As The Rhyme Goes On

(Pump it up homeboy)
(Pump, pump, pump it up homeboy)

Knowledge'll begin until I finish this song
'Cause the rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme goes on
You sweat as you step, about to get hype
Or should you just listen to the man on the mic
You're physically in this with me, but how could you tell
If it's meant to be hip-hop, if you're not mentally as well
Ready to absorb the rhyme that I just poured
Into the mic, so unite, and this won't be so bored
If you just keep kickin', listen, to the mix
And think you'll sink into the rhyme like quicksand

Holds and controls you 'til I leave
You fall deeper in the style, it's hard to breathe
The only time I stop, is when somebody drop, and then
Bring 'em to the front cause my rhyme's the oxygen
Then wave your hand, when you're ready I'll send you
Into your favorite dance, but let the rhyme continue
And so on, and I'mma go on, simultaneously
Even if I stop, the rhyme remains to be

Rising to the top, and I came to drop it
Catch it and quiz it, is my topic
Universual 'cause I move everybody to come
By exercisin' your mind, to coincide as one
You look around and see how packed the party starts to get
I draw a crowd, like a architect
The five borroughs react, and all the islands attract
And every state can't wait, so they attack

Off a spot on the floor, squeeze in 'cause it's packed
It'll be more room if MCs play the back
I'm the R, the A, to the K-I-M
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am
The microphone fiend, if I was a fake
Whoever said it's just buggin' off the rhymes I make
I had you bitin' your tongue, from what I brung and recite
Sung it on stage, some said it don't sound like

The voice on the record, I see what you mean
Because the system was wack, so I had to scream
So just, give me a mic, if it's loud I'll blow it
If not, into the crowd I'll throw it
Pull out my cordless mic to entertain ya well
Before I let go I'mma spark your brain cell
I took time to write, tonight I will recite
So poetically inclined when the mic is held tight
Rhymes start flowin', kisses are blowin'
MCs are knowin', that's why they're goin'

Home to tell a friend when the party ends
"Yo, man you know Rakim? That brother struck again"
'Cause mic by mic, and stage by stage
Tape by tape, and page by page
When the crowd is movin' I compete with the mix
The rougher the cuts, the rougher the rhyme gets
Deeper and deeper, I hope you understand it
I made it up myself, and I planned it

For other MCs, who waste time
Writing jokes, riddles, and maybe a rhyme
I cross my arms and I was waitin', but I was hatin'
The rappers on the microphone was frontin', just fakin'
They wasn't breakin', which means I was achin'
To get up on the microphone and then start takin'
Control of the mic, uptight when I grabbed it
So hug the speaker, your ear's a magnet

Attracted to a freestyle, put in effect
You listen to the man while you're sippin' Moët
So Eric, pick up the needle (yeah) put it in the middle (alright)
Gimme a scratch, turn my mic up a little
I want you to hear, this perfectly clear
Catch what I'm sayin'? You get the idea?
I hope you 'knowledge the beginnin', 'cause I'm finished this song
The rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme flows on

(Pump, pump, pump, pump, pump it up homeboy)

(Listen to the man)

Pump it, pump, pump, pump it up homeboy)

(Li-, li-, li-, li, li-, listen to the man)

(Pump it up homeboy)
(Pump, pump it, pump, pump, pump it, pump it up homeboy)
(Pump it, pump, pump it, pump it, pump, pump, pump, pump, pump it up homeboy)
(Pump, pump it, pump it up homeboy)