Set 'Em Straight

[Rakim]

I came to set em straight, and let em know

Whoever's holdin the best, just let him go

Cause here's the inside scoop on the fiend

They wanna know why I'm seldom seen

Cause who needs the TV screens and magazines

or shootin through the city in fly limousines

There's one thing I don't like, it's the spotlight

.. cause I already got light

They be like, "Yo we had a get together last week

and we know everyone was there except the Black Sheik"

Because my schedule is tight, I gotta write

I'm deep in the archives, and keepin em hyped

It's been a long time, since you heard a strong rhyme

None of these are weak so when you bite on mine

we can trace the hits and then name that style

MC'sll be out of a job for a while

I reposess your indentification

So hand in your application

Put your mic on strike until you're unemployed

Contract is up and I'm stampin it void

Your selection ain't that selective

So I'ma put you in your proper perspective

On the dancefloor, and doin the SHAKE

Ready to let em brake, set em straight

[Rakim]

Somebody said I set em up and pulled the plug on em

But instead I let em go on so I could bug on em

Go 'head and flow, cause I close the show

Swing a song for the ladies and rhyme real slow

For instance.. once I commence..

.. the crowd is convinced

So now you know who to put your money on

Hurry up, before your money's gone

Cause I'm the most common denominator

Orchestrate a rhyme much greater

I'm like a world almanac, so tell the media

Givin em information like encyclopedia

So bring a dictionary, so you can look it up

so you know what I mean, when I hook it up

No misconceptions although I complicate

but this concept'll set em straight

They even said that I was locked in jail

So now I guess I'm out on bail?

The only Island I was on was the Strong one

And if I did my bid, it'll be a long one

Cause if I sold weight, I'd be upstate

in the penile, waitin for a brake

Cause sellin drugs is for handicaps

I got too many skills besides bustin rough raps

If I go to jail, it won't be for sellin ki's

It'll be for muderin MC's

The beat'll take over your heart, then I start

to cut em in half, cause rhymes are razor sharp

Secure the exits, all MC's remain

Cause we got a crowd to entertain

And I know, when I go, I'll flow dangerous

Brain'sll bust, what you tryin to explain to us?

You got lost, and couldn't go on

Came up short, so here's one to grow on

Elevate off a high IQ

In time, you'll find I'm true

Cause once I start on a piece of art

from sun to moon and light to dark I build the Ark

Now you can float off the rhymes I wrote

I'm sure that we'll hit shore without a boat

You could bring a battleship and still get shipwrecked

Attacked with a torpedo, what did you expect?

Driftin up the creek, without a beat or a paddle

Castaway on a raft and stand fragile

Rescue your crowd, which ain't a hard job

Me and my knowledge put together, I'm a lifeguard

Dealin with actual facts it sold out fat

here and now, but I go so far back

to bring you up to date, so we can elevate

It's no time to wait, or anticipate

Cause I'm never late, I'm gonna motivate

So I can let em brake, and set em straight