[Verse 1]

Turn up the bass, check out my melody, hand out a cigar

I'm letting knowledge be born and my name's the R

A-K-I-M, not like the rest of them, I'm not on a list

That's what I'm saying, I drop science like a scientist

My melody's in a code, the very next episode

Has the mic often distorting, ready to explode

I keep the mic at Fahrenheit, freeze emcees and make 'em colder

The listener's system is kickin' like solar

As I memorize, advertise like a poet

Keep you going when I'm flowing, smooth enough, you know it

But rough, that's why the mural on my story I tell will be

Nobody beats the R, check out my melody

[Chorus]

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check out— Check out my melody

Check— Check— Check— Check out—

Check— Check out my melody

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check out my melody

Check— Check— Check— Check— Check— Check— Check—

Check out my melody

[Verse 2]

So what? I'm a microphone fiend, addicted soon as I seen

One of these four emcees so they don't have to scream

I couldn't wait to take the mic, blow into it to test

Then let my melody play, then the record suggest

That I'm dropping bombs, but I stay peace and calm

Any MC that disagree with me, wave your arm

And I'll break, when I'm through breaking, I'll leave you broke

Drop the mic when I'm finished and watch it smoke

So stand back, you wanna rap, all of that can wait

I won't push, I won't beat around the bush

I wanna break upon those who are not supposed to

You might try, but you can't get close to

Because I'm number one, competition is none

I'm measured with the heat that's made by sun

Whether playing ball or bobbing in the hall

Or just writing my name in graffiti on the wall

They shouldn't have told me you said you control me

So now a contest is what you owe me

Pull out your money, pull out your cut

Pull up a chair...

My name is Rakim Allah, and R and A stands for "Ra"

Switch it around, it still comes out "R"

So easily will I E-M-C-E-E

A repetition of words, just check out my melody

Some bass and treble is moist, scratching and cutting a voice

And when it's mine that's when the rhyme is always choice

I wouldn't have came to set my name and run the same weak sh—

Putting blurs and slurs and words that don't fit in a rhyme

Why waste time on the microphone?

I take this more serious than just a poem

Rock from party to party, backyard to yard

Now tear it up, y'all, and bless the mic for the gods

[Chorus]

Check out my— Check— Check out my— Check out—

Check out my melody

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check out— Check out my melody

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check out my— Check out my melody

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check out— Check out my melody

[Verse 3]

The rhyme is rugged, at the same time sharp

I can swing off anything, even a string of a harp

Just turn it on and start rocking, mind no introduction

'Til I finish dropping science, no interruption

When I approach, I exercise like a coach

Using a melody and add numerous notes

And with the mic and the R-A-K-I-M

It's attached, like a match, I will strike again

Rhymes are poetically kept and alphabetically stepped

Put in a order to proceed with the momentum, except

I say one rhyme out of order, a longer rhyme shorter

Or pause, but don't stop the tape recorder

[Chorus]

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check out— Check out my melody

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check out— Check out my melody

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check out my— Check out— Check out my melody

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check out— Check out my melody

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check out— Check out my melody

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check out— Check out my melody

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check— Check— Check— Check— Check— Check—

Check out my— Check out my—

Check— Check— Check out my melody

[Verse 4]

I'm not a regular competitor, first rhyme editor

Melody arranger, poet, et cetera

Extra events, the grand finale like bonus

I am the man they call the microphonist

With wisdom, which means wise words being spoken

Too many at one time, watch the mic start smoking

I came to express the rap I manifest

Stand in my way and I'll veto, all the word's protest

Emcees that wanna be best, they're gonna

Be dissed if they don't get from in front of

All they can go get is me a glass of Moët

A hard time, sip your juice and watch a smooth poet

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

Easy does it, do it easy, that's what I'm doing

No fessing, no messing around, no chewing

No robbing or buying, biting, why borrow?

This slob will stop trying, fighting to follow

My unusual style will confuse you a while

If I was water, I'd flow in the Nile

So many rhymes, you won't have time to go for yours

Just because of applause, I have to pause

Right after tonight is when I prepare

To catch another sucker duck emcee out there

'Cause my strategy has to be tragedy, catastrophe

And after this you'll call me your majesty

My melody

[Chorus]

Check— Check— Check— Check— Check— Check— Check—

Here's my melody

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check— Check— Check— Check— Check— Check— Check—

Eric B. 

[Verse 5]

Marley Marl synthesized it, I memorized it

Eric B. made a cut and advertised it

My melody's created for emcees in the place

They try to listen 'cause I'm dissin' them, so pick up your face

You broke your neck as you try to detect my pace

Now you're druggin', almost buggin' off my rhyme, like bass

The melody that I'm styling, smooth as a violin

Rough enough to break New York from Long Island

My wisdom is swift, no matter if

My momentum is slow, emcees still stand stiff

I'm genuine like leather, inclined to be clever

You say you beat the R, I'll say, "Oh, never"

So Eric B. cut it easily and

Check out my melody

[Chorus]

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check out— Check out my melody

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check out— Check out my melody

Check— Check— Check out my—

Check out— Check out my melody

Check— Check— Check— Check— Check— Check—

Check out my melody