[Verse 1]
I M A MC, R U 1 2?
You spell it out as each letter I said to you
I M A MC, R U 1 2?
That's the title of the project that I'm sending to you
It's a message to MCs that whatever you do
Keep your skills tight, the future is depending on you
Never spit for only money or what they're handing to you
Spit for the people, try to predict what your man going to do
Get hungry on them, look at rappers with a cannibal view
I roll with an animal crew and we battled a few
But these days I'm spiting in a party after it's through
Cypher style, keeping it in with a spectacular view
You ain't attacking a crew; in fact, we're clapping at you
I wish they would, so I could snap these rappers in two
I be rapping from the south up to Kalamazoo
Smacking rappers around like the tennis racquets they do
I be spitting what's legitimate, factual, actual and true
Put the mic down for another sound, I am not going to do
I was there in the beginning, I'll be there when it's through
I M A MC, R U 1 2?

[Verse 2]
I M A MC, R U 1 2?
If you got a chance to spit it, what you gonna do?
I'm too hot to handle, too hot for fans too
When I spit my MC light, they say "We cram to understand you"
I stay hot like the Sudan do
Open your mind, I plan to
With real knowledge, nothing you can't do
Knowledge Reigns Supreme on these fakers I trample
Show up at the spot while they mumble and ramble
Pull out the wax, burn these rappers down like a candle
Watching them scramble, this is just a little example
The street teacher type, at the peak of height, the leader type
The street preacher type, culture keeper, divine speaker type
Truth seeker type, deeper type, seeking freedom type
The eager type, KRS-One, that's what he is like
Making sure the family eating right while we're seeking light
Real skill when I squeeze the mic you're gonna see tonight
146 and Broadway, that's the throwback
Broadway RT 86, that's where the show's at
Jump on the mic with no skill? You get your nose cracked
Me? I was drilling them, killing them, man, you know that
All Across 110 Street, Bobby Womack
Youngins saying "That's the OG, that's the ol' cat"
That's the teacher speaking that new rap and old rap
I'm giving you your heritage back, youngin, hold that
[Interlude]
Uh huh
Uh huh

[Verse 3]
I M A MC, R U 1 2?
I like the sound of it
Only a few heads ever come around and shit
No getting around this shit, I'm pounding it
When I Ad Rock, I get so Beastie Boy I start growling spit
You drowning in it, my flow is like the OG Kush
You loving every ounce that you get
I made it out of the pit, no glam and no glit
This may be Run's House, but I'm the handyman pulling hammers real quick
You can't touch this, with a hand or a grip
Rappers avoiding the smoke like a cigarette after it's lit
I spit the tactical, mathematical, actual shit
After I spit, it's a grip I'm about to go get
Got skills? You a rapper? This the question for you
I M A MC, R U 1 2?
Turn to your friends, if they spit it, ask them too
I M A MC, R U 1 2?