My Melody
Eric B. & Rakim. Lyrics


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Turn up the bass, check out my melody, hand out a cigar
I'm lettin' knowledge be born, and my name's the R
A-K-I-M, not like the rest of them, I'm not on a list
That's what I'm sayin', I drop science like a scientist
My melody's in a code, the very next episode
Has the mic often distortin', ready to explode
I keep the mic at Fahrenheit, freeze MC's to make 'em colder
The listener's system is kickin' like solar
As I memorize, advertise, like a poet
Keep you goin' when I'm flowin', smooth enough, you know with the rough
That's why the moral of my story I tell'll be
Nobody beats the R, check out my melody

(Check out my melody)
(Check out my melody)
(Check out my melody)
(Check out my melody)

So what, I'm a microphone fiend addicted soon as I seen
One of these four MC's so they don't have to scream
I couldn't wait to take the mic, flow into it to test it
Let my melody play, then a record suggest it
I'm droppin' bombs, but I stay peace and calm
Any MC that disagree with me wave your arm
And I'll break, when I'm through breakin' I'll leave you broke
Drop the mic when I'm finished and watch it smoke
So stand back, you wanna rap? All of that can wait
I won't push, I won't beat around the bush

I wanna break upon those who are not supposed to
You might try but you can't get close to
Because I'm number one, competition is none
I'm measured with the heat that's made by sun
'Cause I'm playin ball or bobbin' in the hall
Or just writin' my name in graffiti on the wall
You shouldn't have told me you said you controlled me
So now a contest is what you owe me
Pull out your money, pull out your cut
Pull up a chair, and I'm a tear shit up

My name is Rakim Allah, and R and A stands for Ra
Switch it around, it still comes out R
So easily will I E-M-C-E-E
My repetition of words is check out my melody
Some bass and treble is moist, scratch in and cut in a voice
And when it's mine that's when the rhyme is always choice
I wouldn't a came and said my name and run same weak-
Puttin' blurbs and slurs and words that don't fit
In a rhyme, why waste time on the microphone
I take this more serious than just a poem
Rock from party to party, backyard to yard
I tear it up, y'all, and bless the mic for the Gods

(Check out my melody)
(Check out my melody)
(Check out my melody)
(Check out my melody)

The rhyme is rugged, at the same time sharp
I can swing off anything even a string of a harp
Just turn it on and start rockin', mine, no introduction
'Til I finish droppin' science, no interruption
When I approach I exercise like a coach
Usin' a melody and add numerous of notes
So when the mic and the R-A-K-I-M
It's a task, like a match I will strike again
Rhymes are poetically kept and alphabetically stepped
Put in a order to pursue with the momentum except
I say one rhyme out of order, a longer rhyme shorter
A pause, but don't stop the tape recorder

(Check out my melody)
(Check out my melody)
(Check out my melody)
(Check out my melody)
(Check out my melody)
(Check out my melody)
(Check)
(Check out my-)
(Check out my melody)

I'm not a regular competitor, first rhyme editor
Melody arranger, poet, et cetera
Extra event, the grand finale-like bonus
I am the man they call the microphonist
With wisdom, which means wise words bein' spoken
Too many at one time watch the mic start smokin'
I came to express the rap I manifest
Stand in my way and I'll veto on the word's protest
MC's that wanna be best, they're gonna
Be dissed if they don't get from in front-a
All they can go get is me a glass of Moet
A hard time, sip your juice and watch a smooth poet

I take seven MC's put 'em in a line
And add seven more brothas who think they can rhyme
Well, it'll take seven more before I go for mine
Now that's twenty-one MC's ate up at the same time
Easy does it, do it easy, that's what I'm doin'
No fessin', no messin' around, no chewin'
No robbin', no buyin', bitin', why borrow?
This slob'll stop tryin', fightin' to follow
My unusual style will confuse you a while
If I was water, I'd flow in the Nile
So many rhymes you won't have time to go for yours
Just because of applause I have to pause
Right after tonight is when I prepare
To catch another sucka duck MC out there
'Cause my strategy has to be tragedy, catastrophe
And after this you'll call me your majesty
My melody

Yes it's my melody
Eric B. (check out my melody)

Marley Marl synthesized it, I memorize it
Eric B. made a cut and advertised it
My melody's created for MC's in the place
They try to listen 'cause I'm dissin' them so pick up your face
Shook off your neck 'cause you try to detect my pace
Now you're druggin', almost buggin' off my rhyme-like bass
The melody that I'm stylin', smooth as a violin
Rough enough to break New York from Long Island
My wisdom is swift, no matter if
My momentum is slow, MC's still stand stiff
I'm genuine like leather, reclined to be clever
MC, you'll beat the R, I'll say, "Oh never"




So Eric B., cut it easily and
Check out my melody

Overall Meaning

In the song My Melody by Eric B. + Rakim, the rapper Rakim is boasting about his superior skills as an MC. The opening line of the first verse, "Turn up the bass check out my melody," is a nod to the importance of the bass in hip-hop music and the idea that Rakim's lyrics are the melody that listeners should be paying attention to. He repeats the phrase "check out my melody" throughout the song, emphasizing that he is a master of the art form.


Rakim also uses a lot of scientific metaphors in his lyrics, comparing himself to a scientist and dropping science like a scientist. He talks about keeping the mic in Fahrenheit and freezing MCs, creating an image of himself as a master of the elements of hip-hop. In the second verse, he says that he takes his MCing more seriously than just a poem, showing that he sees himself as a craftsperson rather than just a wordsmith.


The song is notable for its use of sampling and scratching, which were innovative techniques at the time. It features a sample from the song "The Champ" by The Mohawks, which has been used in many other hip-hop songs since then. My Melody is widely recognized as a classic hip-hop song and has been ranked on several lists of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Eric Barrier, William Griffin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@slothbro2740

Diamonds are forever like family and loyalty
Or real rap songs like "C.R.E.A.M." or "My Melody"

@random6857

Rip guru :( ♥️

@bigbroyearseen9423

Rip Guru

@neoscapr7504

Rip Guru

@leanhoven

Know I had 2 one back

@alxrtv3159

Diamonds are forever like my infinite thought
Like respect in the Hood that cant be bought

17 More Replies...

@samakrosario5546

"I'll take 7 MCs and put them in a line, and add 7 more Brothers who think they can Rhyme, it'll take 7 more before I go for mine and thats 21 MCs ate up at the same time." Still one of the Best verses ever. Rakim was ahead of his time, hip hop fans didn't appreciate him as much when he first came out as much as they appreciate him now, his lyrics are just as dope now as they were back then.

@twstdreality

Did anyone notice that not only did Em shout out Rakim in Rap God, but he also referenced one of Rakim’s lines in "My Melody"

My Melody: "I take seven MC’s put ‘em in a line, and add seven more brothas who think they can rhyme" -Rakim

Rap God: "I’ll take seven kids from Columbine, put ‘em all in a line, add an AK-47, a revolver and a nine" -Eminem

Also maybe this is a coincidence, but since it’s Em, probably not. In the second part of both verses, after the first line, the verse "add seven” from My Melody and "add an AK-47" from Rap God both mention 7 which I didn’t notice before as well. The last word of both verses also rhyme together which probably isn’t a coincidence. It’s crazy to think how much layers Em’s verses have!

@mrmartywaring

The greatest four bars in hip-hop history to this day!

@Milkman-007

@@twstdrealityimtentional, was on im back

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