Set 'em Straight

Eric B. & Rakim

[Rakim]



I came to set em straight and let em know



Whoever's holdin the best just let him go



Cause here's the inside scoop on the fiend



They wanna know why I'm seldom seen



Cause who needs the TV screens and magazines



or shootin through the city in fly limousines



There's one thing I don't like it's the spotlight



.. cause I already got light



They be like "Yo we had a get together last week



and we know everyone was there except the Black Sheik"



Because my schedule is tight, I gotta write



I'm deep in the archives, and keepin em hyped



It's been a long time, since you heard a strong rhyme



None of these are weak so when you bite on mine



we can trace the hits and then name that style



MC'sll be out of a job for a while



I reposess your indentification



So hand in your application



Put your mic on strike until you're unemployed



Contract is up and I'm stampin it void



Your selection ain't that selective



So I'ma put you in your proper perspective



On the dancefloor, and doin the SHAKE



Ready to let em brake, set em straight




[Rakim]



Somebody said I set em up and pulled the plug on em



But instead I let em go on so I could bug on em



Go 'head and flow, cause I close the show



Swing a song for the ladies and rhyme real slow



For instance.. once I commence..



.. the crowd is convinced



So now you know who to put your money on



Hurry up, before your money's gone



Cause I'm the most common denominator



Orchestrate a rhyme much greater



I'm like a world almanac, so tell the media



Givin em information like encyclopedia



So bring a dictionary, so you can look it up



so you know what I mean, wh