Rakim: Put your hands together

piano playing for 1:02 before the beginning of the main song* [Eric B] "Clap your hands" cut and scratched 6X [Rakim] Put your hands together... clap your hands Verse One: Rakim This is for thousands of people who came A show from road to road you're entertained I don't even have to say my name Cause when the place is ripped in half, I'm to blame Masses of posses packed up schemin Ladies lovely and keep on screamin Go Rakim, go Rakim, go It won't be long then it's on with the show I'm late, so hit the brakes and park the Benzito Double oh seven, incognito Sneak in the back door, lookin for the stage When I get on you react in a rage People from side to side and front to back won't dance, if the MC's wack The crowd go psycho even if I don't move Some like the groove cause I'm so smooth Then somethin happens, feet start tappin You can't hold back when Rakim's rappin The man you've been waitin for, rougher than ever Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together [Eric B] "Clap your hands" cut and scratched 8X [Rakim] Clap your hands Verse Two: Rakim I create em, take em, shake em, then make em clap to this Most of you rappers, can't even rap to this I made it faster, you tried to master Syncopated styles, words flowin after Measures of metaphor definitions of more than one Take it both ways, I'll be here when you're done Remember as the rhyme goes on it's rougher Soon as I stop, you had enough of Followin footsteps, you better turn back soon Sucker MC's suck rhymes like vacuums The style remains the same, the words is changed Bitten, rewritten, recited and rearranged Sing along if your tongue is strong, it gets sore Sing when I'm gone and it'll break your jaw Wisdom flows so swift, I'm Asiatic Is it a gift, or automatic Static, I don't cling I got a tip of my own and I don't sing Don't understand, here's an example and why MC's and DJ's sample Cause we don't have a band, it's just my voice and his hands That's what hip-hop was, it still stands The records we use are from mom's and pop's collection Find a break from a dope selection And go to the store, then buy one more So my DJ can mix cause that's what his hands are for Years later hip-hop got contracts The chance to put actual facts on wax A mind's the coach, the physical form's the team The top's the destination, I'm the cream And still I rise with somethin pumpin and somethin clever Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together [Eric B] "Clap your hands" cut and scratched (7X) [Rakim] Clap your hands... clap em, clap em Verse Three: Rakim Now who's the man with the masterplan? With stacks of verbal attacks so clap your hands Rhyme written in graffiti xeroxed on blueprints Students influenced are now a nuisance You couldn't fight it, you had to clap to this You got excited, you almost snapped your wrist The rhymes was written for the crowd's enjoyment When I'm with this you can't toy with The def jam juicer rough rhyme producer Loads of lyrics get you loose, then looser The man so smooth and world so rough Eric is throwin and sewin rippin restitchin the cuts Microphone your majesty, no one's bad as me Seems the tragedy, Rakim had to be Thinkin of some def view of a video Visions are vicious, and I'll let the city know Whoever's frontin they know, nothin to say though so lay low, musical forms are kickin' like Kato Don't get near it, hard as you ever hear it I know it's fearified, but don't fear it And try to predict which rhyme you can kick You're quick to pick your best, for the mic is lit Instead of goin with the flow like you're supposed to go And enjoy the show and yo, put your hands together [Eric B] "Clap your hands" cut and scratched 6X [Rakim] Clap your hands... put your hands together CLAP YOUR HANDS! *echoes*