Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em
Eric B. & Rakim Lyrics

Let the rhythm hit 'em
Allow the powerful impact of the rhythm to take effect

I'm the arsenal
I possess a vast collection of powerful weapons (lyrics)

I got artillery lyrics of ammo
I have an abundance of explosive lyrics ready to be unleashed

Rounds of rhythm
Successive bursts of rhythm

Then I'm 'a give 'em piano
I will deliver a skillful and captivating performance

Bring a bullet proof vest
Come prepared for intense lyrical confrontation

Nothin' to ricochet
Nothing to bounce off or deflect

Ready to aim at the brain
Prepared to target the intellect and consciousness

Now what the trigger say
The lyrics will determine the impact and response

Tempos triflin'
The rhythm is unpredictable and challenging

Felt like a rifle
It creates a strong and forceful impact

Massage 'n' melodies
Gently soothe with harmonious sounds

Might go right through
Possibly penetrate and profoundly affect

Simultaneously like an Uzi
At the same time, with rapid and relentless intensity

Nothin' can bruise me
I am invincible and unaffected by criticism

Lyrics let up when lady
The intensity of the lyrics eases when a woman asks for respite

Say don't lose me
Implores to not let go of the emotional connection

So reload quickly
Prepare and replenish immediately

And you better hit me
You must engage and respond to my lyrical assault

While I'm lettin'
While I'm allowing

This fifi get wit' me
This musical instrument becomes expressive in my hands

You steppin' with 007
You are approaching with the power and skill of a spy

Better make it snappy
Act promptly and swiftly

No time to do your hair, baby
There is no opportunity to make oneself look presentable

Brothers are bustin' at me
There are those who are attacking and challenging me

Beats and bullets pass me
The rhythm and lyrical aggression come my way

None on target
No direct hits or significant impact

They want the R hit
They desire to strike and defeat Rakim

But watch the God get
But witness Rakim's divine intervention and triumph

Quicker, the tongue is the trigger
The tongue is swift and powerful, acting as the catalyst

'Cause I'm real fast
Because I possess exceptional speed and agility

Let off some rhythm at 'em
Release a barrage of rhythmic attack upon them

Let 'em feel the blast
Allow them to experience the overwhelming impact

Penetrate at a crazy rate
Enter forcefully and rapidly

This ain't thirty-eight
This is not a conventional weapon or method

Hit 'em at point blank range
Strike them at extremely close proximity

And watch 'em radiate
Observe their energy and influence emanate

Runnin' out of ammunition
Running low on resources or ideas

I'm done wit' 'em
I have finished dealing with or addressing them

You ask me how I did 'em
You inquire about my method or technique in defeating them

I let the rhythm hit 'em
I allowed the power and impact of the rhythm to overcome them

I push a power that's punishable
I possess a force that can be perceived as a threat

Better be a prisoner
You should anticipate being overcome or confined

The hit man is the
The one responsible for delivering the blow is

Brother wit' charisma
A charismatic individual

Showing you that I have
Demonstrating my possession of

Powerful paragraphs
Compelling and impactful lyrics

Followers will become leaders
Those who follow will eventually rise to positions of authority

But without a path
Without a defined direction or guidance

Ya mentally paralyzed
You are mentally incapacitated or immobilized

Crippled ya third eye
Caused damage to your inner perception and understanding

Rhymes are blurred
The clarity and meaning of the lyrics are distorted

Then it occurred that you heard I
You suddenly realized that you heard of my lyrical prowess

Reduced the friction
Diminished the resistance or conflict

With crucifixion
By subjecting oneself to intense scrutiny or criticism

Let loose the mix
Release the powerful combination

Then boost the piston
Then enhance the force and potency even further

Eric hit 'em with' some of that
Eric delivers a dose of

Cut like a lumberjack
Slice and carve with precision and force

And me gettin' hit back
And encountering retaliation in return

It won't be none of that
There will be no reciprocal actions

I'm untouchable
I am impervious to attack or harm

You see me in 3-D
You witness my presence in vivid and immersive detail

When I let the rhythm
When I allow the power of the rhythm

Hit another M.C.
Overwhelm and dominate another rapper

Lyrics made of lead
The lyrics possess immense weight and impact

Enters your head
Penetrates and captivates your mind

Then eruptions of a mass production
Result in the release of a massive outpouring

Will spread when
Will disseminate and propagate

Music is louder
The music becomes significantly louder and more intense

Full of gunpowder
Filled with explosive energy and intensity

Microphone machinery
The microphone operates like a powerful instrument

When I see a crowd of
When faced with a gathering of people

Party people pumpin'
Partygoers enthusiastically moving and dancing

Their fist like this
Raising their closed hands in a gesture of celebration

Ya hide in the back
You attempt to conceal yourself or stay out of the spotlight

Thinkin' that I might miss
Believing that I will fail to make an impact

But the R is accurate
However, Rakim is precise and exact

Plus I'm packed up with
In addition, I am armed with

Educated punch lines
Knowledgeable and cleverly crafted lines

That I have to hit
That I must deliver forcefully

Whatever I aim at
Regardless of the target I choose

I line 'em up
I prepare and position them for attack

Ya body is weak, feel with pain
Your physical and emotional state is overwhelmed by pain

That time is up
The time for your defeat has arrived

You been hit with somethin'
You have experienced the impact of

Different, isn't it?
Something unfamiliar and unexpected, isn't it?

Rakim is gonna radiate
Rakim will emit a powerful and influential energy

And nothing's equivalent
And there is no equal to that

Nothin' can harm me
I am immune to harm or damage

Why try to bar me
Why attempt to obstruct or impede me

You couldn't come around
You are unable to approach or confront

To rob with a army
To overpower or defeat with a large force

You'll get wrecked by the architect
You will be utterly destroyed by the mastermind

So respect 'em
Therefore, show proper admiration and regard for them

I disconnect 'em
I sever their connection or influence

Soon as I inject 'em
As soon as I introduce my presence and energy

With radiation
With powerful and influential emanations

Put 'em by the basement
Leave them in a lowly and insignificant position

Bust his chest open
Forcefully rupture his chest

Bash his face in
Violently strike his face

Let it split 'em
Allow the force to separate and divide them

Since he brought his main man wit' 'em
Because he brought his primary ally or supporter along

He ask me how I did 'em
He inquires about my method of defeating them

I let the rhythm hit 'em
I allowed the power and impact of the rhythm to overcome them

Dance floor's dangerous
The environment of the dance floor is hazardous and intense

Packed in like a briefcase
Crowded together tightly, like packed belongings in a briefcase

Rhythm with real rough rhyme
The rhythm is accompanied by raw and aggressive lyrics

Beats with deep bass
The beats are characterized by low-pitched and resonant tones

Girls with tight pants
Women dressed in form-fitting trousers

Maybe they might dance
Perhaps they will engage in dance

Tonight if the Rs on the mike
If Rakim is the one controlling the microphone tonight

There's a slight chance
There exists a small possibility

The crowd is crucial
The audience is critical and influential

M.C.'s grounds are neutral
The territory of the other rappers is impartial or unbiased

Now that you're here
Now that you have arrived

Let me introduce you
Allow me to present and familiarize you with

Get ready
Prepare yourself

I'm hard read like graffiti but steady
I am difficult to decipher, like graffiti, but consistently strong

Science I drop is real heavy
The knowledge and wisdom I share is profound and weighty

Radiant energy, that'll be the penalty
Powerful and vibrant energy, that will serve as the consequence

Touch the third rail on the pain of remedy
Experience immense suffering as a means of finding a solution

The prescription's one every hour
The recommended dosage is once per hour

Now it's a havoc
Now it transforms into chaos and destruction

If ya need another hit from the freestyle fanatic
If you require another dose of spontaneous lyrical genius

Attention, follow directions real close
Pay close attention and adhere to the instructions

Keep out of reach of children
Ensure it is not accessible to children

Beware of overdose
Exercise caution to avoid consuming an excessive amount

Too many milligram
An excessive number of milligrams

But what made a iller jam
But what created a more remarkable and exceptional composition

My rhyme is the rhythm of thoughts
My lyrics embody and express profound ideas

That kill a man
That possess the power to cause significant impact or harm

Ideas for the ear to fear
Concepts that instill a sense of awe or trepidation

Might split 'em, he'll never forget 'em
Possibly divide and shatter them, and they will forever remember

He'll rest in peace wit' 'em
He will find eternal peace and serenity in connection with them

At least when he left he'll know what hit 'em
At the very least, he will understand the impact that affected him

The last breath of the words of death
The final expression of lethal lyrics

Was the rhythm
Was the force and power of the rhythm

Now throw you hands in the air and yo, go
Now raise your hands in the air and enthusiastically move

Rakim will do the rest of this slow
Rakim will take over and deliver the remaining lyrics at a slower pace

If I speed they know they'll blow the hell up
If I increase the tempo, they know they will explode with excitement

If I slow up, catch up, hell no
If I reduce the pace, they must catch up, no exceptions

Wicked as I kicked it
Incredibly skillful and impressive as I deliver

Don't need to remix it
It does not require alteration or modification

'Cause I prefixed it
Because I gave it an initial and distinct form

Reversed and switched it
Altered and transformed it in a different manner

Perform to perfection
Execute flawlessly and with meticulous precision

Section for section
Each segment or part with great attention and detail

Rhymes keep connectin'
Lyrics seamlessly flow and interconnect

Ya guessin' what's next an'
You are left guessing and anticipating what comes next

Blood pressure rise as ya damn near lost it
Blood pressure rises as you nearly lose control

Ya hit the ground burnin' and woke up frostbitten
You hit rock bottom, burned and damaged, and woke up feeling cold and numb

'Cause when I explained, ya can't complain for pain
Because when I elucidated, you cannot protest the agony

Travel through the brain hit a vein, then remain, let it radiate
Pass through the mind, strike a deep chord, persevere, and let it spread its influence

Vibes will vibrate, why did you violate
Feelings and vibrations will reverberate, why did you transgress or infringe

Now I'm 'a have to let the style break
Now I must allow the distinctive style to manifest

Moans now the tone is ingrown
Grunts and expressions of pain are now embedded in the sound

After this here's thrown, gimme another microphone
Once this performance is concluded, provide me with another microphone

Before I get that fifi I met
Before I receive that musical instrument I encountered

Whisper I wanna reach your intellect
Speak softly, expressing the desire to access one's intellectual capacity

Kiss her 'cause I wanna give her the most respect
Share a passionate kiss, expressing the utmost admiration and esteem

So I shine and let my write reflect
Therefore, I excel and allow my writing to mirror my brilliance

Hold 'er, mold 'er, make 'er feel older
Support and shape her, making her feel mature and experienced

Lay her on my shoulder, everything I told her
Place her gently on my shoulder, every word I conveyed to her

Makes her feel secure whenever I'm wit' 'er
Instills a sense of safety and comfort whenever I am with her

And you know how I did 'er
And you are aware of how I successfully charmed and impressed her

Me and the rhythm hit 'er
Both me and the rhythm made a strong impact on her

Let it hit 'em
Allow the power and force of the rhythm to impact them