Released: November 4, 1997
Songwriter: Pete Rock Rakim
Producer: Pete Rock
[Verse 1]
Yo, the saga begins, my eyes is the photography lens
Properly pushed pens, to show quality gems
The horrors be grim, but yo maybe tomorrow we win
If we follow the trends and keep count of the dollars we spend
I want a mahogany Benz, I want lottery ends
I want property, friends, plus my hobby is skins
If I get sloppy and sin, then my prophecy ends
But the God'll begin, watchin my odyssey spin
In the place where war be, based on a true story
Territory was made for me to pursue glory
Blast alone masses in zones have to be sewn
Every capacity blown, I'm internationally known, yo
So all hail the honorable, microphone phenomenal
Persona is unbombable, trust me son
I continue like a saga do, bringin you the drama to
Allow you that the chronicle has just begun
[Hook]
"The saga begins"
"The soul controller, Rakim"
"Set it off''
''Yo, the saga begins"
"Still say a rhyme after the next one"
"The saga begins"
"The soul controller, Rakim"
"Set it off''
''Yo, the saga begins"
''You know that I'm the soloist''
[Verse 2]
Yo, my never-ending epic, got the world spinning hectic
I quickly spread it, till the whole city's infected
Suspense that I supply intensify
Then commence as my daily events go by
You get involved in this, paragraphologist
Narratin novelist, market this, sound marvelous
I'm the star in this, which means the author's authentic
Most definite, every episode's a epidemic
So when you research, check it, here go the evidence
They represent with lyrical negligence for presidents
My science existed, without the fiction
Every inscription is a special edition
So all hail the honorable, microphone phenomenal
Persona is unbombable, trust me son
I continue like a saga do, bringing you the drama to
Allow you that the chronicle has just begun
[Hook]
"The saga begins"
"The soul controller, Rakim"
"Set it off''
''Yo, the saga begins"
"Still say a rhyme after the next one"
"The saga begins"
"The soul controller, Rakim"
"Set it off''
''Yo, the saga begins"
''You know that I'm the soloist''
[Verse 3]
Yo, the legacy lives, let em see what the pedigree is
Mega-thesis, blessin these kids with extra features
The depth's deep as, the deepest sea is
Telepathy increases melody gets speakers, telekinesis
Ideas appear as clear as, pictures in movie theaters
Lyrics you hear it, devestating the way you ear it
So stay tuned for sequels, part two's and more
So soon you and your peoples can bumrush the store
The names have changed the game remain the same
How one came to reign on his claim to fame
No stoppin this I'm droppin this with hip-hop in this
And when the topic is topicless, then I'm writing the apocalypse
So all hail the honorable, microphone phenominal
Persona is unbombable, trust me son
I continue like a saga do, bringing you the drama to
Allow you that the chronicle has just begun
[Hook]
"The saga begins"
"The soul controller, Rakim"
"Set it off''
''Yo, the saga begins"
"Still say a rhyme after the next one"
"The saga begins"
"The soul controller, Rakim"
"Set it off''
''Yo, the saga begins"
''You know that I'm the soloist''
[outro]
"Rakim"
"Set it off''
" Rakim"
"Set it off''
" Rakim"
"Set it off''
''You know that I'm the soloist''
" Yo, "rakim"
"Set it off''
" Rakim"
"Set it off''
" Rakim"
"Set it off''
''You know that I'm the soloist''
" Rakim.. "
" Yo...................."
Yo, the saga begins, my eyes is the photography lens
Properly pushed pens, to show quality gems
The horrors be grim, but yo maybe tomorrow we win
If we follow the trends and keep count of the dollars we spend
I want a mahogany Benz, I want lottery ends
I want property, friends, plus my hobby is skins
If I get sloppy and sin, then my prophecy ends
But the God'll begin, watchin my odyssey spin
In the place where war be, based on a true story
Territory was made for me to pursue glory
Blast alone masses in zones have to be sewn
Every capacity blown, I'm internationally known, yo
So all hail the honorable, microphone phenomenal
Persona is unbombable, trust me son
I continue like a saga do, bringin you the drama to
Allow you that the chronicle has just begun
[Hook]
"The saga begins"
"The soul controller, Rakim"
"Set it off''
''Yo, the saga begins"
"Still say a rhyme after the next one"
"The saga begins"
"The soul controller, Rakim"
"Set it off''
''Yo, the saga begins"
''You know that I'm the soloist''
[Verse 2]
Yo, my never-ending epic, got the world spinning hectic
I quickly spread it, till the whole city's infected
Suspense that I supply intensify
Then commence as my daily events go by
You get involved in this, paragraphologist
Narratin novelist, market this, sound marvelous
I'm the star in this, which means the author's authentic
Most definite, every episode's a epidemic
So when you research, check it, here go the evidence
They represent with lyrical negligence for presidents
My science existed, without the fiction
Every inscription is a special edition
So all hail the honorable, microphone phenomenal
Persona is unbombable, trust me son
I continue like a saga do, bringing you the drama to
Allow you that the chronicle has just begun
[Hook]
"The saga begins"
"The soul controller, Rakim"
"Set it off''
''Yo, the saga begins"
"Still say a rhyme after the next one"
"The saga begins"
"The soul controller, Rakim"
"Set it off''
''Yo, the saga begins"
''You know that I'm the soloist''
[Verse 3]
Yo, the legacy lives, let em see what the pedigree is
Mega-thesis, blessin these kids with extra features
The depth's deep as, the deepest sea is
Telepathy increases melody gets speakers, telekinesis
Ideas appear as clear as, pictures in movie theaters
Lyrics you hear it, devestating the way you ear it
So stay tuned for sequels, part two's and more
So soon you and your peoples can bumrush the store
The names have changed the game remain the same
How one came to reign on his claim to fame
No stoppin this I'm droppin this with hip-hop in this
And when the topic is topicless, then I'm writing the apocalypse
So all hail the honorable, microphone phenominal
Persona is unbombable, trust me son
I continue like a saga do, bringing you the drama to
Allow you that the chronicle has just begun
[Hook]
"The saga begins"
"The soul controller, Rakim"
"Set it off''
''Yo, the saga begins"
"Still say a rhyme after the next one"
"The saga begins"
"The soul controller, Rakim"
"Set it off''
''Yo, the saga begins"
''You know that I'm the soloist''
[outro]
"Rakim"
"Set it off''
" Rakim"
"Set it off''
" Rakim"
"Set it off''
''You know that I'm the soloist''
" Yo, "rakim"
"Set it off''
" Rakim"
"Set it off''
" Rakim"
"Set it off''
''You know that I'm the soloist''
" Rakim.. "
" Yo...................."
more tracks from the album
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)
From the album
Rakim popular songs
- 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