[00:08.97]It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you
[00:11.97]Without a strong rhyme to step to
[00:13.71]Think of how many weak shows you slept through
[00:16.08]Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you
[00:18.42]Thinking of this, you keep repeating you miss
[00:20.52]The rhymes from the microphone soloist
[00:22.77]And you sit by the radio
[00:24.24]Hand on the dial, soon
[00:25.56]As you hear it, pump up the volume
[00:27.75]Dance wit the speaker till you hear it blow
[00:29.73]Then plug in the headphone
[00:31.02]'Cause here it go
[00:31.95]It's a 4 letter word when it's heard, it control
[00:34.41]Your body to dance, you got it soul
[00:37.20]Dilects the tempo like a red alert
[00:39.33]Reaches your reflex, so let it work
[00:41.46]When this is playing you can't get stuck with
[00:43.77]The steps so get set and I'm a still come up with
[00:46.08]A gift to be swift follow the leader the rhyme will go
[00:48.39]Def wit the record that was mixed a long time ago
[00:50.79]It can be done but only I can do it
[00:52.92]For those that can dance and clap your hands to it
[00:55.38]I start to think and then I sink into the paper like I was ink
[00:59.58]When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines
[01:02.07]I escape when I finish the rhyme, I got soul
[01:08.91]You got it, you got it
[01:12.36]You got it, you got it
[01:17.97]I know you got soul
[01:18.33]Picture a mic, the stage is empty
[01:25.80]A beat like this might tempt me
[01:27.45]To pose, show my rings and my fat gold chain
[01:30.21]Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train
[01:31.86]But I'll wait 'cause I mastered this
[01:34.17]Let the others go first so the brothers don't miss
[01:36.60]Eric B. break the sticks, you got it
[01:39.06]Rakim will begin when you make the mix
[01:41.19]I'll experiment like a scientist
[01:43.38]You wanna rhyme, you gotta sign my list
[01:45.84]'Cause I'm a manifest and bless the mic I hold
[01:48.00]You want it next then you gotta have soul
[01:50.58]'Cause if you ain't got it, I'm a make an encore
[01:53.22]Take the mic, make the people respond for
[01:55.14]The R, 'cause that's the way it'll have to be
[01:58.20]If you wanna get on after me
[01:59.85]Think about it, wait, erase your rhyme
[02:02.04]Forget it and don't waste your time
[02:04.32]'Cause I'll be in the crowd if you ain't controlling it
[02:06.87]Drop the mic, you shouldn't be holding it
[02:09.09]This is how it should be done this style is identical to none
[02:13.44]Some try to make it sound like this but you're getting me
[02:16.26]So upset that I'm wet 'cause you're sweating me
[02:18.39]I drip steam like a microphone fiend, eager to MC is my theme
[02:22.59]I get hype when I hear a drum roll
[02:24.99]Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul
[02:39.21]You got it, you got it
[02:39.78]You got it, you got it
[02:45.84]I got soul you got it that's why I came
[02:48.09]To teach those who can't say my name
[02:50.28]First of all, I'm the soloist, the soul controller
[02:52.62]Rakim gets stronger as I get older
[02:55.05]Constant elevation causes expansion
[02:57.69]I write my rhyme while I cool in my mansion
[02:59.73]Then put it on tape and in the city I test it
[03:02.22]Then on the radio the R's requested
[03:04.35]You listen to it, the concept might break you
[03:07.20]'Cause almost anyone can relate to
[03:08.70]Whoever's out of hand, I'm give him handles
[03:11.52]Light 'em up, blow 'em out like candles
[03:14.13]Or should I just let him melt?
[03:15.81]Then give him a hand so they can see how it felt
[03:18.27]I'm not bold just 'cuz I rock gold
[03:20.28]Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul
[03:25.53]You got it, you got it
[03:26.19]You got it, you got it
[03:41.52]Now I'm a stop to see what you got
[03:43.68]Get off the mic before I get too hot
[03:45.57]I want to see which posse can dance the best
[03:48.30]It should be easy 'cause the beat is fresh
[03:50.16]Now if your from uptown, Brooklyn bound
[03:52.65]The Bronx, Queens, or Long Island Sound
[03:55.14]Even other states come right and exact
[03:57.33]It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at
[03:59.49]Since you came here, you have to show and prove
[04:01.95]And do that dance until it don't move
[04:04.23]'Cause all you need is soul self-esteem will release
[04:06.45]The rest is up to you, Rakim'll say peace
[04:19.74]You got it, you got it
[04:20.34]You got it, you got it
[04:22.32]You got it, you got it
[04:38.52]...

It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to
Think of how many weak shows you slept through
Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you
Thinking of this, you keep repeating you miss
The rhymes from the microphone soloist
And you sit by the radio
Hand on the dial, soon
As you hear it, pump up the volume
Dance wit the speaker till you hear it blow
Then plug in the headphone
'Cause here it go
It's a 4 letter word when it's heard, it control
Your body to dance, you got it soul
Dilects the tempo like a red alert
Reaches your reflex, so let it work
When this is playing you can't get stuck with
The steps so get set and I'm a still come up with
A gift to be swift follow the leader the rhyme will go
Def wit the record that was mixed a long time ago
It can be done but only I can do it
For those that can dance and clap your hands to it
I start to think and then I sink into the paper like I was ink
When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines
I escape when I finish the rhyme, I got soul
You got it, you got it
You got it, you got it
I know you got soul
Picture a mic, the stage is empty
A beat like this might tempt me
To pose, show my rings and my fat gold chain
Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train
But I'll wait 'cause I mastered this
Let the others go first so the brothers don't miss
Eric B. break the sticks, you got it
Rakim will begin when you make the mix
I'll experiment like a scientist
You wanna rhyme, you gotta sign my list
'Cause I'm a manifest and bless the mic I hold
You want it next then you gotta have soul
'Cause if you ain't got it, I'm a make an encore
Take the mic, make the people respond for
The R, 'cause that's the way it'll have to be
If you wanna get on after me
Think about it, wait, erase your rhyme
Forget it and don't waste your time
'Cause I'll be in the crowd if you ain't controlling it
Drop the mic, you shouldn't be holding it
This is how it should be done this style is identical to none
Some try to make it sound like this but you're getting me
So upset that I'm wet 'cause you're sweating me
I drip steam like a microphone fiend, eager to MC is my theme
I get hype when I hear a drum roll
Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul
You got it, you got it
You got it, you got it
I got soul you got it that's why I came
To teach those who can't say my name
First of all, I'm the soloist, the soul controller
Rakim gets stronger as I get older
Constant elevation causes expansion
I write my rhyme while I cool in my mansion
Then put it on tape and in the city I test it
Then on the radio the R's requested
You listen to it, the concept might break you
'Cause almost anyone can relate to
Whoever's out of hand, I'm give him handles
Light 'em up, blow 'em out like candles
Or should I just let him melt?
Then give him a hand so they can see how it felt
I'm not bold just 'cuz I rock gold
Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul
You got it, you got it
You got it, you got it
Now I'm a stop to see what you got
Get off the mic before I get too hot
I want to see which posse can dance the best
It should be easy 'cause the beat is fresh
Now if your from uptown, Brooklyn bound
The Bronx, Queens, or Long Island Sound
Even other states come right and exact
It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at
Since you came here, you have to show and prove
And do that dance until it don't move
'Cause all you need is soul self-esteem will release
The rest is up to you, Rakim'll say peace
You got it, you got it
You got it, you got it
You got it, you got it
...