Beats to the Rhyme Lyrics

[D.M.C.]
DJ's and MC's, coming up next is the one and only
Incredible, Jam Master
Yo, back up off the ropes, punk


[Run]
Beats to the rhyme, of the rhyme I just made
Party at the jammie til lights the night fade
Trooping for the feature we all get paid
So let's go

[D.M.C.]
Yo! D that's me, the King, the MC
Rhyme get mine on the t-o-p
Can another MC ever **** with me? (Hell no!)


[Run-D.M.C.]
It's like the A the B to the C
It's easier than (1, 2, 3)

(He's Jam Master Jay, I'm D.M.C.)
So hit it Run!
It's time for we to cease (So what?)
So rhymers speak your peace
Why? Cause you can't touch (Jam Master Jay)

Cause he's number (1, 2, 3, 4, hit it)
(Let's dance) to the rhythm, the rhyme, the cold flow
Chance that I gave em is done I told yo
For these routines like 1983
It's just a little reminder
So those suckas is kinder
A little message from (Run-D.M.C.)

[Run]
Cuts for days will amaze and maze
But will make you sad to tan all the dance aways
Got the mic, the man, the master plan
But the ram, the jam
(Know I am?) Goddamn!
Spins he wins, clocking endless ends
To his friends he lends, lotta joy he sends
Jay lose today, this is what I say
(Dick in your mouth all day)

[D.M.C.]
My beats were played and laid rhymes made
Jay DJ'ed and I got paid
Made something out of nothing (Yo D that's true)
Yes my brother I would do it for you
I roam in the zone of the microphone
And I'm on the throne but I'm not alone
Got bones of steel and not of stone
I'm known to be prone and make your momma moan


[Run]
Time for the rhyme so let the stars shine
Shame for the fame and the name combined
Run for the fun but you can gimme your ring
Show I gotta go so now a word from the King
[D.M.C.]
Hardcore, rhymes galore, giving you more
And like I said before...
Beats to the rhyme the name of this jam
D that's me and that's who I am
Rocking on the mic cause you know I can
You gotta understand I don't give a damn!

[Run]
Jay here to play today, I must say
Arranged in the way that is A-OK
As we wax the tracks all the DJ's play
With (dick in your mouth)
A little (dick in your mouth)
A big (dick in your mouth all day)

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About

Genius Annotation

“Beats To The Rhyme” is the fourth track off of Run-D.M.C.’s classic 1988 album Tougher Than Leather.

This song is the epitome of golden-age hip-hop: Rakim-style techniques mixed with samples, samples, and more samples. At first listen, you would think this is an Eric B. & Rakim or a Public Enemy song. But Jam-Master Jay really steps up his game here. Run and DMC don’t do much in terms of rhymes, leaving their DJ the spotlight. Trying to compete with heavyweight producers such as the Bomb Squad and Eric B., Jay uses more samples in this one song than he did on average on Raising Hell. The group makes it a point to sample themselves FOUR TIMES IN LESS THAN THREE MINUTES!!!

It’s a high-energy beat marathon that cuts your pants into shreds and sends a dead serious message to every DJ/producer in the rap game: JMJ is out for blood and you better be scared.

“Beats To The Rhyme” samples James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” and “Talkin' Loud & Sayin' Nothing,” Sam Kinison’s “Big Menu,” Dana Dane’s “Cinderfella Dana Dane,” Bob James' “Nautilus,” Herman Kelly & Life’s “Dance To The Drummer’s Beat,” Marva Whitney’s “It’s My Thing,” Public Enemy’s “Yo! Bum Rush The Show,” Kurtis Blow’s “AJ Scratch,” and Run-D.M.C.’s own “Rock Box,” “Hit It Run,” “Sucker M.C.’s,” and “Jam-Master Jay.”

Q&A

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Credits
Produced By
Mastered at
Mastering Engineer
Copyright ©
Phonographic Copyright ℗
Release Date
April 15, 1988
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