As the Rhyme Goes On

(Pump it up homeboy) (Pump, pump, pump it up homeboy) Knowledge'll begin until I finish this song 'Cause the rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme goes on You sweat as you step, about to get hype Or should you just listen to the man on the mic You're physically in this with me, but how could you tell If it's meant to be hip-hop, if you're not mentally as well Ready to absorb the rhyme that I just poured Into the mic, so unite, and this won't be so bored If you just keep kickin', listen, to the mix And think you'll sink into the rhyme like quicksand Holds and controls you 'til I leave You fall deeper in the style, it's hard to breathe The only time I stop, is when somebody drop, and then Bring 'em to the front cause my rhyme's the oxygen Then wave your hand, when you're ready I'll send you Into your favorite dance, but let the rhyme continue And so on, and I'mma go on, simultaneously Even if I stop, the rhyme remains to be Rising to the top, and I came to drop it Catch it and quiz it, is my topic Universual 'cause I move everybody to come By exercisin' your mind, to coincide as one You look around and see how packed the party starts to get I draw a crowd, like a architect The five borroughs react, and all the islands attract And every state can't wait, so they attack Off a spot on the floor, squeeze in 'cause it's packed It'll be more room if MCs play the back I'm the R, the A, to the K-I-M If I wasn't, then why would I say I am The microphone fiend, if I was a fake Whoever said it's just buggin' off the rhymes I make I had you bitin' your tongue, from what I brung and recite Sung it on stage, some said it don't sound like The voice on the record, I see what you mean Because the system was wack, so I had to scream So just, give me a mic, if it's loud I'll blow it If not, into the crowd I'll throw it Pull out my cordless mic to entertain ya well Before I let go I'mma spark your brain cell I took time to write, tonight I will recite So poetically inclined when the mic is held tight Rhymes start flowin', kisses are blowin' MCs are knowin', that's why they're goin' Home to tell a friend when the party ends "Yo, man you know Rakim? That brother struck again" 'Cause mic by mic, and stage by stage Tape by tape, and page by page When the crowd is movin' I compete with the mix The rougher the cuts, the rougher the rhyme gets Deeper and deeper, I hope you understand it I made it up myself, and I planned it For other MCs, who waste time Writing jokes, riddles, and maybe a rhyme I cross my arms and I was waitin', but I was hatin' The rappers on the microphone was frontin', just fakin' They wasn't breakin', which means I was achin' To get up on the microphone and then start takin' Control of the mic, uptight when I grabbed it So hug the speaker, your ear's a magnet Attracted to a freestyle, put in effect You listen to the man while you're sippin' Moët So Eric, pick up the needle (yeah) put it in the middle (alright) Gimme a scratch, turn my mic up a little I want you to hear, this perfectly clear Catch what I'm sayin'? You get the idea? I hope you 'knowledge the beginnin', 'cause I'm finished this song The rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme flows on (Pump, pump, pump, pump, pump it up homeboy) (Listen to the man) Pump it, pump, pump, pump it up homeboy) (Li-, li-, li-, li, li-, listen to the man) (Pump it up homeboy) (Pump, pump it, pump, pump, pump it, pump it up homeboy) (Pump it, pump, pump it, pump it, pump, pump, pump, pump, pump it up homeboy) (Pump, pump it, pump it up homeboy)