It's been a long time, I shouldn'ta left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to
Think of how many weak shows you slept through
Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you
Thinkin' of this, you keep repeatin' you miss
The rhyme from the microphone soloist
So you sit by the radio, hand on the dial, soon
As ya hear it, pump up the volume
Dance wit' the speaker 'till ya hear it blow
Then, plug in a headphone, 'cause here it go
It's a 4 letter word, when it's heard it control
Your body to dance, (you got it) soul
Detects the tempo like I'm Red Alert
Reaches your reflex, and let it work
When this is playing, you can't get stuck wit'
The steps, so get set, and I'mma still come up wit'
A gift to be swift, follow the leader, the rhyme'll go
Def wit' the record that was mixed a long time ago
It could be done, but only I could do it
For those that could dance and clap your hands to it
I start to think, and then I sink
Into the paper, like I was ink
When I'm writin', I'm trapped in-between the line
I escape, when I finish the rhyme
I got soul
You got it
You got it
You got it
You got it
I know you got soul, hey
If you didn't you wouldn't be in, be in, be, be in here
Picture a mic, the stage is empty
A beat like this might tempt me
To pose, show my rings, and my fat gold chain
Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train
But I wait, 'cause I master this
Let the others go first, so the brothers don't miss
Eric B. break the sticks (you got it)
Rakim will begin, when you make the mix
I'll experiment like a scientist
You wanna rhyme, you gotta sign my list
'Cause I'mma manifest and bless the mic I hold
You want it next? Then you gotta have soul
'Cause if you ain't got it, I'mma make a encore
Take the mic, make the people respond for
The R, 'cause that's the way it'll have to be
If you wanna get on after me
Think about it, wait, erase your rhyme
Forget it, and don't waste your time
'Cause I'll be in the crowd if you ain't controllin' it
Drop the mic, you shouldn't be holdin' it
This is how it should be done
This style, is identical to none
Some try to make it sound like this but you're gettin' me
So upset, that I'm wet, 'cause you're sweatin' me
I drip steam, like a microphone fiend
Eager to emcee is my theme
I get hype, when I hear a drum roll
Rakim is on the mic, and you know I got soul
You got it
You got it
You got it
You got, you got, you got, you got it
I got soul, (you got it) that's why I came
To teach those, who can't say my name
First of all, I'm the soloist, the soul controller
Rakim gets stronger, as I get older
Constant elevation causes expansion
I write my rhymes while I cool in my mansion
Then put it on tape and in the city I test it
Then on the radio the R is requested
You listen to it, the concept might break you
'Cause almost anyone could relate to
Whoever's out of hand, I'mma give 'em handles
Light 'em up, blow 'em out like candles
Or should I just let 'em melt?
Then give 'em a hand so they could see how it felt
I'm not bold, just 'cause I rock gold
Rakim is on the mic, and you know I got soul
You got, you got, you got, you got it
You got, you got, you got it
You got it
You got, you got it
Now I'mma stop, to see what you got
Get off the mic 'fore I get too hot
I want to see which posse can dance the best
It should be easy, 'cause the beat is fresh
Now if you're from Uptown, Brooklyn- bound
The Bronx, Queens, or Long Island Sound
Even other states come right and exact
It ain't where ya from, it's where ya at
Since ya came here, ya have to show and prove
And do that dance, until it don't move
'Cause all you need is soul, self-esteem will release
The rest is up to you, Rakim'll say peace
You got it
You got, you got, you got it
You got, you got, you got it
You got it
You got it
You got, you got, you got, you got, you got it
You got it
You got, you got, you got it
You got it
You got it