Eric B. & Rakim

Turn up the bass, check out my melody, hand out a cigar
Im lettin knowledge be born, and my names the R
A-k-i-m, not like the rest of them, Im not on a list
Thats what Im sayin, I drop science like a scientist
My melodys in a code, the very next episode
Has the mic often distortin, ready to explode
I keep the mic at Fahrenheit, freeze MCs to make em colder
The listeners system is kickin like solar
As I memorize, advertise, like a poet
Keep you goin when Im flowin, smooth enough, you know with the rough
Thats why the moral of my story I tellll be
Nobody beats the R, check out my melody
So what, Im a microphone fiend addicted soon as I seen
One of these four MCs so they dont have to scream
I couldnt wait to take the mic, flow into it to test it,
Let My Melody play, then a record suggest it
Im droppin bombs, but I stay peace and calm
Any MC that disagree with me wave your arm
And Ill break, when Im through breakin Ill leave you broke
Drop the mic when Im finished and watch it smoke
So stand back, you wanna rap? All of that can wait
I wont push, I wont beat around the bush
I wanna break upon those who are not supposed to
You might try but you cant get close to
Because Im number one, competition is none
Im measured with the heat thats made by sun
Cause Im playin ball or bobbin in the hall
Or just writin my name in graffiti on the wall
You shouldnt 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 Im 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 its mine thats when the rhyme is always choice
I wouldnt a came and said my name and run same weak shit
Puttin blurbs and slurs and words that dont 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, yall, 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
Its 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 dont stop the tape recorder
Im 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 Ill veto on the words protest
MCs that wanna be vissed(?), theyre gonna
Be dissed if they dont 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 MCs put em in a line
And add 7 more brothas who think they can rhyme
Well, itll take 7 more before I go for mine
Now thats 21 MCs ate up at the same time
Easy does it, do it easy, thats what Im doin
No fessin, no messin around, no chewin
No robbin, no buyin, bitin, why bother
This slobll stop tryin, fightin to follow
My unusual style will confuse you a while
And if I was water, Id flow in the Nile
So many rhymes you wont 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 youll 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 melodys created for MCs in the place
They try to listen cuz Im dissin them so pick up your face
Shook off your neck cuz you try to detect my pace
Now youre buggin, almost doggin off my rhyme-like bass
The melody that Im 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, MCs still stand stiff
Im genuine like leather - reclined to be clever
MC, youll beat the R, Ill say "Oh never"
So Eric B., cut it easily and
check out my melody...
[ My Melody Lyrics ]