[Rakim]
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 environment I can adapt when it gets worst
The rough gets goin, the goin gets rough
When I start flowin, 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
Lookin 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 equipped
Any stage I`m seen on, or mic I fiend on
I stand alone and need nothin to lean on
Going for self with 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)
[Rakim]
I learn to relax in my room and escape from New York
And return through the womb of the world as a thought
Thinkin how hard it was to be born
Nubian queen with no physical form
Millions have settled with one destination
To reach the best part, it`s life creation
Nine months later, a job well done
Make way, cause here I come
Since I made it this far, can`t stop now
There`s a will and a way and I got the know-how
To be, all I can be and more
And see, all there is to see before
I`m called to go back to the essence
It`s a lot to learn so I study my lessons
I thought the ghetto was the worst that could happen to me
I`m glad I listened when my father was rappin to me
Cause back in the days, they lived in caves
Exiled from the original man, they strayed away
Now that`s what I call hard times
I`d 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 hot as the Arabian
But they couldn`t cave me in, cause I`m the Asian
Reachin for the city of 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 brought 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 your 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)
[Rakim]
No more props, I want property, in every borough
Nobody`s stoppin me, because I`m thorough
Rhymes I make gimme real estate for me to own
Wherever I bless a microphone
Double-oh-seven is back and relaxing
On point and reactin, and ready for action
I`m so low key that you might not see me
Incognito, and takin it easy
Quiet as 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
of bondin and mendin, attachin and blendin
So many solos, there is no endin
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 streets, 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 c-lo
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
