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Marley Marl synthesized it, I memorized it Eric B. & Rakim – My Melody

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Marley Marl is one of the most important Hip-Hop DJ’s and producers. He worked extensively with the Juice Crew and is noted as the mixing producer of the records on Paid In Full.

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I take seven emcees put 'em in a line
And add seven more brothers who think they can rhyme
Well, it'll take seven more before I go for mine
Now that's twenty-one emcees ate up at the same time Eric B. & Rakim – My Melody

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This is one of rap’s most notable lines. Here, Rakim is doing what an emcee does best——brag about their skills. However, the clever way Rakim did so is what makes this line resonate with Hip-Hop heads.

In fact, this has been referenced by several artists, most notably Eminem on the song “I’m Back,” Pete Rock on “#1 Soul Brother,” and Nas, who used it to make a clever 50 Cent diss on “Queens Get The Money.”

In his famous lecture appearance at the Red Bull Music Academy, Rakim said that the origin of this line, which he came up with in high school, is a play on the number of letters in his government name, William Michael Griffin. His first, middle and last name each have seven letters in them: 7 + 7 + 7 = 21.

The original line can be heard during this interview, where Rakim is playing with Biz Markie in high school.

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This is one of rap's most notable lines. Here, Rakim is doing what an emcee does best——brag about their skills. However, the clever way Rakim did so is what makes this line resonate with Hip-Hop heads.

In fact, this has been referenced by several artists, most notably Eminem on the song ["I'm Back,"](/159354/Eminem-im-back/I-take-seven-kids-from-columbine-stand-em-all-in-line-add-an-ak-47-a-revolver-a-nine-a-mac-11-and-it-oughta-solve-the-problem-of-mine-and-thats-a-whole-school-of-bullies-shot-up-all-at-one-time) Pete Rock on ["#1 Soul Brother,"](/1616700/Pete-rock-1-soul-brother/I-take-seven-ill-drums-put-em-in-a-line-and-add-seven-more-snares-to-make-it-combine-itll-take-seven-more-horns-before-i-start-to-rhyme-now-that-twenty-one-beats-made-up-at-the-same-time) and Nas, who used it to make a clever 50 Cent diss on ["Queens Get The Money."](/28486/Nas-queens-get-the-money/Now-thats-50-porch-monkeys-ate-up-at-the-same-time)

In his famous lecture appearance at the [Red Bull Music Academy,](http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/rakim?template=RBMA_Lecture%2Ftranscript) Rakim said that the origin of this line, which he came up with in high school, is a play on the number of letters in his government name, William Michael Griffin.  His first, middle and last name each have seven letters in them: 7 + 7 + 7 = 21.

The original line can be heard during [this interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qx9LOQ9CX0#t=22m20s), where Rakim is playing with Biz Markie in high school.

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8,503

3 years

Rakim all 7’s, Reagan all 6’s. The truth right in front our faces the whole time lmao

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That's all I ask of you, like Raphael Saadiq JAY-Z – Only a Customer

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This refers to the hit song by Raphael Saadiq, “Ask of You”. This track was featured on the Higher Learning soundtrack.

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Comin’ from Chi-town where playas get shot down Omen (Ft. J. Cole) – Break Out

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This is true. Chicago has one of the highest murder rates.

The murder rate in Chicago was also the reason for Lupe Fiasco’s distaste of Chief Keef.

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I leave the imprint on foreheads like Rick James Omen (Ft. J. Cole) – Break Out

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This refers to the Chapelle parody of Rick James.

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Turn into a monster, grouchy, gimme the Oscar The Roots (Ft. Dice Raw & Malik B.) – Here I Come

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Turn into a monster refers to Oscar The Grouch. Peep the picture below.

Many have said that Oscar looks like weed. This is what Malik is referring to when he says “Gimme the Oscar.”

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Chris

2 years

This may also refer to Halle Berry winning an Oscar for her role in “Monster”. Malik B. may simply be just using grouch/grouchy to cleverly connect the terms since Oscar the grouch is indeed a monster.

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Alex

9 years

Gimme the Oscar also obviously a reference to saying he had the best performance

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It's elementary like KRS and evidently The Roots (Ft. Dice Raw & Malik B.) – Here I Come

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This refers to Boogie Down Production’s song “Elementary” off their debut album Criminal Minded.

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New true skill in it y'all, The Roots still in it The Roots (Ft. Dice Raw & Malik B.) – Here I Come

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Despite the number of member changes, The Roots have been rapping for quite some time now. Their debut album Organix was released in 1993, and they have been looked upon as one of the most consistent rap groups of all time.

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[Hook: Victoria Monet] Diggy (Ft. Victoria Monét) – Fall Down

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Victoria Monet is a new singer on the up and up. She recently grabbed ears by singing the hook on Nas' Buckwild-produced track “You Wouldn’t Understand.” .

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