No Money Makers
Julie Doiron Lyrics

It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you
It's been a long time since I've given you a good rhyme, and I apologize for that

Without a strong rhyme to step to
I haven't given you a rhyme that's worth listening to in a while

Think of how many weak shows you slept through
You've had to sit through many bad performances in the past

Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you
It's time to make up for those weak rhymes and give you something better

Thinking of this, you keep repeating you miss
You've been saying that you miss hearing good rhymes like mine

The rhymes from the microphone soloist
You miss the smooth and thoughtful rhymes from the solo rapper

And you sit by the radio, hand on the dial, soon
You eagerly wait by the radio, ready to switch stations as soon as you hear something good

As you hear it, pump up the volume
When you hear something good, you turn up the volume so you can fully enjoy it

Dance wit the speaker 'till you hear it blow,
You'll dance so hard the artists will blow out because the music is so good

Then plug in the headphone 'cause here it go
After the artists are blown, you'll plug in your headphones to keep listening

It's a 4 letter word when it's heard, it control
The word 'soul' controls your body to dance and move to the beat

your body to dance (You got it) soul,
Your soul is what gets your body to move and dance to the music

Ditects the tempo like a red alert
Your soul reacts to the beat of the music like a warning signal

Reaches your reflex, so let it work
Your reflexes respond to the beat of the music without you consciously controlling them

When this is playing, you can't get stuck wit
You can't stop moving to the beat when you hear good music

The steps, so get set and I'm a still come up wit
Get ready to move to the beat, because I'm still going to produce good rhymes

A gift to be swift, follow the leader, the rhyme will go
My rhymes are quick and smooth, and if you follow my lead, you'll enjoy the music

Def wit the record that was mixed a long time ago
I can still create good rhymes with old records and make them sound fresh

It can be done but only I can do it
Other artists can try, but only I can create good rhymes like this

For those that can dance and clap your hands to it
If you can dance and enjoy the beat, my rhymes are for you

I start to think and then I sink
I get lost in thought and focus on creating the perfect rhyme

Into the paper like I was ink
I pour my thoughts onto paper as if I was a pen

When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines,
I become entranced in my writing and lost in my own thoughts

I escape when I finish the rhyme...
The only time I break free is when I'm done creating the perfect rhyme

I got soul
I have an inner passion and drive for creating good music that can't be taught

You got it
I believe that you also have this passion and drive, and can feel the soul in the music

Picture a mic, the stage is empty
Imagine a microphone on an empty stage, waiting for someone to pick it up

A beat like this might tempt me
The beat is so good that it might tempt me to start rapping

To pose, show my rings and my fat gold chain
I might be tempted to show off my flashy jewelry and act like a superstar

Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train
I'll grab the microphone with the confidence and style of a Soul Train dancer

But I'll wait 'cause I mastered this
I won't act too quickly, because I've mastered my craft and know when to perform

Let the others go first so the brothers don't miss
I'll let other artists go first, so they can appreciate and enjoy their performances as well

Eric B. break the sticks (you got it)
The DJ will start the music and get the audience ready

Rakim will begin when you make the mix
I'll start rapping when the music is mixed at the right speed and tempo

I'll experiment like a scientist
I'll try different things with my music, like a scientist experimenting with different chemicals

You want to rhyme, you gotta sign my list
If other rappers want to perform with me, they have to follow the rules and sign up first

'Cause I'm a manifest and bless the mic I hold
I'll create powerful rhymes with the microphone I'm holding

You want it next? then you gotta have soul
If other artists want to perform after me, they have to have the same passion and drive that I have for creating music

'Cause if you ain't got it, I'm a make an encore
If the next performer doesn't have soul, I'll have to perform another song

Take the mic, make the people respond for
The next artist should pick up the microphone and create a performance that excites the crowd

The are, 'cause that's the way it'll have to be
The performance has to be good and authentic, because that's what the audience came to see

If you want to get on after me
If someone wants to perform after my show

Think about it, wait, erase your rhyme
They should think carefully about their performance and make sure their rhymes are good enough

Forget it and don't waste your time
If their rhymes aren't ready, it's best to forget about it and not embarrass themselves on stage

'Cause I'll be in the crowd if you ain't controlling it
If their performance isn't good, I'll be in the crowd laughing at them

Drop the mic, you shouldn't be holding it
They should give up the microphone, because they're not ready for the spotlight

This is how it should be done
This is how to create a good, authentic hip-hop performance

This style is identical to none
This style of hip-hop is unique and original

Some try to make it sound like this but you're getting me
Other artists try to copy our style but they'll never sound as good as we do

So upset that I'm wet 'cause you're sweating me
Other artists are so jealous of our success that they're sweating just thinking about us

I drip steam like a microphone fiend
I'm completely absorbed in my music, like an addict to their drug

Eager to MC is my theme
Creating great music and performing it for others is what I'm passionate about

I get hype when I hear a drum roll
The beat of the drums gets me excited and energized

Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul
I'm confident in my abilities as an artist and I'm sure that I have soul in my music

Now I'm a stop to see what you got
I'm about to pause and see what the other artists can do

Get off the mic before I get too hot
If someone doesn't perform well, I might get angry and want them to stop

I want to see which posse can dance the best
I want to see the audience dance and have fun with the music

It should be easy 'cause the beat is fresh
The music is so good, it should be easy for everyone to dance and have fun

Now if your from Uptown, Brooklyn- bound,
People come from all over to see this performance, including Uptown and Brooklyn

The Bronx, Queens, or Long Island Sound,
All of these places have come together to enjoy the music

Even other states come right and exact,
People have come from other states just to see this performance

It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at
It doesn't matter where you're from, as long as you're here enjoying the music

Since you came here, you have to show and prove
Since you're here, you have to dance and participate in the fun

And do that dance until it don't move
Keep dancing until you can't anymore, and have the most fun you can

'Cause all you need is soul self-esteem will release,
The key to enjoying hip-hop music is soul and self-esteem to let loose and have fun

The rest is up to you, Rakim 'll say peace
If you can let go and enjoy the music, I'll be happy to perform and enjoy it with you