[Intro] It's to the listeners It's to the listeners It's to the listeners It's to the listeners It's to the listeners It's to the listeners
[Verse 1] It's to the listeners, for those that have a ear for this State of the art, engineered for the mix Eardrums are playin' 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 eighteenth 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 your tool 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 prove records don't have to be long If it's understood and the story is strong You could speak out and hold the crowd as prisoners The people is peepless, it's to the listeners
[Interlude] Shh, it's to the listeners You still listenin'? It's to the listeners Shh
[Verse 2] I'm the lord for somethin' you can absorb Try and control and be cautious, but the cuts and the chords 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' Into patterns and pauses, piano is soft But make it hard for you to start where I left off You find yourself lost 'til 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, its notes are played crisp But listeners listen to what I wrote on a disc Copywritten but still bitten, it almost sound like Almost pumpin', but it ain't down like A record's supposed to sound, watch it, it goes around Records are broken, smashed into the ground That ain't my melody, brothers keep runnin' up and tellin' me Others are tryin' 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 just left to do it for easy forever, death 'Til I get back, you better stay in step At the speakers, you'll stare, if I was there, your description is Letters full of poetical messages, this is for the listeners
[Outro] It's to the listeners It's to the listeners You still listenin'? It's to the listeners
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About
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The seventh track on Eric B. & Rakim’s sophomore album Follow the Leader, released in 1988.