As The Rhyme Goes On - Eric B., Rakim

Knowledge will begin until I finish this song

'Cuz the rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme goes on You sweat as you step about to get hype

Or should you just listen to the man on the mic

You’re physically in this with me but how could you tell

If it’s meant to be hip-hop if you’re not mentally as well

Ready to absorb the rhyme that I just poured

Into the mic and so unite and this won’t be so bored

If you just keep kickin’listen — to the mix

And think you’ll sink into the rhyme like quicksand

Holds and controls you 'til I leave

You fall deeper in the style — it’s hard to breathe

The only time I stop is when somebody drop and then

Bring 'em to the front 'cuz my rhymes’the oxygen

Then wave your hands — when you’re ready I’ll send you

Into your favorite dance so let the rhyme continue

And so on and I’ma go on simultaneously

And even if I stop — the rhyme remains to be Rising to the top — and I came to drop it Catch it and quiz it — is my topic

Universual 'cuz I move everybody to come

By exercising your mind you’ll coincide as one

You look around and see how packed the party starts to get

I draw a crowd — like an architect

The five borroughs react and all the islands attract

And every state can’t wait — so they attack

off a spot on the floor — squeeze in cuz it’s packed

It’ll be more room if MC’s play the back

I’m the R the A to the K-I-M

If I wasn’t, then why would I say I am The microphone fiend if I was a fake

Whoever said it’s just buggin’off the rhymes I make

I had you biting your tongue for what I brung and recite

Sung it on stage some said it don’t sound like

The voice on the record — I see what you mean

Because the system was wack, so I had to scream

So just — give me a mic if it’s loud I’ll blow it If not — into the crowd I’ll throw it Pull out my cordless mic and entertain you well

Before I let go I’ma spark your brain cells

I took time to write — tonight I will recite

So poetically inclined when the mic is held tight

Rhymes start flowin’kisses are blowin

MC’s are knowin’that’s why they’re goin

Home to tell a friend when the party ends

Yo, man you know Rakim?

That brother struck again

Cuz mic by mic and stage by stage,

Tape by tape and page by page,

When the crowd is moving I compete with the mix

The rougher the cuts — the rougher the rhyme gets

Deeper and Deeper — I hope you understand it I made it up myself and I planned it For other MC’s who waste time

Writing jokes, riddles, and maybe a rhyme

I cross my arms and I was waiting — but I was hating

The rappers on the microphone was fronting — just faking

They wasn’t breakin', which means I was achin'

To get up on the microphone and then start takin'

Control of the mic — uptight when I grabbed it So hug the speaker- your ear’s a magnet

Attracted to a freestyle put in effect

You listen to my man while you’re sippin’Moet

So Eric, pick up the needle (yeah) put it in the middle (ahhight)

Give me a scratch, turn my Mic up a little,

I want you to hear this perfectly clear

Catch what I’m sayin'?

You get the idea?

I hope you knowledge the beginning cuz I’m finished this song

The rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme flows on…