[Rakim]
I came to set em straight and let em know
Whoever`s holdin the best just let him go
Cause here`s the inside scoop on the fiend
They wanna know why I`m seldom seen
Cause who needs the TV screens and magazines
or shootin through the city in fly limousines
There`s one thing I don`t like it`s the spotlight
.. cause I already got light
They be like Yo we had a get together last week
and we know everyone was there except the Black Sheik
Because my schedule is tight, I gotta write
I`m deep in the archives, and keepin em hyped
It`s been a long time, since you heard a strong rhyme
None of these are weak so when you bite on mine
we can trace the hits and then name that style
MC`sll be out of a job for a while
I reposess your indentification
So hand in your application
Put your mic on strike until you`re unemployed
Contract is up and I`m stampin it void
Your selection ain`t that selective
So I`ma put you in your proper perspective
On the dancefloor, and doin the SHAKE
Ready to let em brake, set em straight
[Rakim]
Somebody said I set em up and pulled the plug on em
But instead I let em go on so I could bug on em
Go `head and flow, cause I close the show
Swing a song for the ladies and rhyme real slow
For instance.. once I commence..
.. the crowd is convinced
So now you know who to put your money on
Hurry up, before your money`s gone
Cause I`m the most common denominator
Orchestrate a rhyme much greater
I`m like a world almanac, so tell the media
Givin em information like encyclopedia
So bring a dictionary, so you can look it up
so you know what I mean, when I hook it up
No misconceptions although I complicate
but this concept`ll set em straight
They even said that I was locked in jail
So now I guess I`m out on bail?
The only Island I was on was the Strong one
And if I did my bid, it`ll be a long one
Cause if I sold weight, I`d be upstate
in the penile, waitin for a brake
Cause sellin drugs is for handicaps
I got too many skills besides bustin rough raps
If I go to jail, it won`t be for sellin ki`s
It`ll be for muderin MC`s
The beat`ll take over your heart, then I start
to cut em in half, cause rhymes are razor sharp
Secure the exits, all MC`s remain
Cause we got a crowd to entertain
And I know, when I go, I`ll flow dangerous
Brain`sll bust, what you tryin to explain to us?
You got lost, and couldn`t go on
Came up short, so here`s one to grow on
Elevate off a high IQ
In time, you`ll find I`m true
Cause once I start on a piece of art
from sun to moon and light to dark I build the Ark
Now you can float off the rhymes I wrote
I`m sure that we`ll hit shore without a boat
You could bring a battleship and still get shipwrecked
Attacked with a torpedo, what did you expect?
Driftin up the creek, without a beat or a paddle
Castaway on a raft and stand fragile
Rescue your crowd, which ain`t a hard job
Me and my knowledge put together, I`m a lifeguard
Dealin with actual facts it sold out fat
here and now, but I go so far back
to bring you up to date, so we can elevate
It`s no time to wait, or anticipate
Cause I`m never late, I`m gonna motivate
So I can let em brake, and set em straight
