Released: November 4, 1997
Songwriter: Rakim
[Interviewer, possibly Harry Allen]
What is, the one, main thing that you have
That you would want people to remember you by?
Or not one but the, those things that are dear to you
That you would, want to be remembered as
[Rakim]
I guess I guess it's my words man, yaknahmean?
Just my words, and, if people remember my words they'll remember me forever
Y'know? God by nature mind raised in Asia, y'know?
But umm... it's like y'know to live forever you you you gotta
Set y'know, not not set trends but you gotta
Apply yourself a certain way and you gotta do certain things y'know?
Maybe, maybe when I'm gone twenty years from now
Somebody might be tellin, tellin they little son
"Oh yo you think Shorty bad? Yo I 'member this cat way back
In like nineteen-ninety. Kid named Rakim, bananas."
YouknowhatI'msayin? If that can happen man, I'm aight man, y'know?
I got I got I got kids y'know? They gonna umm, finish this for
Me anyway yknahmsayin so regardless, y'know the legacy lives
But umm as far as the masses just remember my words
Straight up
What is, the one, main thing that you have
That you would want people to remember you by?
Or not one but the, those things that are dear to you
That you would, want to be remembered as
[Rakim]
I guess I guess it's my words man, yaknahmean?
Just my words, and, if people remember my words they'll remember me forever
Y'know? God by nature mind raised in Asia, y'know?
But umm... it's like y'know to live forever you you you gotta
Set y'know, not not set trends but you gotta
Apply yourself a certain way and you gotta do certain things y'know?
Maybe, maybe when I'm gone twenty years from now
Somebody might be tellin, tellin they little son
"Oh yo you think Shorty bad? Yo I 'member this cat way back
In like nineteen-ninety. Kid named Rakim, bananas."
YouknowhatI'msayin? If that can happen man, I'm aight man, y'know?
I got I got I got kids y'know? They gonna umm, finish this for
Me anyway yknahmsayin so regardless, y'know the legacy lives
But umm as far as the masses just remember my words
Straight up
The 18th Letter/The Book Of Life
- Mahogany
- Mystery (Who Is God)
- New York (Ya Out There?)
- Intro
- Show Me Love
- Outro (The 18th Letter)
- Remember That
- Casualties of War
- The Punisher
- Eric B. Is President
- In The Ghetto
- Move the Crowd
- Skit
- It’s Been A Long Time (Suave House Mix)
- Guess Who’s Back (Alternative Mix)
- Stay Awhile
- When I’m Flowin
- It’s Been A Long Time
- Juice (Know the Ledge)
- Microphone Fiend
- Follow the Leader
- Paid in Full
- My Melody
- Lyrics of Fury
- I Ain’t No Joke
- Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em
- I Know You Got Soul
- The Saga Begins
- The 18th Letter (Always and Forever)
- Skit - (dialogue)
- Guess Who’s Back
- Skit #3 (The 18th Letter)
- When I B On Tha Mic
- It’s Been A Long Time
- Guess Who’s Back
- The 18th Letter (Always and Forever)
- R.A.K.I.M.
- Mystery (Who Is God)
- Holy Are You
- Waiting For the World to End
- The Saga Begins
- Walk These Streets
- Flow Forever
- Don’t Call Me
- How to Emcee
- Hip-Hop
- Remember That
- New York (Ya Out There?)
- When I’m Flowin
- 18th Letter
- King’s Paradise
- After You Die
- Show Me Love
- Uplift
- How I Get Down
- Finest Ones