[Intro: Eric B. and Rakim] Yo, Rakim, what's up? Yo, I'm doing the knowledge, E, man, I'm trying to get paid in full Well, check this out; since Norby Walters is our agency, right? True Cara Lewis is our agent Word up Zakia and 4th and Broadway is our record company Indeed Okay, so, who we rollin' with, then? We rollin' with Rush—of Rushtown...Learn More

No competition No competition [Verse 1] Competition is none I remain at the top like the sun And I burn whoever come in the chambers of torture I caught ya You should have brought ya Neighborhood to support ya No one in my path can withstand Under pressure the wrath of a swift man You name the day, the grounds could be neutral Speak your piece,...Learn More

[Verse 1] Turn up the bass, check out my melody, hand out a cigar I'm letting 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 saying, I drop science like a scientist My melody's in a code, the very next episode Has the mic often distorting, ready to explode I keep the mic at Fahrenheit,...Learn More

[Verse 1] I'm rated "R", this is a warnin', ya better void Poets are paranoid, DJs destroyed 'Cause I came back to attack brothers in spite Strike like lightnin', it's quite frightenin'! But don't be afraid in the dark, in a park Not a scream or a cry or a bark, more like a spark Ya tremble like an alcoholic, muscles tighten up What's that? Lighten...Learn More

Run for cover [Verse 1: Rakim] Here I go again, ready to flow again Better hope my mic don't blow again Warned by alarms when the mic gets warm Crowd'll get critical, can't keep calm Jet for the exit, why hang around? Words that I found make the mic melt down If you stay, better cooperate, cuz I amputate And whoever don't break, I'mma...Learn More

Tonight's the night Where's it happening, 's time to get it on My pockets are fat so I'm gone Me and my posse, as things come through Invited to a jam they said bring the crew And a handful of rhymes and my own microphone And tell 'em to leave the [censored] home Another buck appears, they can't wait to see me I'm getting greedy, this is the place...Learn More

[Verse 1] Follow me into a solo, get in the flow And you can picture like a photo Music mix, mellow maintains to make Melodies for emcees, motivates the breaks I'm everlasting, I can go on for days and days With rhyme displays that engrave deep as x-rays I can take a phrase that's rarely heard Flip it—now it's a daily word I can get iller than...Learn More

[Hook] Don't sweat the technique Don't sweat the technique [Verse 1] Let's trace the hits and check the file Let's see who bit to detect the style I flip the script so they can't get foul At least not now, it'll take a while I change the pace to complete the beat I drop the bass 'til MCs get weak For every word they trace, it's a scar they...Learn More

[Produced by Eric B] [Verse 1] Sip the juice, I got enough to go around And the thought takes place Uptown I grew up on the sidewalk where I learned street talk And then taught to hawk New York I go to Queens for queens, then get the crew from Brooklyn Make money in Manhattan and never been tooken Go Uptown in The Bronx to Boogie Down Get Strong...Learn More

[Verse 1] I ain't no joke, I used to let the mic smoke Now I slam it when I'm done and make sure it's broke When I'm gone no one gets on 'cause I won't let Nobody press up and mess up the scene I set I like to stand in a crowd and watch the people wonder damn But think about it then you'll understand I'm just an addict, addicted to music Maybe it's...Learn More

[Verse: Rakim] I was a fiend before I became a teen I melted microphones instead of cones of ice cream Music orientated so when hip hop was originated Fitted like pieces of puzzles complicated 'Cause I grabbed the mic and try to say, "Yes y'all" They tried to take it and say that I'm too small Cool 'cause I don't get upset I kick a hole in the...Learn More