Released: January 1, 1986
Songwriter: Eric B. Rakim
Producer: Eric B. Rakim
[Intro]
(Make 'em clap to this)
To show our appreciation for your support
(Make 'em clap to this)
Thank you DJs
(Make 'em clap to this)
[Verse 1]
I came in the door, I said it before
I never let the mic magnetize me no more
But it's biting me, fighting me, inviting me to rhyme
I can't hold it back, I'm looking for the line
Taking off my coat, clearing my throat
The rhyme will be kicking until I hit my last note
My mind remains refined, all kind of ideas
Self-esteem makes it seem like a thought took years to build
But still say a rhyme after the next one
Prepared, never scared, I'll just bless one
And you know that I'm the soloist
So Eric B. make 'em clap to this
(Make 'em clap to this)
[Verse 2]
I don't bug out or chill or be acting ill
No tricks in '86, it's time to build
Eric be easy on the cut, no mistakes allowed
'Cause to me, MC means move the crowd
I made it easy to dance to this
But can you detect what's coming next from the flex of the wrist?
Say indeed and I'll proceed 'cause my man made a mix
If he bleed he won't need no band-aid to fix
His fingertips sew a rhyme until there's no rhymes left
I hurry up because the cut will make 'em bleed to death
But he's kicking it 'cause it ain't no half stepping
The party is live, the rhyme can't be kept in—
Side, it needs erupting just like a volcano
It ain't the everyday style or the same old rhyme
'Cause I'm better than the rest of them
Eric B is on the cut and my name is Rakim
(Make 'em clap to this)
[Verse 3]
Go get a girl and get soft and warm
Don't get excited, you've been invited to a quiet storm
But now it's out of hand 'cause you told me you hate me
And then you ask what have I done lately
First you said all you want is love and affection
Let me be your angel and I'll be your protection
Take you out, buy you all kinds of things
I must have got you too hot and burned off your wings
You caught an attitude, you need food to eat up
I'm scheming like I'm dreaming on a couch with my feet up
You scream I'm lazy, you must be crazy
Thought I was a donut, you tried to glaze me
(Make 'em clap to this)
[Outro]
I made it easy to dance to this
But can you detect what's coming next from the flex of the wrist?
Say indeed and I'll proceed 'cause my man made a mix
If he bleed he won't need no band-aid to fix
Eric B is on the cut and my name is Rakim
(Make 'em clap to this)
(Make 'em clap to this)
To show our appreciation for your support
(Make 'em clap to this)
Thank you DJs
(Make 'em clap to this)
[Verse 1]
I came in the door, I said it before
I never let the mic magnetize me no more
But it's biting me, fighting me, inviting me to rhyme
I can't hold it back, I'm looking for the line
Taking off my coat, clearing my throat
The rhyme will be kicking until I hit my last note
My mind remains refined, all kind of ideas
Self-esteem makes it seem like a thought took years to build
But still say a rhyme after the next one
Prepared, never scared, I'll just bless one
And you know that I'm the soloist
So Eric B. make 'em clap to this
(Make 'em clap to this)
[Verse 2]
I don't bug out or chill or be acting ill
No tricks in '86, it's time to build
Eric be easy on the cut, no mistakes allowed
'Cause to me, MC means move the crowd
I made it easy to dance to this
But can you detect what's coming next from the flex of the wrist?
Say indeed and I'll proceed 'cause my man made a mix
If he bleed he won't need no band-aid to fix
His fingertips sew a rhyme until there's no rhymes left
I hurry up because the cut will make 'em bleed to death
But he's kicking it 'cause it ain't no half stepping
The party is live, the rhyme can't be kept in—
Side, it needs erupting just like a volcano
It ain't the everyday style or the same old rhyme
'Cause I'm better than the rest of them
Eric B is on the cut and my name is Rakim
(Make 'em clap to this)
[Verse 3]
Go get a girl and get soft and warm
Don't get excited, you've been invited to a quiet storm
But now it's out of hand 'cause you told me you hate me
And then you ask what have I done lately
First you said all you want is love and affection
Let me be your angel and I'll be your protection
Take you out, buy you all kinds of things
I must have got you too hot and burned off your wings
You caught an attitude, you need food to eat up
I'm scheming like I'm dreaming on a couch with my feet up
You scream I'm lazy, you must be crazy
Thought I was a donut, you tried to glaze me
(Make 'em clap to this)
[Outro]
I made it easy to dance to this
But can you detect what's coming next from the flex of the wrist?
Say indeed and I'll proceed 'cause my man made a mix
If he bleed he won't need no band-aid to fix
Eric B is on the cut and my name is Rakim
(Make 'em clap to this)
more tracks from the album
From the albums
- Eric B. Is President / My Melody - 12" (1986)
- Rap’s Greatest Hits Volume 2 (1987)
- Paid in Full (1987)
- Rapmasters 4: The Best of Hip Hop (1989)
- The Mix Tape Volume 1: 60 Minutes of Funk (1995)
- The 18th Letter/The Book Of Life (1997)
- 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Eric B. & Rakim (2001)
- Paid In Full (Deluxe Edition) (2003)
- Paid in Full (Expanded Edition) (2005)
- Best Rap Songs of 1987 (2021)
Eric B. & Rakim popular songs
- Paid in Full
- I Ain’t No Joke
- My Melody
- Follow the Leader
- I Know You Got Soul
- Microphone Fiend
- Eric B. Is President
- Juice (Know the Ledge)
- Don’t Sweat the Technique
- As the Rhyme Goes On
- Lyrics of Fury
- In The Ghetto
- Mahogany
- Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em
- Move the Crowd
- What’s On Your Mind
- No Competition
- Paid in Full (Seven Minutes of Madness – The Coldcut Remix)
- Casualties of War
- The Punisher
- No Omega
- Eric B. Is on the Cut
- Musical Massacre
- Kick Along