reclined to be clever MC, you'll beat the R, I'll say "Oh never" So Eric B., cut it easily and check out my melody... |
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4:47 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to Think of how many weak shows you slept through Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you Thinking of this, you keep repeating you miss The rhymes from the microphone soloist And you sit by the radio, hand on the dial, soon As you hear it, pump up the volume Dance wit the speaker 'till you hear it blow, Then plug in the headphone 'cause here it go It's a 4 letter word when it's heard, it control your body to dance (You got it) soul, Ditects the tempo like a red alert Reaches your reflex, so let it work When this is playing, you can't get stuck wit The steps, so get set and I'm a still come up wit A gift to be swift, follow the leader, the rhyme will go Def wit the record that was mixed a long time ago It can be done but only I can do it For those that can dance and clap your hands to it I start to think and then I sink Into the paper like I was ink When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines, I escape when I finish the rhyme... I got soul You got it (4x) I know you got soul Picture a mic, the stage is empty A beat like this might tempt me To pose, show my rings and my fat gold chain Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train But I'll wait 'cause I mastered this Let the others go first so the brothers don't miss Eric B. break the sticks (you got it) Rakim will begin when you make the mix I'll experiment like a scientist You wanna rhyme, you gotta sign my list 'Cause I'm a manifest and bless the mic I hold You want it next? then you gotta have soul 'Cause if you ain't got it, I'm a make an encore Take the mic, make the people respond for The R, 'cause that's the way it'll have to be If you wanna get on after me Think about it, wait, erase your rhyme Forget it and don't waste your time 'Cause I'll be in the crowd if you ain't controlling it Drop the mic, you shouldn't be holding it This is how it should be done This style is identical to none Some try to make it sound like this but you're getting me So upset that I'm wet 'cause you're sweating me I drip steam like a microphone fiend Eager to MC is my theme I get hype when I hear a drum roll Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul You got it (5x) I got soul (you got it) that's why I came To teach those who can't say my name First of all, I'm the soloist, the soul controller Rakim gets stronger as I get older Constant elevation causes expansion I write my rhyme while I cool in my mansion Then put it on tape and in the city I test it Then on the radio the R's requested You listen to it, the concept might break you 'Cause almost anyone can relate to... Whoever's out of hand, I'm give him handles Light 'em up, blow 'em out like candles Or should I just let him melt? Then give him a hand so they can see how it felt I'm not bold just cuz I rock gold Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul You got it (4x) Now I'm a stop to see what you got Get off the mic before I get too hot I want to see which posse can dance the best It should be easy 'cause the beat is fresh Now if your from Uptown, Brooklyn- bound, The Bronx, Queens, or Long Island Sound, Even other states come right and exact, It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at Since you came here, you have to show and prove And do that dance until it don't move 'Cause all you need is soul self-esteem will release, The rest is up to you, Rakim 'll say peace You got it (10x) |
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3:47 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Verse one:
Standing by the speaker suddenly I had this Fever was it me or either summer madness 'cause I just can't stand around So I get closer and the closer I get the better it sound My mind starts to activate rhymes collaborate 'cause When i heard the beat I just had to make Something from the top of my head So I fell into the groove of the wax and I said How could I move the crowd First of all, ain't no mistakes allowed Here's the instruction, put it together It simple ain't it but quite clever Some of you been trying to write rhymes for years But weak ideas irritate my ears Is this the best that you can make? 'cause if not and you got more, I'll wait But don't make me wait too long coz I'm a move on The dancefloor when they put something smooth on So turn up the bass, it's better when it's loud 'cause I like to move the crowd Move the crowd... Verse two: Imagine me wit the heat that's made by solar, It gets stronger everytime I hold a Microphone, check the tone to get started The line for the microphone is departed So leave it up to me, my DJ is mixing Everyone is moving or eager to listen Your hands in the air, your mouth, shut! 'cause I'm on the mic and Eric be |
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3:51 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Yo Rakim what's up?
Yo I'm doing the knowledge E. I'm trying to get paid in full Well check this out since Nobry Walters is our agency right? True Kara Lewis is our agent Word up Zakia/4th & Broadway is our record company Indeed Okay so who we rollin with? We rollin with Rush Of Rushtown Management. Check this out since we talking over this def beat that I put together, I wanna hear some of them def rhymes, know what I'm sayin? And together, we can get paid in full... Thinkin of a master plan Cuz ain't nuthin but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin up with lint So I start my mission- leave my residence Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents I need money, I used to be a stick-up kid So I think of all the devious things I did I used to roll up, this is a hold up, ain't nuthin funny Stop smiling, be still, don't nuthin move but the money But now I learned to earn cos I'm righteous I feel great! so maybe I might just Search for a 9 to 5, if I strive Then maybe I'll stay alive So I walk up the street whistlin this Feelin out of place cos, man, do I miss A pen and a paper, a stereo, a tape of Me and Eric B, and a nice big plate of Fish, which is my favorite dish But without no money it's still a wish Cos I don't like to dream about gettin paid So I dig into the books of the rhymes that I made To now test to see if I got pull Hit the studio, cos I'm paid in full |
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4:00 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Knowledge will begin until I finish this song
'Cuz the rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme goes on You sweat as you step about to get hype Or should you just listen to the man on the mic You're physically in this with me but how could you tell If it's meant to be hip hop if you're not mentally as well Ready to absorb the rhyme that I just poured Into the mic and so unite and this won't be so bored If you just keep kickin' listen - to the mix And think you'll sink into the rhyme like quicksand Holds and controls you 'til I leave You fall deeper in the style - it's hard to breathe The only time I stop is when somebody drop and then Bring 'em to the front 'cuz my rhymes' the oxygen Then wave your hands - when you're ready I'll send you Into your favorite dance so let the rhyme continue And so on and I'ma go on simultaneously And even if I stop - the rhyme remains to be Rising to the top - and I came to drop it Catch it and quiz it - is my topic Universual 'cuz I move everybody to come By exercising your mind you'll coincide as one You look around and see how packed the party starts to get I draw a crowd - like an architect The five borroughs react and all the islands attract And every state can't wait - so they attack off a spot on the floor - squeeze in cuz it's packed It'll be more room if MC's play the back I'm the R the A to the K-I-M If I wasn't, then why would I say I am The microphone fiend if I was a fake Whoever said it's just buggin' off the rhymes I make I had you biting your tongue for what I brung and recite Sung it on stage some said it don't sound like The voice on the record - I see what you mean Because the system was wack, so I had to scream So just - give me a mic if it's loud I'll blow it If not - into the crowd I'll throw it Pull out my cordless mic and entertain you well Before I let go I'ma spark your brain cells I took time to write - tonight I will recite So poetically inclined when the mic is held tight Rhymes start flowin' kisses are blowin MC's are knowin' that's why they're goin Home to tell a friend when the party ends "Yo, man you know Rakim? That brother struck again" Cuz mic by mic and stage by stage, Tape by tape and page by page, When the crowd is moving I compete with the mix The rougher the cuts - the rougher the rhyme gets Deeper and Deeper - I hope you understand it I made it up myself and I planned it For other MC's who waste time Writing jokes, riddles, and maybe a rhyme I cross my arms and I was waiting - but I was hating The rappers on the microphone was fronting - just faking They wasn't breakin', which means I was achin' To get up on the microphone and then start takin' Control of the mic - uptight when I grabbed it So hug the speaker- your ear's a magnet Attracted to a freestyle put in effect You listen to my man while you're sippin' Moet So Eric, pick up the needle (yeah) put it in the middle (ahhight) Give me a scratch, turn my Mic up a little, I want you to hear this perfectly clear Catch what I'm sayin'? You get the idea? I hope you knowledge the beginning cuz I'm finished this song The rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme flows on... |
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4:09 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
It's not your situation
I just need contemplation over you Over you I'm not so systematic It's just that I'm an addict for your love yeah I'm not the only one that holds ya I never ever should have told ya You're my only girl (Never should have told you/me) I'm not the only one that holds ya I never ever should have told ya You're my only world Just think how long I've known ya It's wrong for me to own you lock and key Lock and key It's really not confusin' I'm just a young illusion can't you see, yeah, well I'm not the only one that holds ya I never ever should have told ya You're my only girl (Never should have told you/me) I'm not the only one that holds ya I never ever should have told ya You're my only world Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls, yeah Oh, oh, kissed the girls, um hmm Oh, oh, oh It's not your situation I just need contemplation over you Over you I'm not so systematic It's just that I'm an addict for your love, yeah I'm not the only one that holds ya I never ever should have told ya You're my only girl (Never should have told you/me) I'm not the only one that holds ya I never ever should have told ya You're my only world Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls, yeah Oh, oh, kissed the girls, um hmm Why ya wanna make them Oh make them cry (No) Oh, whoa whoa (Why) Kiss the girls Why ya wanna Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls, yeah Oh, oh, kissed the girls, um hmm |
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6:19 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
I came in the door, I said it before
I never let the mic magnetize me no more But it's biting me, fighting me, inviting me to rhyme I can't hold it back, I'm looking for the line, Taking off my coat, clearing my throat The rhyme will be kicking it until I hit my last note My mind remains to find all kinda ideas Self-esteem makes it seem like a thought took years to build But still say a rhyme after the next one Prepared, never scared, I'll just bless one And you know that I'm the soloist So Eric B, make 'em clap to this I don't bug out or chill or be acting ill No tricks in '86, it's time to build Eric B easy on the cut, no mistakes allowed Cuz to me, MC means move the crowd I made it easy to dance to this But can you detect what's coming next from the flex of the wrist Say "Indeed" then I proceed cuz my man made a mix If he bleed he won't need no band-aid to fix his fingertips, so I rhyme until there's no rhymes left I hurry up because the cut will make him bleed to death But he's kicking it cuz it ain't no half steppin' The party is live, the Rak can't be kept inside if he's eruptin' just like a volcano It ain't the everyday style or the same old rhyme Cuz I'm better then the rest of them Eric B is on the cut and my name is Rakim Go get a girl and get soft and warm, Don't get excited, you've been invited to a quiet storm But now it's out of hand cuz you told me you hate me And then you ask what have I done lately First you said all you want is love and affection Let me be your angel and I'll be your protection Take you out, buy you all kinds of things You caught an attitude, you need food to eat up I'm scheming like I'm dreaming on a couch wit my feet up You scream I'm lazy, you must be crazy Thought I was a donut, you tried to glaze me |
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3:52 |
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| from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987) | |||||
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7:12 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Yo Rakim what's up?
Yo I'm doing the knowledge E. I'm trying to get paid in full Well check this out since Nobry Walters is our agency right? True Kara Lewis is our agent Word up Zakia/4th & Broadway is our record company Indeed Okay so who we rollin with? We rollin with Rush Of Rushtown Management. Check this out since we talking over this def beat that I put together, I wanna hear some of them def rhymes, know what I'm sayin? And together, we can get paid in full... Thinkin of a master plan Cuz ain't nuthin but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin up with lint So I start my mission- leave my residence Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents I need money, I used to be a stick-up kid So I think of all the devious things I did I used to roll up, this is a hold up, ain't nuthin funny Stop smiling, be still, don't nuthin move but the money But now I learned to earn cos I'm righteous I feel great! so maybe I might just Search for a 9 to 5, if I strive Then maybe I'll stay alive So I walk up the street whistlin this Feelin out of place cos, man, do I miss A pen and a paper, a stereo, a tape of Me and Eric B, and a nice big plate of Fish, which is my favorite dish But without no money it's still a wish Cos I don't like to dream about gettin paid So I dig into the books of the rhymes that I made To now test to see if I got pull Hit the studio, cos I'm paid in full |
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4:56 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to Think of how many weak shows you slept through Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you Thinking of this, you keep repeating you miss The rhymes from the microphone soloist And you sit by the radio, hand on the dial, soon As you hear it, pump up the volume Dance wit the speaker 'till you hear it blow, Then plug in the headphone 'cause here it go It's a 4 letter word when it's heard, it control your body to dance (You got it) soul, Ditects the tempo like a red alert Reaches your reflex, so let it work When this is playing, you can't get stuck wit The steps, so get set and I'm a still come up wit A gift to be swift, follow the leader, the rhyme will go Def wit the record that was mixed a long time ago It can be done but only I can do it For those that can dance and clap your hands to it I start to think and then I sink Into the paper like I was ink When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines, I escape when I finish the rhyme... I got soul You got it (4x) I know you got soul Picture a mic, the stage is empty A beat like this might tempt me To pose, show my rings and my fat gold chain Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train But I'll wait 'cause I mastered this Let the others go first so the brothers don't miss Eric B. break the sticks (you got it) Rakim will begin when you make the mix I'll experiment like a scientist You wanna rhyme, you gotta sign my list 'Cause I'm a manifest and bless the mic I hold You want it next? then you gotta have soul 'Cause if you ain't got it, I'm a make an encore Take the mic, make the people respond for The R, 'cause that's the way it'll have to be If you wanna get on after me Think about it, wait, erase your rhyme Forget it and don't waste your time 'Cause I'll be in the crowd if you ain't controlling it Drop the mic, you shouldn't be holding it This is how it should be done This style is identical to none Some try to make it sound like this but you're getting me So upset that I'm wet 'cause you're sweating me I drip steam like a microphone fiend Eager to MC is my theme I get hype when I hear a drum roll Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul You got it (5x) I got soul (you got it) that's why I came To teach those who can't say my name First of all, I'm the soloist, the soul controller Rakim gets stronger as I get older Constant elevation causes expansion I write my rhyme while I cool in my mansion Then put it on tape and in the city I test it Then on the radio the R's requested You listen to it, the concept might break you 'Cause almost anyone can relate to... Whoever's out of hand, I'm give him handles Light 'em up, blow 'em out like candles Or should I just let him melt? Then give him a hand so they can see how it felt I'm not bold just cuz I rock gold Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul You got it (4x) Now I'm a stop to see what you got Get off the mic before I get too hot I want to see which posse can dance the best It should be easy 'cause the beat is fresh Now if your from Uptown, Brooklyn- bound, The Bronx, Queens, or Long Island Sound, Even other states come right and exact, It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at Since you came here, you have to show and prove And do that dance until it don't move 'Cause all you need is soul self-esteem will release, The rest is up to you, Rakim 'll say peace You got it (10x) |
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4:25 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Verse one:
Standing by the speaker suddenly I had this Fever was it me or either summer madness 'cause I just can't stand around So I get closer and the closer I get the better it sound My mind starts to activate rhymes collaborate 'cause When i heard the beat I just had to make Something from the top of my head So I fell into the groove of the wax and I said How could I move the crowd First of all, ain't no mistakes allowed Here's the instruction, put it together It simple ain't it but quite clever Some of you been trying to write rhymes for years But weak ideas irritate my ears Is this the best that you can make? 'cause if not and you got more, I'll wait But don't make me wait too long coz I'm a move on The dancefloor when they put something smooth on So turn up the bass, it's better when it's loud 'cause I like to move the crowd Move the crowd... Verse two: Imagine me wit the heat that's made by solar, It gets stronger everytime I hold a Microphone, check the tone to get started The line for the microphone is departed So leave it up to me, my DJ is mixing Everyone is moving or eager to listen Your hands in the air, your mouth, shut! 'cause I'm on the mic and Eric be |
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5:15 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Yo Rakim what's up?
Yo I'm doing the knowledge E. I'm trying to get paid in full Well check this out since Nobry Walters is our agency right? True Kara Lewis is our agent Word up Zakia/4th & Broadway is our record company Indeed Okay so who we rollin with? We rollin with Rush Of Rushtown Management. Check this out since we talking over this def beat that I put together, I wanna hear some of them def rhymes, know what I'm sayin? And together, we can get paid in full... Thinkin of a master plan Cuz ain't nuthin but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin up with lint So I start my mission- leave my residence Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents I need money, I used to be a stick-up kid So I think of all the devious things I did I used to roll up, this is a hold up, ain't nuthin funny Stop smiling, be still, don't nuthin move but the money But now I learned to earn cos I'm righteous I feel great! so maybe I might just Search for a 9 to 5, if I strive Then maybe I'll stay alive So I walk up the street whistlin this Feelin out of place cos, man, do I miss A pen and a paper, a stereo, a tape of Me and Eric B, and a nice big plate of Fish, which is my favorite dish But without no money it's still a wish Cos I don't like to dream about gettin paid So I dig into the books of the rhymes that I made To now test to see if I got pull Hit the studio, cos I'm paid in full |
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6:12 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Knowledge will begin until I finish this song
'Cuz the rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme goes on You sweat as you step about to get hype Or should you just listen to the man on the mic You're physically in this with me but how could you tell If it's meant to be hip hop if you're not mentally as well Ready to absorb the rhyme that I just poured Into the mic and so unite and this won't be so bored If you just keep kickin' listen - to the mix And think you'll sink into the rhyme like quicksand Holds and controls you 'til I leave You fall deeper in the style - it's hard to breathe The only time I stop is when somebody drop and then Bring 'em to the front 'cuz my rhymes' the oxygen Then wave your hands - when you're ready I'll send you Into your favorite dance so let the rhyme continue And so on and I'ma go on simultaneously And even if I stop - the rhyme remains to be Rising to the top - and I came to drop it Catch it and quiz it - is my topic Universual 'cuz I move everybody to come By exercising your mind you'll coincide as one You look around and see how packed the party starts to get I draw a crowd - like an architect The five borroughs react and all the islands attract And every state can't wait - so they attack off a spot on the floor - squeeze in cuz it's packed It'll be more room if MC's play the back I'm the R the A to the K-I-M If I wasn't, then why would I say I am The microphone fiend if I was a fake Whoever said it's just buggin' off the rhymes I make I had you biting your tongue for what I brung and recite Sung it on stage some said it don't sound like The voice on the record - I see what you mean Because the system was wack, so I had to scream So just - give me a mic if it's loud I'll blow it If not - into the crowd I'll throw it Pull out my cordless mic and entertain you well Before I let go I'ma spark your brain cells I took time to write - tonight I will recite So poetically inclined when the mic is held tight Rhymes start flowin' kisses are blowin MC's are knowin' that's why they're goin Home to tell a friend when the party ends "Yo, man you know Rakim? That brother struck again" Cuz mic by mic and stage by stage, Tape by tape and page by page, When the crowd is moving I compete with the mix The rougher the cuts - the rougher the rhyme gets Deeper and Deeper - I hope you understand it I made it up myself and I planned it For other MC's who waste time Writing jokes, riddles, and maybe a rhyme I cross my arms and I was waiting - but I was hating The rappers on the microphone was fronting - just faking They wasn't breakin', which means I was achin' To get up on the microphone and then start takin' Control of the mic - uptight when I grabbed it So hug the speaker- your ear's a magnet Attracted to a freestyle put in effect You listen to my man while you're sippin' Moet So Eric, pick up the needle (yeah) put it in the middle (ahhight) Give me a scratch, turn my Mic up a little, I want you to hear this perfectly clear Catch what I'm sayin'? You get the idea? I hope you knowledge the beginning cuz I'm finished this song The rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme flows on... |
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7:10 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Verse one:
Standing by the speaker suddenly I had this Fever was it me or either summer madness 'cause I just can't stand around So I get closer and the closer I get the better it sound My mind starts to activate rhymes collaborate 'cause When i heard the beat I just had to make Something from the top of my head So I fell into the groove of the wax and I said How could I move the crowd First of all, ain't no mistakes allowed Here's the instruction, put it together It simple ain't it but quite clever Some of you been trying to write rhymes for years But weak ideas irritate my ears Is this the best that you can make? 'cause if not and you got more, I'll wait But don't make me wait too long coz I'm a move on The dancefloor when they put something smooth on So turn up the bass, it's better when it's loud 'cause I like to move the crowd Move the crowd... Verse two: Imagine me wit the heat that's made by solar, It gets stronger everytime I hold a Microphone, check the tone to get started The line for the microphone is departed So leave it up to me, my DJ is mixing Everyone is moving or eager to listen Your hands in the air, your mouth, shut! 'cause I'm on the mic and Eric be |
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5:58 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Turn up the bass, check out my melody, hand out a cigar
I'm lettin knowledge be born, and my name's the R A-k-i-m, not like the rest of them, I'm not on a list That's what I'm sayin, I drop science like a scientist My melody's in a code, the very next episode Has the mic often distortin', ready to explode I keep the mic at Fahrenheit, freeze MC's to make 'em colder The listener's system is kickin' like solar As I memorize, advertise, like a poet Keep you goin' when I'm flowin', smooth enough, you know with the rough That's why the moral of my story I tell'll be Nobody beats the R, check out my melody So what, I'm a microphone fiend addicted soon as I seen One of these four MC's so they don't have to scream I couldn't wait to take the mic, flow into it to test it, Let 'My Melody' play, then a record suggest it I'm droppin bombs, but I stay peace and calm Any MC that disagree with me wave your arm And I'll break, when I'm through breakin' I'll leave you broke Drop the mic when I'm finished and watch it smoke So stand back, you wanna rap? All of that can wait I won't push, I won't beat around the bush I wanna break upon those who are not supposed to You might try but you can't get close to Because I'm number one, competition is none I'm measured with the heat that's made by sun 'Cause I'm playin ball or bobbin' in the hall Or just writin my name in graffiti on the wall You shouldn't have told me you said you controlled me So now a contest is what you owe me Pull out your money, pull out your cut Pull up a chair, and I'm a tear shit up My name is Rakim Allah, and R and A stands for Ra Switch it around, it still comes out R So easily will I e-m-c-e-e My repetition of words is check out my melody Some bass and treble is moist, scratch in and cut in a voice And when it's mine that's when the rhyme is always choice I wouldn't a came and said my name and run same weak shit Puttin' blurbs and slurs and words that don't fit In a rhyme, why waste time on the microphone I take this more serious than just a poem Rockin party to party, backyard to yard I tear it up, y'all, and bless the mic for the gods The rhyme is rugged, at the same time sharp I can swing off anything even a string of a harp Just turn it on and start rockin, mine, no introduction 'Til I finish droppin science, no interruption When I approach I exercise like a coach Usin' a melody and add new verse(?) and notes So when the mic and the R-a-k-i-m It's attached, like a match I will strike again Rhymes are poetically kept and alphabetically stepped Put in a order to pursue with the momentum except I say one rhyme out of order, a longer rhyme shorter, A pause, but don't stop the tape recorder I'm not a regular competitor, first rhyme editor Melody arranger, poet, etcetera Extra event, the grand finale-like bonus I am the man they call the microphonist With wisdom, which means wise words bein' spoken Too many at one time watch the mic start smokin' I came to express the rap I manifest Stand in my way and I'll veto on the word's protest MC's that wanna be vissed(?), they're gonna Be dissed if they don't get from in fronta All they can go get is me a glass of Moet A hard time, sip your juice and watch a smooth poet I take 7 MC's put 'em in a line And add 7 more brothas who think they can rhyme Well, it'll take 7 more before I go for mine Now that's 21 MC's ate up at the same time Easy does it, do it easy, that's what I'm doin' No fessin', no messin' around, no chewin' No robbin', no buyin', bitin', why bother This slob'll stop tryin', fightin' to follow My unusual style will confuse you a while And if I was water, I'd flow in the Nile So many rhymes you won't have time to go for yours Just because of applause I have to pause Right after tonight is when I prepare To catch another sucka duck MC out there 'Cause my strategy has to be tragedy, catastrophe And after this you'll call me your majesty My melody Yes, my melody Eric B. Marley Marl synthesized it, I memorize it Eric B. made a cut and advertised it My melody's created for MC's in the place They try to listen cuz I'm dissin them so pick up your face Shook off your neck cuz you try to detect my pace Now you're buggin', almost doggin' off my rhyme-like bass The melody that I'm stylin', smooth as a violin Rough enough to break New York from Long Island My wisdom is swift, no matter if My momentum is slow, MC's still stand stiff I'm genuine like leather - reclined to be clever MC, you'll beat the R, I'll say "Oh never" So Eric B., cut it easily and check out my melody... |
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4:44 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to Think of how many weak shows you slept through Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you Thinking of this, you keep repeating you miss The rhymes from the microphone soloist And you sit by the radio, hand on the dial, soon As you hear it, pump up the volume Dance wit the speaker 'till you hear it blow, Then plug in the headphone 'cause here it go It's a 4 letter word when it's heard, it control your body to dance (You got it) soul, Ditects the tempo like a red alert Reaches your reflex, so let it work When this is playing, you can't get stuck wit The steps, so get set and I'm a still come up wit A gift to be swift, follow the leader, the rhyme will go Def wit the record that was mixed a long time ago It can be done but only I can do it For those that can dance and clap your hands to it I start to think and then I sink Into the paper like I was ink When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines, I escape when I finish the rhyme... I got soul You got it (4x) I know you got soul Picture a mic, the stage is empty A beat like this might tempt me To pose, show my rings and my fat gold chain Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train But I'll wait 'cause I mastered this Let the others go first so the brothers don't miss Eric B. break the sticks (you got it) Rakim will begin when you make the mix I'll experiment like a scientist You wanna rhyme, you gotta sign my list 'Cause I'm a manifest and bless the mic I hold You want it next? then you gotta have soul 'Cause if you ain't got it, I'm a make an encore Take the mic, make the people respond for The R, 'cause that's the way it'll have to be If you wanna get on after me Think about it, wait, erase your rhyme Forget it and don't waste your time 'Cause I'll be in the crowd if you ain't controlling it Drop the mic, you shouldn't be holding it This is how it should be done This style is identical to none Some try to make it sound like this but you're getting me So upset that I'm wet 'cause you're sweating me I drip steam like a microphone fiend Eager to MC is my theme I get hype when I hear a drum roll Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul You got it (5x) I got soul (you got it) that's why I came To teach those who can't say my name First of all, I'm the soloist, the soul controller Rakim gets stronger as I get older Constant elevation causes expansion I write my rhyme while I cool in my mansion Then put it on tape and in the city I test it Then on the radio the R's requested You listen to it, the concept might break you 'Cause almost anyone can relate to... Whoever's out of hand, I'm give him handles Light 'em up, blow 'em out like candles Or should I just let him melt? Then give him a hand so they can see how it felt I'm not bold just cuz I rock gold Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul You got it (4x) Now I'm a stop to see what you got Get off the mic before I get too hot I want to see which posse can dance the best It should be easy 'cause the beat is fresh Now if your from Uptown, Brooklyn- bound, The Bronx, Queens, or Long Island Sound, Even other states come right and exact, It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at Since you came here, you have to show and prove And do that dance until it don't move 'Cause all you need is soul self-esteem will release, The rest is up to you, Rakim 'll say peace You got it (10x) |
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4:47 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to Think of how many weak shows you slept through Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you Thinking of this, you keep repeating you miss The rhymes from the microphone soloist And you sit by the radio, hand on the dial, soon As you hear it, pump up the volume Dance wit the speaker 'till you hear it blow, Then plug in the headphone 'cause here it go It's a 4 letter word when it's heard, it control your body to dance (You got it) soul, Ditects the tempo like a red alert Reaches your reflex, so let it work When this is playing, you can't get stuck wit The steps, so get set and I'm a still come up wit A gift to be swift, follow the leader, the rhyme will go Def wit the record that was mixed a long time ago It can be done but only I can do it For those that can dance and clap your hands to it I start to think and then I sink Into the paper like I was ink When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines, I escape when I finish the rhyme... I got soul You got it (4x) I know you got soul Picture a mic, the stage is empty A beat like this might tempt me To pose, show my rings and my fat gold chain Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train But I'll wait 'cause I mastered this Let the others go first so the brothers don't miss Eric B. break the sticks (you got it) Rakim will begin when you make the mix I'll experiment like a scientist You wanna rhyme, you gotta sign my list 'Cause I'm a manifest and bless the mic I hold You want it next? then you gotta have soul 'Cause if you ain't got it, I'm a make an encore Take the mic, make the people respond for The R, 'cause that's the way it'll have to be If you wanna get on after me Think about it, wait, erase your rhyme Forget it and don't waste your time 'Cause I'll be in the crowd if you ain't controlling it Drop the mic, you shouldn't be holding it This is how it should be done This style is identical to none Some try to make it sound like this but you're getting me So upset that I'm wet 'cause you're sweating me I drip steam like a microphone fiend Eager to MC is my theme I get hype when I hear a drum roll Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul You got it (5x) I got soul (you got it) that's why I came To teach those who can't say my name First of all, I'm the soloist, the soul controller Rakim gets stronger as I get older Constant elevation causes expansion I write my rhyme while I cool in my mansion Then put it on tape and in the city I test it Then on the radio the R's requested You listen to it, the concept might break you 'Cause almost anyone can relate to... Whoever's out of hand, I'm give him handles Light 'em up, blow 'em out like candles Or should I just let him melt? Then give him a hand so they can see how it felt I'm not bold just cuz I rock gold Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul You got it (4x) Now I'm a stop to see what you got Get off the mic before I get too hot I want to see which posse can dance the best It should be easy 'cause the beat is fresh Now if your from Uptown, Brooklyn- bound, The Bronx, Queens, or Long Island Sound, Even other states come right and exact, It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at Since you came here, you have to show and prove And do that dance until it don't move 'Cause all you need is soul self-esteem will release, The rest is up to you, Rakim 'll say peace You got it (10x) |
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4:06 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
I came in the door, I said it before
I never let the mic magnetize me no more But it's biting me, fighting me, inviting me to rhyme I can't hold it back, I'm looking for the line, Taking off my coat, clearing my throat The rhyme will be kicking it until I hit my last note My mind remains to find all kinda ideas Self-esteem makes it seem like a thought took years to build But still say a rhyme after the next one Prepared, never scared, I'll just bless one And you know that I'm the soloist So Eric B, make 'em clap to this I don't bug out or chill or be acting ill No tricks in '86, it's time to build Eric B easy on the cut, no mistakes allowed Cuz to me, MC means move the crowd I made it easy to dance to this But can you detect what's coming next from the flex of the wrist Say "Indeed" then I proceed cuz my man made a mix If he bleed he won't need no band-aid to fix his fingertips, so I rhyme until there's no rhymes left I hurry up because the cut will make him bleed to death But he's kicking it cuz it ain't no half steppin' The party is live, the Rak can't be kept inside if he's eruptin' just like a volcano It ain't the everyday style or the same old rhyme Cuz I'm better then the rest of them Eric B is on the cut and my name is Rakim Go get a girl and get soft and warm, Don't get excited, you've been invited to a quiet storm But now it's out of hand cuz you told me you hate me And then you ask what have I done lately First you said all you want is love and affection Let me be your angel and I'll be your protection Take you out, buy you all kinds of things You caught an attitude, you need food to eat up I'm scheming like I'm dreaming on a couch wit my feet up You scream I'm lazy, you must be crazy Thought I was a donut, you tried to glaze me |
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6:32 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Turn up the bass, check out my melody, hand out a cigar
I'm lettin knowledge be born, and my name's the R A-k-i-m, not like the rest of them, I'm not on a list That's what I'm sayin, I drop science like a scientist My melody's in a code, the very next episode Has the mic often distortin', ready to explode I keep the mic at Fahrenheit, freeze MC's to make 'em colder The listener's system is kickin' like solar As I memorize, advertise, like a poet Keep you goin' when I'm flowin', smooth enough, you know with the rough That's why the moral of my story I tell'll be Nobody beats the R, check out my melody So what, I'm a microphone fiend addicted soon as I seen One of these four MC's so they don't have to scream I couldn't wait to take the mic, flow into it to test it, Let 'My Melody' play, then a record suggest it I'm droppin bombs, but I stay peace and calm Any MC that disagree with me wave your arm And I'll break, when I'm through breakin' I'll leave you broke Drop the mic when I'm finished and watch it smoke So stand back, you wanna rap? All of that can wait I won't push, I won't beat around the bush I wanna break upon those who are not supposed to You might try but you can't get close to Because I'm number one, competition is none I'm measured with the heat that's made by sun 'Cause I'm playin ball or bobbin' in the hall Or just writin my name in graffiti on the wall You shouldn't have told me you said you controlled me So now a contest is what you owe me Pull out your money, pull out your cut Pull up a chair, and I'm a tear shit up My name is Rakim Allah, and R and A stands for Ra Switch it around, it still comes out R So easily will I e-m-c-e-e My repetition of words is check out my melody Some bass and treble is moist, scratch in and cut in a voice And when it's mine that's when the rhyme is always choice I wouldn't a came and said my name and run same weak shit Puttin' blurbs and slurs and words that don't fit In a rhyme, why waste time on the microphone I take this more serious than just a poem Rockin party to party, backyard to yard I tear it up, y'all, and bless the mic for the gods The rhyme is rugged, at the same time sharp I can swing off anything even a string of a harp Just turn it on and start rockin, mine, no introduction 'Til I finish droppin science, no interruption When I approach I exercise like a coach Usin' a melody and add new verse(?) and notes So when the mic and the R-a-k-i-m It's attached, like a match I will strike again Rhymes are poetically kept and alphabetically stepped Put in a order to pursue with the momentum except I say one rhyme out of order, a longer rhyme shorter, A pause, but don't stop the tape recorder I'm not a regular competitor, first rhyme editor Melody arranger, poet, etcetera Extra event, the grand finale-like bonus I am the man they call the microphonist With wisdom, which means wise words bein' spoken Too many at one time watch the mic start smokin' I came to express the rap I manifest Stand in my way and I'll veto on the word's protest MC's that wanna be vissed(?), they're gonna Be dissed if they don't get from in fronta All they can go get is me a glass of Moet A hard time, sip your juice and watch a smooth poet I take 7 MC's put 'em in a line And add 7 more brothas who think they can rhyme Well, it'll take 7 more before I go for mine Now that's 21 MC's ate up at the same time Easy does it, do it easy, that's what I'm doin' No fessin', no messin' around, no chewin' No robbin', no buyin', bitin', why bother This slob'll stop tryin', fightin' to follow My unusual style will confuse you a while And if I was water, I'd flow in the Nile So many rhymes you won't have time to go for yours Just because of applause I have to pause Right after tonight is when I prepare To catch another sucka duck MC out there 'Cause my strategy has to be tragedy, catastrophe And after this you'll call me your majesty My melody Yes, my melody Eric B. Marley Marl synthesized it, I memorize it Eric B. made a cut and advertised it My melody's created for MC's in the place They try to listen cuz I'm dissin them so pick up your face Shook off your neck cuz you try to detect my pace Now you're buggin', almost doggin' off my rhyme-like bass The melody that I'm stylin', smooth as a violin Rough enough to break New York from Long Island My wisdom is swift, no matter if My momentum is slow, MC's still stand stiff I'm genuine like leather - reclined to be clever MC, you'll beat the R, I'll say "Oh never" So Eric B., cut it easily and check out my melody... |
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3:53 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
I ain't no joke, I use to let the mic smoke
Now I slam it when I'm done and make sure it's broke When i'm gone no one gets on cuz I won't let Nobody press up and mess up the seen I set I like to stand in a crowd and watch the people wonder damn But think about it then you'll understand I'm just an addict addicted to music Maybe it's a habit, I gotta use it Even if it's jazz or the quiet storm I hook a beat up convert it into hip-hop form Write a rhyme in graffitti in every show you see me in Deep concentration, cuz I'm no comedian Jokers are wild if you wanna be tamed I treat you like a child then you're gonna be named Another enemy, not even a friend of me Cuz you'll get fried in the end when you pretend to be Competin' cuz I just put your mind on pause and I complete when - you compare my rhyme wit yours I wake you up and as I stare in your face you seem stunned Remember me, the one you got your idea from But soon you start to suffer, the tune'll get rougher When you start to stutter that's when you had enuff of Biting, it'll make you choke, you can't provoke You can't cope, you should've broke because I ain't no joke I got a question, as serious as cancer Who can keep the average dancer Hyper as a heart attack nobody smiling Cuz you're expressing the rhyme that I'm styling This is what we all sit down to write You can't make it so you take it home, break it and bite Use pieces and bits of all the hip-hop hits Get the style down pat then it's time to switch Put my tape on pause and add some more to yours Then you fake it you're ready for the neighborhood chores The E-M-C-E-E don't even try to be When you come up to speak, don't even lie to me You like to exaggerate, dream and imaginate Then change the rhyme around, that can aggravate me So when you see me come up, freeze Or you'll be one of those 7 MC's They think that I'm a new jack but only if they knew that They who think wrong are they who can't do that Style that I'm doing, they might ruin Patterns and paragraphs based on you and Your offbeat DJ, if anything he play Sound familiar, I'll wait til E say Play 'em, so I'ma have to diss and bro You could get a smack for this, I ain't no joke I hold the microphone like a grudge B'll hold the record so the needle don't budge I hold a conversation cuz when I invent I nominated my DJ to president When I'm see I'll, keep a freestyle, going steadily So pucker up and whistle my melody But whatever you do, don't miss one They'll be another rough rhyme after this one Before you know it, you're following and fiending Waiting for the punchline to get the meaning Like before the middle of my story I'm telling Nobody beats the R so stop yelling Save it, put it in your pocket for later Cuz I'm moving the crowd and B'll wreck the fader No interruptions til the mic is broke When I'm gone, then you can joke Cuz everything is real on a serious tip Keep playing and I varies quick And take you for a walk through hell Freeze your dome then watch your eyeballs swell Guide you out of triple stage darkness When it get dark again then I'ma spark this Microphone cuz the heat is on, you see smoke then I finish when the beat is gone, I'm no joke |
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3:50 |
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| from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987) | |||||
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6:47 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Turn up the bass, check out my melody, hand out a cigar
I'm lettin knowledge be born, and my name's the R A-k-i-m, not like the rest of them, I'm not on a list That's what I'm sayin, I drop science like a scientist My melody's in a code, the very next episode Has the mic often distortin', ready to explode I keep the mic at Fahrenheit, freeze MC's to make 'em colder The listener's system is kickin' like solar As I memorize, advertise, like a poet Keep you goin' when I'm flowin', smooth enough, you know with the rough That's why the moral of my story I tell'll be Nobody beats the R, check out my melody So what, I'm a microphone fiend addicted soon as I seen One of these four MC's so they don't have to scream I couldn't wait to take the mic, flow into it to test it, Let 'My Melody' play, then a record suggest it I'm droppin bombs, but I stay peace and calm Any MC that disagree with me wave your arm And I'll break, when I'm through breakin' I'll leave you broke Drop the mic when I'm finished and watch it smoke So stand back, you wanna rap? All of that can wait I won't push, I won't beat around the bush I wanna break upon those who are not supposed to You might try but you can't get close to Because I'm number one, competition is none I'm measured with the heat that's made by sun 'Cause I'm playin ball or bobbin' in the hall Or just writin my name in graffiti on the wall You shouldn't have told me you said you controlled me So now a contest is what you owe me Pull out your money, pull out your cut Pull up a chair, and I'm a tear shit up My name is Rakim Allah, and R and A stands for Ra Switch it around, it still comes out R So easily will I e-m-c-e-e My repetition of words is check out my melody Some bass and treble is moist, scratch in and cut in a voice And when it's mine that's when the rhyme is always choice I wouldn't a came and said my name and run same weak shit Puttin' blurbs and slurs and words that don't fit In a rhyme, why waste time on the microphone I take this more serious than just a poem Rockin party to party, backyard to yard I tear it up, y'all, and bless the mic for the gods The rhyme is rugged, at the same time sharp I can swing off anything even a string of a harp Just turn it on and start rockin, mine, no introduction 'Til I finish droppin science, no interruption When I approach I exercise like a coach Usin' a melody and add new verse(?) and notes So when the mic and the R-a-k-i-m It's attached, like a match I will strike again Rhymes are poetically kept and alphabetically stepped Put in a order to pursue with the momentum except I say one rhyme out of order, a longer rhyme shorter, A pause, but don't stop the tape recorder I'm not a regular competitor, first rhyme editor Melody arranger, poet, etcetera Extra event, the grand finale-like bonus I am the man they call the microphonist With wisdom, which means wise words bein' spoken Too many at one time watch the mic start smokin' I came to express the rap I manifest Stand in my way and I'll veto on the word's protest MC's that wanna be vissed(?), they're gonna Be dissed if they don't get from in fronta All they can go get is me a glass of Moet A hard time, sip your juice and watch a smooth poet I take 7 MC's put 'em in a line And add 7 more brothas who think they can rhyme Well, it'll take 7 more before I go for mine Now that's 21 MC's ate up at the same time Easy does it, do it easy, that's what I'm doin' No fessin', no messin' around, no chewin' No robbin', no buyin', bitin', why bother This slob'll stop tryin', fightin' to follow My unusual style will confuse you a while And if I was water, I'd flow in the Nile So many rhymes you won't have time to go for yours Just because of applause I have to pause Right after tonight is when I prepare To catch another sucka duck MC out there 'Cause my strategy has to be tragedy, catastrophe And after this you'll call me your majesty My melody Yes, my melody Eric B. Marley Marl synthesized it, I memorize it Eric B. made a cut and advertised it My melody's created for MC's in the place They try to listen cuz I'm dissin them so pick up your face Shook off your neck cuz you try to detect my pace Now you're buggin', almost doggin' off my rhyme-like bass The melody that I'm stylin', smooth as a violin Rough enough to break New York from Long Island My wisdom is swift, no matter if My momentum is slow, MC's still stand stiff I'm genuine like leather - reclined to be clever MC, you'll beat the R, I'll say "Oh never" So Eric B., cut it easily and check out my melody... |
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4:45 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to Think of how many weak shows you slept through Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you Thinking of this, you keep repeating you miss The rhymes from the microphone soloist And you sit by the radio, hand on the dial, soon As you hear it, pump up the volume Dance wit the speaker 'till you hear it blow, Then plug in the headphone 'cause here it go It's a 4 letter word when it's heard, it control your body to dance (You got it) soul, Ditects the tempo like a red alert Reaches your reflex, so let it work When this is playing, you can't get stuck wit The steps, so get set and I'm a still come up wit A gift to be swift, follow the leader, the rhyme will go Def wit the record that was mixed a long time ago It can be done but only I can do it For those that can dance and clap your hands to it I start to think and then I sink Into the paper like I was ink When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines, I escape when I finish the rhyme... I got soul You got it (4x) I know you got soul Picture a mic, the stage is empty A beat like this might tempt me To pose, show my rings and my fat gold chain Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train But I'll wait 'cause I mastered this Let the others go first so the brothers don't miss Eric B. break the sticks (you got it) Rakim will begin when you make the mix I'll experiment like a scientist You wanna rhyme, you gotta sign my list 'Cause I'm a manifest and bless the mic I hold You want it next? then you gotta have soul 'Cause if you ain't got it, I'm a make an encore Take the mic, make the people respond for The R, 'cause that's the way it'll have to be If you wanna get on after me Think about it, wait, erase your rhyme Forget it and don't waste your time 'Cause I'll be in the crowd if you ain't controlling it Drop the mic, you shouldn't be holding it This is how it should be done This style is identical to none Some try to make it sound like this but you're getting me So upset that I'm wet 'cause you're sweating me I drip steam like a microphone fiend Eager to MC is my theme I get hype when I hear a drum roll Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul You got it (5x) I got soul (you got it) that's why I came To teach those who can't say my name First of all, I'm the soloist, the soul controller Rakim gets stronger as I get older Constant elevation causes expansion I write my rhyme while I cool in my mansion Then put it on tape and in the city I test it Then on the radio the R's requested You listen to it, the concept might break you 'Cause almost anyone can relate to... Whoever's out of hand, I'm give him handles Light 'em up, blow 'em out like candles Or should I just let him melt? Then give him a hand so they can see how it felt I'm not bold just cuz I rock gold Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul You got it (4x) Now I'm a stop to see what you got Get off the mic before I get too hot I want to see which posse can dance the best It should be easy 'cause the beat is fresh Now if your from Uptown, Brooklyn- bound, The Bronx, Queens, or Long Island Sound, Even other states come right and exact, It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at Since you came here, you have to show and prove And do that dance until it don't move 'Cause all you need is soul self-esteem will release, The rest is up to you, Rakim 'll say peace You got it (10x) |
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3:47 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Verse one:
Standing by the speaker suddenly I had this Fever was it me or either summer madness 'cause I just can't stand around So I get closer and the closer I get the better it sound My mind starts to activate rhymes collaborate 'cause When i heard the beat I just had to make Something from the top of my head So I fell into the groove of the wax and I said How could I move the crowd First of all, ain't no mistakes allowed Here's the instruction, put it together It simple ain't it but quite clever Some of you been trying to write rhymes for years But weak ideas irritate my ears Is this the best that you can make? 'cause if not and you got more, I'll wait But don't make me wait too long coz I'm a move on The dancefloor when they put something smooth on So turn up the bass, it's better when it's loud 'cause I like to move the crowd Move the crowd... Verse two: Imagine me wit the heat that's made by solar, It gets stronger everytime I hold a Microphone, check the tone to get started The line for the microphone is departed So leave it up to me, my DJ is mixing Everyone is moving or eager to listen Your hands in the air, your mouth, shut! 'cause I'm on the mic and Eric be |
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3:49 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Yo Rakim what's up?
Yo I'm doing the knowledge E. I'm trying to get paid in full Well check this out since Nobry Walters is our agency right? True Kara Lewis is our agent Word up Zakia/4th & Broadway is our record company Indeed Okay so who we rollin with? We rollin with Rush Of Rushtown Management. Check this out since we talking over this def beat that I put together, I wanna hear some of them def rhymes, know what I'm sayin? And together, we can get paid in full... Thinkin of a master plan Cuz ain't nuthin but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin up with lint So I start my mission- leave my residence Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents I need money, I used to be a stick-up kid So I think of all the devious things I did I used to roll up, this is a hold up, ain't nuthin funny Stop smiling, be still, don't nuthin move but the money But now I learned to earn cos I'm righteous I feel great! so maybe I might just Search for a 9 to 5, if I strive Then maybe I'll stay alive So I walk up the street whistlin this Feelin out of place cos, man, do I miss A pen and a paper, a stereo, a tape of Me and Eric B, and a nice big plate of Fish, which is my favorite dish But without no money it's still a wish Cos I don't like to dream about gettin paid So I dig into the books of the rhymes that I made To now test to see if I got pull Hit the studio, cos I'm paid in full |
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4:01 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Knowledge will begin until I finish this song
'Cuz the rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme goes on You sweat as you step about to get hype Or should you just listen to the man on the mic You're physically in this with me but how could you tell If it's meant to be hip hop if you're not mentally as well Ready to absorb the rhyme that I just poured Into the mic and so unite and this won't be so bored If you just keep kickin' listen - to the mix And think you'll sink into the rhyme like quicksand Holds and controls you 'til I leave You fall deeper in the style - it's hard to breathe The only time I stop is when somebody drop and then Bring 'em to the front 'cuz my rhymes' the oxygen Then wave your hands - when you're ready I'll send you Into your favorite dance so let the rhyme continue And so on and I'ma go on simultaneously And even if I stop - the rhyme remains to be Rising to the top - and I came to drop it Catch it and quiz it - is my topic Universual 'cuz I move everybody to come By exercising your mind you'll coincide as one You look around and see how packed the party starts to get I draw a crowd - like an architect The five borroughs react and all the islands attract And every state can't wait - so they attack off a spot on the floor - squeeze in cuz it's packed It'll be more room if MC's play the back I'm the R the A to the K-I-M If I wasn't, then why would I say I am The microphone fiend if I was a fake Whoever said it's just buggin' off the rhymes I make I had you biting your tongue for what I brung and recite Sung it on stage some said it don't sound like The voice on the record - I see what you mean Because the system was wack, so I had to scream So just - give me a mic if it's loud I'll blow it If not - into the crowd I'll throw it Pull out my cordless mic and entertain you well Before I let go I'ma spark your brain cells I took time to write - tonight I will recite So poetically inclined when the mic is held tight Rhymes start flowin' kisses are blowin MC's are knowin' that's why they're goin Home to tell a friend when the party ends "Yo, man you know Rakim? That brother struck again" Cuz mic by mic and stage by stage, Tape by tape and page by page, When the crowd is moving I compete with the mix The rougher the cuts - the rougher the rhyme gets Deeper and Deeper - I hope you understand it I made it up myself and I planned it For other MC's who waste time Writing jokes, riddles, and maybe a rhyme I cross my arms and I was waiting - but I was hating The rappers on the microphone was fronting - just faking They wasn't breakin', which means I was achin' To get up on the microphone and then start takin' Control of the mic - uptight when I grabbed it So hug the speaker- your ear's a magnet Attracted to a freestyle put in effect You listen to my man while you're sippin' Moet So Eric, pick up the needle (yeah) put it in the middle (ahhight) Give me a scratch, turn my Mic up a little, I want you to hear this perfectly clear Catch what I'm sayin'? You get the idea? I hope you knowledge the beginning cuz I'm finished this song The rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme flows on... |
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4:07 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
It's not your situation
I just need contemplation over you Over you I'm not so systematic It's just that I'm an addict for your love yeah I'm not the only one that holds ya I never ever should have told ya You're my only girl (Never should have told you/me) I'm not the only one that holds ya I never ever should have told ya You're my only world Just think how long I've known ya It's wrong for me to own you lock and key Lock and key It's really not confusin' I'm just a young illusion can't you see, yeah, well I'm not the only one that holds ya I never ever should have told ya You're my only girl (Never should have told you/me) I'm not the only one that holds ya I never ever should have told ya You're my only world Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls, yeah Oh, oh, kissed the girls, um hmm Oh, oh, oh It's not your situation I just need contemplation over you Over you I'm not so systematic It's just that I'm an addict for your love, yeah I'm not the only one that holds ya I never ever should have told ya You're my only girl (Never should have told you/me) I'm not the only one that holds ya I never ever should have told ya You're my only world Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls, yeah Oh, oh, kissed the girls, um hmm Why ya wanna make them Oh make them cry (No) Oh, whoa whoa (Why) Kiss the girls Why ya wanna Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls and made them cry Georgy Porgy puddin' pie Kissed the girls, yeah Oh, oh, kissed the girls, um hmm |
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6:19 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
I came in the door, I said it before
I never let the mic magnetize me no more But it's biting me, fighting me, inviting me to rhyme I can't hold it back, I'm looking for the line, Taking off my coat, clearing my throat The rhyme will be kicking it until I hit my last note My mind remains to find all kinda ideas Self-esteem makes it seem like a thought took years to build But still say a rhyme after the next one Prepared, never scared, I'll just bless one And you know that I'm the soloist So Eric B, make 'em clap to this I don't bug out or chill or be acting ill No tricks in '86, it's time to build Eric B easy on the cut, no mistakes allowed Cuz to me, MC means move the crowd I made it easy to dance to this But can you detect what's coming next from the flex of the wrist Say "Indeed" then I proceed cuz my man made a mix If he bleed he won't need no band-aid to fix his fingertips, so I rhyme until there's no rhymes left I hurry up because the cut will make him bleed to death But he's kicking it cuz it ain't no half steppin' The party is live, the Rak can't be kept inside if he's eruptin' just like a volcano It ain't the everyday style or the same old rhyme Cuz I'm better then the rest of them Eric B is on the cut and my name is Rakim Go get a girl and get soft and warm, Don't get excited, you've been invited to a quiet storm But now it's out of hand cuz you told me you hate me And then you ask what have I done lately First you said all you want is love and affection Let me be your angel and I'll be your protection Take you out, buy you all kinds of things You caught an attitude, you need food to eat up I'm scheming like I'm dreaming on a couch wit my feet up You scream I'm lazy, you must be crazy Thought I was a donut, you tried to glaze me |
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3:49 |
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| from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987) | |||||
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3:53 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Knowledge will begin until I finish this song
'Cuz the rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme goes on You sweat as you step about to get hype Or should you just listen to the man on the mic You're physically in this with me but how could you tell If it's meant to be hip hop if you're not mentally as well Ready to absorb the rhyme that I just poured Into the mic and so unite and this won't be so bored If you just keep kickin' listen - to the mix And think you'll sink into the rhyme like quicksand Holds and controls you 'til I leave You fall deeper in the style - it's hard to breathe The only time I stop is when somebody drop and then Bring 'em to the front 'cuz my rhymes' the oxygen Then wave your hands - when you're ready I'll send you Into your favorite dance so let the rhyme continue And so on and I'ma go on simultaneously And even if I stop - the rhyme remains to be Rising to the top - and I came to drop it Catch it and quiz it - is my topic Universual 'cuz I move everybody to come By exercising your mind you'll coincide as one You look around and see how packed the party starts to get I draw a crowd - like an architect The five borroughs react and all the islands attract And every state can't wait - so they attack off a spot on the floor - squeeze in cuz it's packed It'll be more room if MC's play the back I'm the R the A to the K-I-M If I wasn't, then why would I say I am The microphone fiend if I was a fake Whoever said it's just buggin' off the rhymes I make I had you biting your tongue for what I brung and recite Sung it on stage some said it don't sound like The voice on the record - I see what you mean Because the system was wack, so I had to scream So just - give me a mic if it's loud I'll blow it If not - into the crowd I'll throw it Pull out my cordless mic and entertain you well Before I let go I'ma spark your brain cells I took time to write - tonight I will recite So poetically inclined when the mic is held tight Rhymes start flowin' kisses are blowin MC's are knowin' that's why they're goin Home to tell a friend when the party ends "Yo, man you know Rakim? That brother struck again" Cuz mic by mic and stage by stage, Tape by tape and page by page, When the crowd is moving I compete with the mix The rougher the cuts - the rougher the rhyme gets Deeper and Deeper - I hope you understand it I made it up myself and I planned it For other MC's who waste time Writing jokes, riddles, and maybe a rhyme I cross my arms and I was waiting - but I was hating The rappers on the microphone was fronting - just faking They wasn't breakin', which means I was achin' To get up on the microphone and then start takin' Control of the mic - uptight when I grabbed it So hug the speaker- your ear's a magnet Attracted to a freestyle put in effect You listen to my man while you're sippin' Moet So Eric, pick up the needle (yeah) put it in the middle (ahhight) Give me a scratch, turn my Mic up a little, I want you to hear this perfectly clear Catch what I'm sayin'? You get the idea? I hope you knowledge the beginning cuz I'm finished this song The rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme flows on... |
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3:38 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Yo Rakim what's up?
Yo I'm doing the knowledge E. I'm trying to get paid in full Well check this out since Nobry Walters is our agency right? True Kara Lewis is our agent Word up Zakia/4th & Broadway is our record company Indeed Okay so who we rollin with? We rollin with Rush Of Rushtown Management. Check this out since we talking over this def beat that I put together, I wanna hear some of them def rhymes, know what I'm sayin? And together, we can get paid in full... Thinkin of a master plan Cuz ain't nuthin but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin up with lint So I start my mission- leave my residence Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents I need money, I used to be a stick-up kid So I think of all the devious things I did I used to roll up, this is a hold up, ain't nuthin funny Stop smiling, be still, don't nuthin move but the money But now I learned to earn cos I'm righteous I feel great! so maybe I might just Search for a 9 to 5, if I strive Then maybe I'll stay alive So I walk up the street whistlin this Feelin out of place cos, man, do I miss A pen and a paper, a stereo, a tape of Me and Eric B, and a nice big plate of Fish, which is my favorite dish But without no money it's still a wish Cos I don't like to dream about gettin paid So I dig into the books of the rhymes that I made To now test to see if I got pull Hit the studio, cos I'm paid in full |
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4:24 |
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from 8 Mile (8마일) [ost] (2002)
*R - Rugged and rough thats how I do it
A - ALLAH who I praise the fullest, K - keep it moving I - stand alone M - its my crown, my world, my throne R - Rugged and rough thats how I do it A - ALLAH who I praise the fullest, K - keep it moving I - stand alone M - its my crown, my world, my throne hey yo we rockin a log shack, its a rack, ya all relax, the almanac, just show me where the parties at, simmin all of that, call, coma's and cardiac's bra's and cats screamin on my god he's back, just imagine, I hit the lab and get it crackin, a thousand styles in one verse, riddled to switch patterns, chicks get stabbed in the back, till they get spasm, known to spit a magnum or split an atom, who would have known that jesus would come back to the ghetto, on that level and that ferral, like a black hero, with pack medals, so black rebels, who backpedal, ta ferral with five levels and take over the rap world, gettin bizarre, hardcore, this is for yall, get over the park, playing when you get in the car, chill at the bar, sip something but split a cigar, get with ya dawgs, i'm gettin on, schemin the bar, its the... * Repeat yeah, yo, I used to make things blow when makin stroll's, (??) and learn ta make this dough where gangsta's roll, think like the late, great ca pone, when the bank is closed, its cash-in (??), claim they bold but they aint this cold, i'm from the dog city, even pritty chicks act up, cause they get claped up and stack up, they stick that up, put the strap up, you think my name was kid, back up, big nigga's (Huck), pick that up or lick that up, raised by gangsta's and scandlers, hustlers, con artists and convicts, killers and dawgs, drug dealers, players and pimps, smoothe talkers, stick up kid, thugs, real nigga's and god's, haunted by any, swallen, lay dead in the turf, cursed by every spirit that never made it to birth, since the moon seperated from earth, thats why they saying, i'm the greatest that ever orchistrated a verse, its the... * Repeat hey yo, toast to that, its the cat, it burns back to a soul clap, a smoker track, how dope is that, po-per rap, rope backs, demo stacked, and know that before they turn coke to crack, to my dawgs, settin sirens on and firearms, out come die'in wars, and behind iron bar, to pull above entire braws with iron ball, (??) tryin rob, my dialog, I engolf, chicks know this and get next to my thrown and sniff my calone, and get right along, sex pots at home and testosterone, corress, ice, dress drops, and my bed rocks the room, hit the floor, its time for two thousand three, its galore, who rock the style as wild as me, rest ashore, when I rock dance crowds, they scream, dis malore, I rock my album Rakim, its the... * Repeat (x2) |
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3:55 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
I ain't no joke, I use to let the mic smoke
Now I slam it when I'm done and make sure it's broke When i'm gone no one gets on cuz I won't let Nobody press up and mess up the seen I set I like to stand in a crowd and watch the people wonder damn But think about it then you'll understand I'm just an addict addicted to music Maybe it's a habit, I gotta use it Even if it's jazz or the quiet storm I hook a beat up convert it into hip-hop form Write a rhyme in graffitti in every show you see me in Deep concentration, cuz I'm no comedian Jokers are wild if you wanna be tamed I treat you like a child then you're gonna be named Another enemy, not even a friend of me Cuz you'll get fried in the end when you pretend to be Competin' cuz I just put your mind on pause and I complete when - you compare my rhyme wit yours I wake you up and as I stare in your face you seem stunned Remember me, the one you got your idea from But soon you start to suffer, the tune'll get rougher When you start to stutter that's when you had enuff of Biting, it'll make you choke, you can't provoke You can't cope, you should've broke because I ain't no joke I got a question, as serious as cancer Who can keep the average dancer Hyper as a heart attack nobody smiling Cuz you're expressing the rhyme that I'm styling This is what we all sit down to write You can't make it so you take it home, break it and bite Use pieces and bits of all the hip-hop hits Get the style down pat then it's time to switch Put my tape on pause and add some more to yours Then you fake it you're ready for the neighborhood chores The E-M-C-E-E don't even try to be When you come up to speak, don't even lie to me You like to exaggerate, dream and imaginate Then change the rhyme around, that can aggravate me So when you see me come up, freeze Or you'll be one of those 7 MC's They think that I'm a new jack but only if they knew that They who think wrong are they who can't do that Style that I'm doing, they might ruin Patterns and paragraphs based on you and Your offbeat DJ, if anything he play Sound familiar, I'll wait til E say Play 'em, so I'ma have to diss and bro You could get a smack for this, I ain't no joke I hold the microphone like a grudge B'll hold the record so the needle don't budge I hold a conversation cuz when I invent I nominated my DJ to president When I'm see I'll, keep a freestyle, going steadily So pucker up and whistle my melody But whatever you do, don't miss one They'll be another rough rhyme after this one Before you know it, you're following and fiending Waiting for the punchline to get the meaning Like before the middle of my story I'm telling Nobody beats the R so stop yelling Save it, put it in your pocket for later Cuz I'm moving the crowd and B'll wreck the fader No interruptions til the mic is broke When I'm gone, then you can joke Cuz everything is real on a serious tip Keep playing and I varies quick And take you for a walk through hell Freeze your dome then watch your eyeballs swell Guide you out of triple stage darkness When it get dark again then I'ma spark this Microphone cuz the heat is on, you see smoke then I finish when the beat is gone, I'm no joke |
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3:53 |
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| from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987) | |||||
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6:49 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Turn up the bass, check out my melody, hand out a cigar
I'm lettin knowledge be born, and my name's the R A-k-i-m, not like the rest of them, I'm not on a list That's what I'm sayin, I drop science like a scientist My melody's in a code, the very next episode Has the mic often distortin', ready to explode I keep the mic at Fahrenheit, freeze MC's to make 'em colder The listener's system is kickin' like solar As I memorize, advertise, like a poet Keep you goin' when I'm flowin', smooth enough, you know with the rough That's why the moral of my story I tell'll be Nobody beats the R, check out my melody So what, I'm a microphone fiend addicted soon as I seen One of these four MC's so they don't have to scream I couldn't wait to take the mic, flow into it to test it, Let 'My Melody' play, then a record suggest it I'm droppin bombs, but I stay peace and calm Any MC that disagree with me wave your arm And I'll break, when I'm through breakin' I'll leave you broke Drop the mic when I'm finished and watch it smoke So stand back, you wanna rap? All of that can wait I won't push, I won't beat around the bush I wanna break upon those who are not supposed to You might try but you can't get close to Because I'm number one, competition is none I'm measured with the heat that's made by sun 'Cause I'm playin ball or bobbin' in the hall Or just writin my name in graffiti on the wall You shouldn't have told me you said you controlled me So now a contest is what you owe me Pull out your money, pull out your cut Pull up a chair, and I'm a tear shit up My name is Rakim Allah, and R and A stands for Ra Switch it around, it still comes out R So easily will I e-m-c-e-e My repetition of words is check out my melody Some bass and treble is moist, scratch in and cut in a voice And when it's mine that's when the rhyme is always choice I wouldn't a came and said my name and run same weak shit Puttin' blurbs and slurs and words that don't fit In a rhyme, why waste time on the microphone I take this more serious than just a poem Rockin party to party, backyard to yard I tear it up, y'all, and bless the mic for the gods The rhyme is rugged, at the same time sharp I can swing off anything even a string of a harp Just turn it on and start rockin, mine, no introduction 'Til I finish droppin science, no interruption When I approach I exercise like a coach Usin' a melody and add new verse(?) and notes So when the mic and the R-a-k-i-m It's attached, like a match I will strike again Rhymes are poetically kept and alphabetically stepped Put in a order to pursue with the momentum except I say one rhyme out of order, a longer rhyme shorter, A pause, but don't stop the tape recorder I'm not a regular competitor, first rhyme editor Melody arranger, poet, etcetera Extra event, the grand finale-like bonus I am the man they call the microphonist With wisdom, which means wise words bein' spoken Too many at one time watch the mic start smokin' I came to express the rap I manifest Stand in my way and I'll veto on the word's protest MC's that wanna be vissed(?), they're gonna Be dissed if they don't get from in fronta All they can go get is me a glass of Moet A hard time, sip your juice and watch a smooth poet I take 7 MC's put 'em in a line And add 7 more brothas who think they can rhyme Well, it'll take 7 more before I go for mine Now that's 21 MC's ate up at the same time Easy does it, do it easy, that's what I'm doin' No fessin', no messin' around, no chewin' No robbin', no buyin', bitin', why bother This slob'll stop tryin', fightin' to follow My unusual style will confuse you a while And if I was water, I'd flow in the Nile So many rhymes you won't have time to go for yours Just because of applause I have to pause Right after tonight is when I prepare To catch another sucka duck MC out there 'Cause my strategy has to be tragedy, catastrophe And after this you'll call me your majesty My melody Yes, my melody Eric B. Marley Marl synthesized it, I memorize it Eric B. made a cut and advertised it My melody's created for MC's in the place They try to listen cuz I'm dissin them so pick up your face Shook off your neck cuz you try to detect my pace Now you're buggin', almost doggin' off my rhyme-like bass The melody that I'm stylin', smooth as a violin Rough enough to break New York from Long Island My wisdom is swift, no matter if My momentum is slow, MC's still stand stiff I'm genuine like leather - reclined to be clever MC, you'll beat the R, I'll say "Oh never" So Eric B., cut it easily and check out my melody... |
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4:50 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to Think of how many weak shows you slept through Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you Thinking of this, you keep repeating you miss The rhymes from the microphone soloist And you sit by the radio, hand on the dial, soon As you hear it, pump up the volume Dance wit the speaker 'till you hear it blow, Then plug in the headphone 'cause here it go It's a 4 letter word when it's heard, it control your body to dance (You got it) soul, Ditects the tempo like a red alert Reaches your reflex, so let it work When this is playing, you can't get stuck wit The steps, so get set and I'm a still come up wit A gift to be swift, follow the leader, the rhyme will go Def wit the record that was mixed a long time ago It can be done but only I can do it For those that can dance and clap your hands to it I start to think and then I sink Into the paper like I was ink When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines, I escape when I finish the rhyme... I got soul You got it (4x) I know you got soul Picture a mic, the stage is empty A beat like this might tempt me To pose, show my rings and my fat gold chain Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train But I'll wait 'cause I mastered this Let the others go first so the brothers don't miss Eric B. break the sticks (you got it) Rakim will begin when you make the mix I'll experiment like a scientist You wanna rhyme, you gotta sign my list 'Cause I'm a manifest and bless the mic I hold You want it next? then you gotta have soul 'Cause if you ain't got it, I'm a make an encore Take the mic, make the people respond for The R, 'cause that's the way it'll have to be If you wanna get on after me Think about it, wait, erase your rhyme Forget it and don't waste your time 'Cause I'll be in the crowd if you ain't controlling it Drop the mic, you shouldn't be holding it This is how it should be done This style is identical to none Some try to make it sound like this but you're getting me So upset that I'm wet 'cause you're sweating me I drip steam like a microphone fiend Eager to MC is my theme I get hype when I hear a drum roll Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul You got it (5x) I got soul (you got it) that's why I came To teach those who can't say my name First of all, I'm the soloist, the soul controller Rakim gets stronger as I get older Constant elevation causes expansion I write my rhyme while I cool in my mansion Then put it on tape and in the city I test it Then on the radio the R's requested You listen to it, the concept might break you 'Cause almost anyone can relate to... Whoever's out of hand, I'm give him handles Light 'em up, blow 'em out like candles Or should I just let him melt? Then give him a hand so they can see how it felt I'm not bold just cuz I rock gold Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul You got it (4x) Now I'm a stop to see what you got Get off the mic before I get too hot I want to see which posse can dance the best It should be easy 'cause the beat is fresh Now if your from Uptown, Brooklyn- bound, The Bronx, Queens, or Long Island Sound, Even other states come right and exact, It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at Since you came here, you have to show and prove And do that dance until it don't move 'Cause all you need is soul self-esteem will release, The rest is up to you, Rakim 'll say peace You got it (10x) |
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3:50 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Verse one:
Standing by the speaker suddenly I had this Fever was it me or either summer madness 'cause I just can't stand around So I get closer and the closer I get the better it sound My mind starts to activate rhymes collaborate 'cause When i heard the beat I just had to make Something from the top of my head So I fell into the groove of the wax and I said How could I move the crowd First of all, ain't no mistakes allowed Here's the instruction, put it together It simple ain't it but quite clever Some of you been trying to write rhymes for years But weak ideas irritate my ears Is this the best that you can make? 'cause if not and you got more, I'll wait But don't make me wait too long coz I'm a move on The dancefloor when they put something smooth on So turn up the bass, it's better when it's loud 'cause I like to move the crowd Move the crowd... Verse two: Imagine me wit the heat that's made by solar, It gets stronger everytime I hold a Microphone, check the tone to get started The line for the microphone is departed So leave it up to me, my DJ is mixing Everyone is moving or eager to listen Your hands in the air, your mouth, shut! 'cause I'm on the mic and Eric be |
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3:54 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Yo Rakim what's up?
Yo I'm doing the knowledge E. I'm trying to get paid in full Well check this out since Nobry Walters is our agency right? True Kara Lewis is our agent Word up Zakia/4th & Broadway is our record company Indeed Okay so who we rollin with? We rollin with Rush Of Rushtown Management. Check this out since we talking over this def beat that I put together, I wanna hear some of them def rhymes, know what I'm sayin? And together, we can get paid in full... Thinkin of a master plan Cuz ain't nuthin but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin up with lint So I start my mission- leave my residence Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents I need money, I used to be a stick-up kid So I think of all the devious things I did I used to roll up, this is a hold up, ain't nuthin funny Stop smiling, be still, don't nuthin move but the money But now I learned to earn cos I'm righteous I feel great! so maybe I might just Search for a 9 to 5, if I strive Then maybe I'll stay alive So I walk up the street whistlin this Feelin out of place cos, man, do I miss A pen and a paper, a stereo, a tape of Me and Eric B, and a nice big plate of Fish, which is my favorite dish But without no money it's still a wish Cos I don't like to dream about gettin paid So I dig into the books of the rhymes that I made To now test to see if I got pull Hit the studio, cos I'm paid in full |
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4:04 |
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from Eric B.& Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)
Knowledge will begin until I finish this song
'Cuz the rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme goes on You sweat as you step about to get hype Or should you just listen to the man on the mic You're physically in this with me but how could you tell If it's meant to be hip hop if you're not mentally as well Ready to absorb the rhyme that I just poured Into the mic and so unite and this won't be so bored If you just keep kickin' listen - to the mix And think you'll sink into the rhyme like quicksand Holds and controls you 'til I leave You fall deeper in the style - it's hard to breathe The only time I stop is when somebody drop and then Bring 'em to the front 'cuz my rhymes' the oxygen Then wave your hands - when you're ready I'll send you Into your favorite dance so let the rhyme continue And so on and I'ma go on simultaneously And even if I stop - the rhyme remains to be Rising to the top - and I came to drop it Catch it and quiz it - is my topic Universual 'cuz I move everybody to come By exercising your mind you'll coincide as one You look around and see how packed the party starts to get I draw a crowd - like an architect The five borroughs react and all the islands attract And every state can't wait - so they attack off a spot on the floor - squeeze in cuz it's packed It'll be more room if MC's play the back I'm the R the A to the K-I-M If I wasn't, then why would I say I am The microphone fiend if I was a fake Whoever said it's just buggin' off the rhymes I make I had you biting your tongue for what I brung and recite Sung it on stage some said it don't sound like The voice on the record - I see what you mean Because the system was wack, so I had to scream So just - give me a mic if it's loud I'll blow it If not - into the crowd I'll throw it Pull out my cordless mic and entertain you well Before I let go I'ma spark your brain cells I took time to write - tonight I will recite So poetically inclined when the mic is held tight Rhymes start flowin' kisses are blowin MC's are knowin' that's why they're goin Home to tell a friend when the party ends "Yo, man you know Rakim? That brother struck again" Cuz mic by mic and stage by stage, Tape by tape and page by page, When the crowd is moving I compete with the mix The rougher the cuts - the rougher the rhyme gets Deeper and Deeper - I hope you understand it I made it up myself and I planned it For other MC's who waste time Writing jokes, riddles, and maybe a rhyme I cross my arms and I was waiting - but I was hating The rappers on the microphone was fronting - just faking They wasn't breakin', which means I was achin' To get up on the microphone and then start takin' Control of the mic - uptight when I grabbed it So hug the speaker- your ear's a magnet Attracted to a freestyle put in effect You listen to my man while you're sippin' Moet So Eric, pick up the needle (yeah) put it in the middle (ahhight) Give me a scratch, turn my Mic up a little, I want you to hear this perfectly clear Catch what I'm sayin'? You get the idea? I hope you knowledge the beginning cuz I'm finished this song The rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme flows on... |
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