[Rakim]
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I came to set em straight, and let em know
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Whoever's holdin the best, just let him go
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Cause here's the inside scoop on the fiend
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They wanna know why I'm seldom seen
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Cause who needs the TV screens and magazines
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or shootin through the city in fly limousines
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There's one thing I don't like, it's the spotlight
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.. cause I already got light
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They be like, "Yo we had a get together last week
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and we know everyone was there except the Black Sheik"
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Because my schedule is tight, I gotta write
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I'm deep in the archives, and keepin em hyped
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It's been a long time, since you heard a strong rhyme
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None of these are weak so when you bite on mine
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we can trace the hits and then name that style
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MC'sll be out of a job for a while
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I reposess your indentification
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So hand in your application
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Put your mic on strike until you're unemployed
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Contract is up and I'm stampin it void
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Your selection ain't that selective
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So I'ma put you in your proper perspective
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On the dancefloor, and doin the SHAKE
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Ready to let em brake, set em straight
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[Rakim]
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Somebody said I set em up and pulled the plug on em
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But instead I let em go on so I could bug on em
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Go 'head and flow, cause I close the show
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Swing a song for the ladies and rhyme real slow
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For instance.. once I commence..
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.. the crowd is convinced
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So now you know who to put your money on
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Hurry up, before your money's gone
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Cause I'm the most common denominator
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Orchestrate a rhyme much greater
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I'm like a world almanac, so tell the media
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Givin em information like encyclopedia
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So bring a dictionary, so you can look it up
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so you know what I mean, when I hook it up
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No misconceptions although I complicate
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but this concept'll set em straight
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They even said that I was locked in jail
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So now I guess I'm out on bail?
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The only Island I was on was the Strong one
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And if I did my bid, it'll be a long one
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Cause if I sold weight, I'd be upstate
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in the penile, waitin for a brake
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Cause sellin drugs is for handicaps
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I got too many skills besides bustin rough raps
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If I go to jail, it won't be for sellin ki's
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It'll be for muderin MC's
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The beat'll take over your heart, then I start
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to cut em in half, cause rhymes are razor sharp
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Secure the exits, all MC's remain
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Cause we got a crowd to entertain
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And I know, when I go, I'll flow dangerous
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Brain'sll bust, what you tryin to explain to us?
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You got lost, and couldn't go on
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Came up short, so here's one to grow on
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Elevate off a high IQ
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In time, you'll find I'm true
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Cause once I start on a piece of art
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from sun to moon and light to dark I build the Ark
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Now you can float off the rhymes I wrote
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I'm sure that we'll hit shore without a boat
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You could bring a battleship and still get shipwrecked
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Attacked with a torpedo, what did you expect?
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Driftin up the creek, without a beat or a paddle
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Castaway on a raft and stand fragile
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Rescue your crowd, which ain't a hard job
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Me and my knowledge put together, I'm a lifeguard
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Dealin with actual facts it sold out fat
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here and now, but I go so far back
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to bring you up to date, so we can elevate
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It's no time to wait, or anticipate
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Cause I'm never late, I'm gonna motivate
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So I can let em brake, and set em straight
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Set 'Em Straight
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| Eric B. & Rakim |
