It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you
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Without a strong rhyme to step to
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Think of how many weak shows you slept through
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Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you
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Thinking of this, you keep repeating you miss
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The rhymes from the microphone soloist
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And you sit by the radio, hand on the dial, soon
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As you hear it, pump up the volume
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Dance wit the speaker 'till you hear it blow,
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Then plug in the headphone 'cause here it go
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It's a 4 letter word when it's heard, it control
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your body to dance (You got it) soul,
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Ditects the tempo like a red alert
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Reaches your reflex, so let it work
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When this is playing, you can't get stuck wit
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The steps, so get set and I'm a still come up wit
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A gift to be swift, follow the leader, the rhyme will go
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Def wit the record that was mixed a long time ago
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It can be done but only I can do it
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For those that can dance and clap your hands to it
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I start to think and then I sink
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Into the paper like I was ink
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When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines,
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I escape when I finish the rhyme...
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I got soul
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You got it (4x)
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I know you got soul
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Picture a mic, the stage is empty
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A beat like this might tempt me
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To pose, show my rings and my fat gold chain
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Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train
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But I'll wait 'cause I mastered this
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Let the others go first so the brothers don't miss
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Eric B. break the sticks (you got it)
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Rakim will begin when you make the mix
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I'll experiment like a scientist
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You wanna rhyme, you gotta sign my list
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'Cause I'm a manifest and bless the mic I hold
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You want it next? then you gotta have soul
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'Cause if you ain't got it, I'm a make an encore
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Take the mic, make the people respond for
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The R, 'cause that's the way it'll have to be
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If you wanna get on after me
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Think about it, wait, erase your rhyme
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Forget it and don't waste your time
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'Cause I'll be in the crowd if you ain't controlling it
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Drop the mic, you shouldn't be holding it
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This is how it should be done
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This style is identical to none
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Some try to make it sound like this but you're getting me
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So upset that I'm wet 'cause you're sweating me
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I drip steam like a microphone fiend
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Eager to MC is my theme
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I get hype when I hear a drum roll
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Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul
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You got it (5x)
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I got soul (you got it) that's why I came
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To teach those who can't say my name
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First of all, I'm the soloist, the soul controller
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Rakim gets stronger as I get older
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Constant elevation causes expansion
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I write my rhyme while I cool in my mansion
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Then put it on tape and in the city I test it
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Then on the radio the R's requested
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You listen to it, the concept might break you
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'Cause almost anyone can relate to...
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Whoever's out of hand, I'm give him handles
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Light 'em up, blow 'em out like candles
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Or should I just let him melt?
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Then give him a hand so they can see how it felt
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I'm not bold just cuz I rock gold
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Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul
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You got it (4x)
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Now I'm a stop to see what you got
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Get off the mic before I get too hot
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I want to see which posse can dance the best
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It should be easy 'cause the beat is fresh
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Now if your from Uptown, Brooklyn- bound,
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The Bronx, Queens, or Long Island Sound,
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Even other states come right and exact,
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It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at
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Since you came here, you have to show and prove
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And do that dance until it don't move
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'Cause all you need is soul self-esteem will release,
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The rest is up to you, Rakim 'll say peace
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You got it (10x)
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-----------------
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I Know You Got Soul
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| Rakim |
