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It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you |
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Without a strong rhyme to step to |
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Think of how many weak shows you slept through |
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Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you |
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Thinking of this, you keep repeating you miss |
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The rhymes from the microphone soloist |
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And you sit by the radio |
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Hand on the dial, soon |
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As you hear it, pump up the volume |
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Dance wit the speaker till you hear it blow |
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Then plug in the headphone |
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'Cause here it go |
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It's a 4 letter word when it's heard, it control |
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Your body to dance, you got it soul |
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Dilects the tempo like a red alert |
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Reaches your reflex, so let it work |
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When this is playing you can't get stuck with |
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The steps so get set and I'm a still come up with |
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A gift to be swift follow the leader the rhyme will go |
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Def wit the record that was mixed a long time ago |
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It can be done but only I can do it |
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For those that can dance and clap your hands to it |
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I start to think and then I sink into the paper like I was ink |
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When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines |
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I escape when I finish the rhyme, I got soul |
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You got it, you got it |
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You got it, you got it |
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I know you got soul |
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Picture a mic, the stage is empty |
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A beat like this might tempt me |
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To pose, show my rings and my fat gold chain |
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Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train |
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But I'll wait 'cause I mastered this |
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Let the others go first so the brothers don't miss |
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Eric B. break the sticks, you got it |
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Rakim will begin when you make the mix |
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I'll experiment like a scientist |
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You wanna rhyme, you gotta sign my list |
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'Cause I'm a manifest and bless the mic I hold |
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You want it next then you gotta have soul |
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'Cause if you ain't got it, I'm a make an encore |
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Take the mic, make the people respond for |
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The R, 'cause that's the way it'll have to be |
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If you wanna get on after me |
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Think about it, wait, erase your rhyme |
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Forget it and don't waste your time |
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'Cause I'll be in the crowd if you ain't controlling it |
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Drop the mic, you shouldn't be holding it |
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This is how it should be done this style is identical to none |
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Some try to make it sound like this but you're getting me |
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So upset that I'm wet 'cause you're sweating me |
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I drip steam like a microphone fiend, eager to MC is my theme |
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I get hype when I hear a drum roll |
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Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul |
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You got it, you got it |
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You got it, you got it |
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I got soul you got it that's why I came |
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To teach those who can't say my name |
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First of all, I'm the soloist, the soul controller |
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Rakim gets stronger as I get older |
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Constant elevation causes expansion |
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I write my rhyme while I cool in my mansion |
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Then put it on tape and in the city I test it |
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Then on the radio the R's requested |
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You listen to it, the concept might break you |
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'Cause almost anyone can relate to |
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Whoever's out of hand, I'm give him handles |
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Light 'em up, blow 'em out like candles |
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Or should I just let him melt? |
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Then give him a hand so they can see how it felt |
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I'm not bold just 'cuz I rock gold |
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Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul |
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You got it, you got it |
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You got it, you got it |
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Now I'm a stop to see what you got |
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Get off the mic before I get too hot |
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I want to see which posse can dance the best |
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It should be easy 'cause the beat is fresh |
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Now if your from uptown, Brooklyn bound |
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The Bronx, Queens, or Long Island Sound |
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Even other states come right and exact |
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It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at |
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Since you came here, you have to show and prove |
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And do that dance until it don't move |
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'Cause all you need is soul self-esteem will release |
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The rest is up to you, Rakim'll say peace |
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You got it, you got it |
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You got it, you got it |
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You got it, you got it |
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... |
