[Intro]
Pump it up, homeboy
Pump it up, homeboy

[Verse]
Knowledge will begin until I finish this song
'Cause the rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme goes on
You sweat as you step, about to get hype
Or should you just listen to the man on the mic
You're physically in this with me, but how could you tell
If it's meant to be hip-hop if you're not mentally as well
Ready to absorb the rhyme that I just poured
Into the mic, so unite and this won't be so bored
If you just keep kickin', listen to the mix
And think you'll sink into the rhyme like quicksand
Holds and controls you 'til I leave
You fall deeper in the style, it's hard to breathe
The only time I stop is when somebody drop and then
Bring 'em to the front 'cause my rhyme's the oxygen
Then wave your hand, when you're ready I'll send you
Into your favorite dance, but let the rhyme continue
And so on, and I'ma go on simultaneously
And even if I stop, the rhyme remains to be
Rising to the top and I came to drop it
Catch it and quiz it is my topic
Universal 'cause I move everybody to come
By exercising your mind, you'll coincide as one
Then look around and see how packed the party starts to get
I draw a crowd like an architect
The five boroughs react and all the islands attract
And every state can't wait, so they attack
Off a spot on the floor, squeeze in 'cause it's packed
It'll be more room if MCs play the back
I'm the R, the A to the K-I-M
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
The microphone fiend if I was a fake
Whoever said it's just buggin' off the rhymes I make
I had you biting your tongue for what I brung and recite
Sung it on stage, some said it don't sound like
The voice on the record, I see what you mean
Because the system was wack, so I had to scream
So just give me a mic, if it's loud, I'll blow it
If not, into the crowd I'll throw it
Pull out my cordless mic then entertain you well
Before I let go, I'ma spark your brain cell
I took time to write, tonight I will recite
So poetically inclined when the mic is held tight
Rhymes start flowin', kisses are blowin'
MCs are knowin', that's why they're goin'
Home to tell a friend when the party end
"Yo, man, you know Rakim? That brother struck again"
'Cause mic by mic and stage by stage
Tape by tape and page by page
When the crowd is moving, I compete with the mix
The rougher the cuts, the rougher the rhyme gets
Deeper and deeper, I hope you understand it
I made it up myself and I planned it
For other MCs who waste time (Pump it up, homeboy)
Writing jokes, riddles, and maybe a rhyme
I cross my arms and I was waiting, but I was hating
The rappers on the microphone was fronting, just faking
They wasn't breakin', which means I was achin'
To get up on the microphone and then start takin'
Control of the mic, uptight when I grabbed it
So hug the speaker, your ear's a magnet
Attracted to a freestyle put in effect
You listen to the man while you're sippin' Moet
So Eric, pick up the needle (Yeah) put it in the middle (Alright)
Give me a scratch, turn my mic up a little
I want you to hear this perfectly clear
Catch what I'm sayin'? You get the idea?
I hope you 'knowledge the beginning 'cause I'm finished, this song
The rhyme gets rougher as the rhyme flows on
[Outro]
Pump it up, homeboy (Listen to the man)
Pump it up, homeboy
Listen to the man— Pump it up, homeboy
Pump it up, homeboy
Pump it up, homeboy
Pump it up, homeboy