Eric B. Is President Lyrics

[Intro]
Make 'em clap to this
To show our appreciation for your support
Make 'em clap to this
Thank you DJs
Make 'em clap to this
Make 'em clap to this
Make 'em clap to this
Make 'em clap to this


[Verse 1]
I came in the door, I said it before
I never let the mic magnetize me no more
But it's biting me, fighting me, inviting me to rhyme
I can't hold it back, I'm looking for the line
Taking off my coat, clearing my throat
The rhyme will be kicking until I hit my last note
My mind remains refined, all kind of ideas
Self-esteem makes it seem like a thought took years to build
But still say a rhyme after the next one
Prepared, never scared, I'll just bless one
And you know that I'm the soloist
So Eric B., make 'em clap to this


[Chorus]
Make 'em clap to this
Make 'em clap to this
Make 'em clap— Make 'em clap— Make 'em clap to this
Make 'em clap to this
(Clap your hands—)
Clap your hands—
Make 'em clap to this
(Clap your—)
Clap— Clap— Clap— Clap—
[Verse 3]
Go get a girl and get soft and warm
Don't get excited, you've been invited to a quiet storm
But now it's out of hand 'cause you told me you hate me
And then you ask what have I done lately
First you said all you want is love and affection
Let me be your angel and I'll be your protection
Take you out, buy you all kinds of things
Make— Make 'em— Make 'em clap to this

Caught an attitude, you need food to eat up
I'm scheming like I'm dreaming on a couch with my feet up
You scream I'm lazy, you must be crazy
Thought I was a donut, you tried to glaze me

[Chorus]
Make 'em clap to this
Make 'em clap to this
Make 'em clap— Make 'em clap— Make 'em clap to this
Make 'em clap to this
Make 'em clap to this
Make 'em clap— Make 'em clap— Make 'em clap—
Make 'em clap to this


[Refrain]
I made it easy to dance to this
But can you detect what's coming next from the flex of the wrist?
Say indeed and I'll proceed 'cause my man made a mix
If he bleed he won't need no Band-Aid to fix—
[Interlude]
Eric— Eric B. is on the cut— Eric—
Eric B. is on the cut—

Eric B. is on the cut and my name is Rakim (Nasty)

[Bridge]
Make 'em clap to this
Clap your hands—
Clap your hands—
Clap— Clap— Clap— Clap—
Clap your hands to what he's doin'
Clap your hands to what he's doin'
Clap your hands—
Clap your hands—
Clap your hands— Clap your hands—
Clap your hands to what he's doin'


[Chorus]
Make 'em clap to this
Make 'em clap to this
Make 'em clap to this
Make 'em clap to this

How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
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About

Genius Annotation

“Eric B. Is President” is the debut single by Eric B. & Rakim, (originally credited as Eric B featuring Rakim). It was later remixed for the album Paid In Full.

The single has become one of the most memorable songs in hip-hop, and Rakim’s opening line of “I came in the door/I said it before” is one of rap’s most oft-quoted lines.

The song features a replayed bassline from Fonda Rae’s “Over Like A Fat Rat” over drums from The Honeydrippers“Impeach The President” and James Brown’s “Funky President”.

The original 12" credited Eric B as producer and Marley Marl as the mixer, but Marley was the one who actually put the song together and he broke down how he made the beat for DubSpot’s Classic Recipes series in 2012:

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What was Rakim's reaction to the beat?
Genius Answer

Rakim confirmed to HipHopDX he laughed hard when Eric B. was making the beat, because he couldn’t imagine James Brown’s “Funky President” and Fonda Rae’s “Over Like a Fat Rat” working together.

I bust out laughing, I fell on the floor and shit, crying, tears in my eyes, literally. He was like “Ra, man, this is gonna work.” I was like “There’s no way Fonda Rae is gonna go with James Brown ‘Funk President.’” And I just laughed at him for about 30-to-40 minutes. Every time I looked at him I was making fun of the shit, looking at him, just laughing at him and shit. But we got to the studio, we made the beat, and at that time I was so used to sampling, and I just couldn’t see how he was gonna make that happen. But we flipped it up, and we sampled the drum and we just kinda sampled [a piece] of the drum. We played the joint over it instead of using the sampled record, and it worked out kinda crazy, man. I was surprised that it did work out like it did. So big up to E on that one.

Credits
Produced By
Written By
Primary Artists
Mixing Engineer
Executive Producer
Recorded At
Power Play Studios, N.Y.
Release Date
January 1, 1986
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