As the Rhyme Goes On
Eric B. & Rakim Lyrics

Knowledge'll begin until I finish this song
I will impart knowledge until the end of this song

'Cause the rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme goes on
The rhymes will become more intense as the song progresses

You sweat as you step, about to get hype
The anticipation of the music is causing physical exertion

Or should you just listen to the man on the mic?
Questioning if it's better to just listen to the artist rather than joining in

You're physically in this with me but how could you tell
While you may be physically present, your mental presence determines your enjoyment

If it's meant to be hip-hop if you're not mentally as well
Hip-hop requires mental participation as much as physical

Ready to absorb the rhyme that I just poured
Prepared to receive the message conveyed in the lyrics

Into the mic and so unite and this won't be so bored
Performing while unified with the audience results in an entertaining performance

If you just keep kickin' listen, to the mix
If you continue to listen, you will be enveloped by the music

And think you'll sink into the rhyme like quicksand
You'll be drawn down into the rhythm of the music

Holds and controls you 'til I leave
The music and lyrics will maintain control until the performance ends

You fall deeper in the style, it's hard to breathe
The deeper you're drawn in, it becomes harder to resist the rhythm

The only time I stop is when somebody drop and then
Pausing in the performance only happens when someone interrupts

Bring 'em to the front 'cause my rhymes' the oxygen
The rhymes are necessary and bring life to the performance

Then wave your hands, when you're ready I'll send you
Participate by waving, then you'll be included in the energy

Into your favorite dance so let the rhyme continue
Dance to your preference while the performance continues

And so on and I'ma go on simultaneously
The performance will continue indefinitely

Even if I stop, the rhyme remains to be
Even if the performance stops, the lyrics will remain

Risin' to the top, and I came to drop it
I am here to deliver high-quality rhymes

Catch it and quiz it, is my topic
Catch my rhymes, and ask questions to understand

Universal 'cause I move everybody to come
My performances and rhymes attract everyone

By exercisin' your mind to coincide as one
Listening to my lyrics unlocks an understanding that unites us all

Then look around and see how packed the party starts to get
Observing the crowd shows how the performance is energizing everyone

I draw a crowd, like an architect
My music designs a structure to draw crowds to it

The five boroughs react and all the islands attract
All areas respond positively and are drawn to the performance

And every state can't wait, so they attack
The performance is eagerly anticipated everywhere

Off a spot on the floor, squeeze in 'cause it's packed
Make room for others by compressing to make the most of the available floor area

It'll be more room if MC's play the back
There will be more space if participating MCs step down from the front

I'm the R the A to the K-I-M
I am Rakim and my initials are R.A.K.I.M.

If I wasn't, then why would I say I am
I am Rakim and there's no question about that

The microphone fiend if I was a fake?
If I wasn't the real deal, why would I be called The Microphone Fiend?

Whoever said it's just buggin' off the rhymes I make
Anyone who doubts that I am The Microphone Fiend is just being unreasonable

I had you bitin' your tongue for what I brung and recite
My rhymes make you pay close attention and sometimes bite your tongue in excitement

Sung it on stage, some said it don't sound like
Some people assume my live performance won't be like my recorded works

The voice on the record, I see what you mean
I understand the confusion people have about the difference between my live and recorded work

Because the system was wack, so I had to scream
The poor sound system forced me to raise my voice to be heard

So just give me a mic, if it's loud I'll blow it
Just provide me with a microphone and I will make full use of it

If not, into the crowd I'll throw it
If the microphone isn't adequate, I'll throw it into the audience

Pull out my cordless mic to entertain you well
Using my wireless microphone to entertain you better

Before I let go I'ma spark your brain cells
Before concluding my performance, I'll inspire your thoughts

I took time to write, tonight I will recite
I put effort into writing the lyrics and tonight I will perform them

So poetically inclined when the mic is held tight
I have a natural talent for poetic expression when holding the mic

Rhymes start flowin' kisses are blowin
The performance will start to flow and make stirs excitement

MC's are knowin' that's why they're goin '
The other MCs know how good this performance will be, and that's why they're going

Home to tell a friend when the party ends
When the party ends, they will tell their friends about the epic performance by Rakim

"Yo, man you know Rakim? That brother struck again"
His friend is saying that Rakim once again delivered an amazing rap

'Cause mic by mic and stage by stage
Performance by performance, as I step on stage

Tape by tape and page by page
Recording by recording and lyric by lyric

When the crowd is moving I compete with the mix
When the crowd starts moving, it becomes a competition between me and the music

The rougher the cuts, the rougher the rhyme gets
The more intense the beat, the more intense my rhymes will be

Deeper and deeper, I hope you understand it
The deeper you go into the music, the more you will understand

I made it up myself and I planned it
I wrote and planned these lyrics myself

For other MC's who waste time
For other MCs who write meaningless raps

Writin' jokes, riddles, and maybe a rhyme
Writing things that don't contribute to the art form

I cross my arms and I was waitin', but I was hatin'
I was crossing my arms and waiting, but inside, I was disliking what I heard

The rappers on the microphone was frontin', just fakin'
The other rappers were putting on an act and pretending to be something they weren't

They wasn't breakin', which means I was achin'
Nobody was breaking the beat, causing me to get frustrated

To get up on the microphone and then start takin'
I wanted to get up and take over the performance

Control of the mic, uptight when I grabbed it
I was focused and nervous when I grabbed the microphone

So hug the speaker, your ear's a magnet
Get closer to the artists and let the sound draw you in

Attracted to a freestyle put in effect
Drawn to the improvised rhymes being performed

You listen to the man while you're sippin' Moet
Drinking Moet while listening to a skilled male performer

So, Eric, pick up the needle (yeah)
Eric, the DJ, is asked to pick up the needle and start the music

Put it in the middle (alright)
Place the needle in the middle of the record

Give me a scratch, turn my mic up a little
Scratch the record and increase the volume of my microphone

I want you to hear this perfectly clear
I want you to clearly hear my rhymes

Catch what I'm sayin'? You get the idea?
Do you understand the message I'm delivering through my lyrics?

I hope you knowledge the beginnin' 'cause I'm finished this song
I hope you gained knowledge from the beginning because the song is now over

The rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme flows on
The intensity of the rhymes becomes stronger as the song progresses