To The Listeners

Eric B. & Rakim

It's to the listeners (whispered 4X)




*musical interlude*



It's to the listener



(repeat interlude and line 4X)




Verse One: Rakim




It's to the listeners for those that have a ear for this



State of the art engineered for the mix



Eardrums are playing along to what I'm sayin you're singin a song



Stevie Blass on the keyboard swingin along



But you don't have to dance play it cool and listen



My DJ's mixin, and I'll do the quizzin



Cause who is number one if not best then better



Here's a hint: the 18th letter



The rhymes is sportable, microphone is portable



For any immortal man, swords is not affordable



Never take a loss cause I'm hard to beat



I ain't cheap but don't sell me a dream I don't sleep



I'm Paid in Full, so save the bull



This ain't a stick-up, you don't have to wave until



you feel Sure, and you want more then wipe your sweat



Cause I just wanted to see how hype you could get



Cause when I came in the door steppin hard enough to shake the floor



I just started but the others can't make no more



Runnin out of beats breaks and out of time



If I was gone, you'd be runnin out of rhymes



I improve, record don't have to be long



If it's understood and the story is strong



You can speak out and hold the crowd as prisoners



The people is peepless, it's to the listeners




Verse Two:




I'm the Lord, for somethin you can absorb



Try and control and be cautious but the cut's in a cord



Make me deeper than down, I make the crowd, crowd around



People are peepless, cause the soloist found



Phrases, thoughts, made by the R of course



One thing I do is keep em different, and far from yours



You keep talkin, when will all the damage be done?



You say you're rulin but when I'm in the place you don't come



Maybe you're waitin, to see what I'm makin



One more style gets taken, then I'ma be breakin



If the patterns are causes, piano is soft



But make it hard for you to start, where I left off



You find yourself, till the point is across



You hit reverse to rewind it, that's when you hit the pause



I set the scene, first you hear mixin



Then the microphone fiend's in effect, still listenin?



Pay close attention, never before mentioned



Listen up I got a brand new invention



Made from a musician it's notes are played crisp



But listeners listen to what I wrote on a disc



Copywritten but still bitten they almost sound like



Almost pumpin, but it ain't down like



A record's supposed to sound, watch as it go around



Records are broken, smashed into the ground



That ain't My Melody, brothers keep runnin up and tellin me



Others are trying to flow smooth and steadily



Potholes are left in my path then I crash and bruise



Whoever refuse and cruise right past em



Cause I