As The Rhyme Goes On

(Pump it up, home boy)

(Pump it up, home boy)

Knowledge'll begin until I finish this song

'Cause 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 'cause 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

Even if I stop, the rhyme remains to be

Risin' to the top, and I came to drop it

Catch it and quiz it, is my topic

Universal 'cause I move everybody to come

By exercisin' your mind to coincide as one

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

I draw a crowd, like an architect

The five boroughs react and all the islands attract

And every state can't wait, so they attack

Off a spot on the floor, squeeze in 'cause 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 bitin' 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 to 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"

'Cause 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

Writin' jokes, riddles, and maybe a rhyme

I cross my arms and I was waitin', but I was hatin'

The rappers on the microphone was frontin', just fakin'

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 the man while you're sippin' Moet

So, Eric, pick up the needle (yeah)

Put it in the middle (alright)

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 beginnin' 'cause I'm finished this song

The rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme flows on