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"