Released: July 26, 1988

Songwriter: Rakim Eric B.

Producer: Rakim Eric B.

[Verse 1]
I'm rated "R", this is a warnin', ya better void
Poets are paranoid, DJs destroyed
'Cause I came back to attack brothers in spite
Strike like lightnin', it's quite frightenin'!
But don't be afraid in the dark, in a park
Not a scream or a cry or a bark, more like a spark
Ya tremble like an alcoholic, muscles tighten up
What's that? Lighten up! You see a sight but
Suddenly you feel like you're in a horror flick
You grab your heart then wish for tomorrow quick!
Music's the clue, when I come you're warned
Apocalypse Now, when I'm done, ya gone!
Haven't you ever heard of a MC murderer?
This is the death penalty and I'm servin' a
Death wish, so, come on, step to this
Hysterical idea for a lyrical professionist!
Friday the 13th, walkin' down Elm Street
You come in my realm, ya get beat!
This is off limits, so your visions are blurry
All ya see is the meters of the volume
Pumpin' lyrics of fury!
It's a... a fearified freestyle!

[Verse 2]
Terror in the styles, never error-files
Indeed, I'm known to exile!
For those that oppose to be level or next to this
I ain't a devil and this ain't the Exorcist!
Worse than a nightmare, you don't have to sleep or wink
The pain's a migraine every time ya think
Flashbacks interfere, ya start to hear
The R-A-K-I-M in your ear
Then the beat is hysterical
That makes Eric go get an axe and chops the wack
Soon the lyrical format is superior
Faces of death remain
MCs decayin', 'cause they never stayed
The scene of a crime every night at the show
The fiend of a rhyme on the mic that you know
It's only one capable, breaks the unbreakable
Melodies unmakable, pattern unescapable
I haunt if you want the style I possess
I bless the child, the earth, the gods and bomb the rest
For those that envy an MC, it can be
Hazardous to your health so be friendly
A matter of life and death, just like a Etch A Sketch
Shake 'til you're clear, make it disappear, make the next
After the ceremony, let the rhyme rest in peace
If not, my soul'll release
The scene is recreated, reincarnated, updated
I'm glad you made it
'Cause you're about to see a disastrous sight
A performance never again performed on a mic
Lyrics of fury!
A fearified freestyle!

[Verse 3]
The "R" is in the house, too much tension!
Make sure the system's loud when I mention
Phrases that's fearsome, you wanna hear some
Sounds that not only pounds but please your eardrums
I sit back and observe the whole scenery
Then nonchalantly tell you what it mean to me
Strictly business, I'm quickly in this mood
And I don't care if the whole crowd's a witness
I'mma tear you apart but I'mma spare you a heart
Program into the speed of the rhyme, prepare to start
Rhythm's out of the radius, insane as the craziest
Musical madness MC ever made, see it's
Now an emergency, open-heart surgery
Open your mind, you will find every word'll be
Furier than ever, I remain the future
Battle's temptin', whatever suits ya!
From words to sentence, there's no resemblance
You think you're rougher? Then suffer the consequences!
I'm never dyin', terrifyin' results
I wake ya with hundreds of thousands of volts
Mic-to-mouth resuscitation, rhythm with radiation
Novocain ease the pain, it might save him
If not, Eric B.'s the judge, the crowd's the jury
How do I plead to homicide?
Lyrics of fury!
They're gettin' furier!
A fearified freestyle!

Eric B. & Rakim

Eric B. & Rakim are a duo made of DJ Eric B. and MC Rakim. The two worked in the late ‘80s and early '90s and are considered to be one of the best and the most influential duos of all time.

The duo made their big break in 1987 with their classic album, Paid in Full which is considered to be one of the best rap albums of all time.

After that, they made three more albums – Follow the Leader, Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em, and Don’t Sweat the Technique – before splitting up.