It’s Been a Long Time

[Chorus: Samples with Scratches by DJ Premier]
“It’s been a long time”
“Rakim… the microphone soloist”

[Verse 1: Rakim]
Follow procedures, the crowd couldn’t wait to see this
Nobody been this long-awaited since Jesus
Who wouldn’t believe this? I heard the word on the street is
I’m still one of the deepest on the mic since Adidas
They said I changed the times from the rhymes that I thought of
So I made some more to put the New World in Order
With mathematics, put your status above the average
And help you rappers make paragraphs with graphics
‘Cause new days is dawnin', new ways of performin'
Brainstormin', I write and watch the night turn to mornin'
On and on and, I got the whole world respondin'
Rock, I keep it hot, blow the spot without warnin'
The emperor well-known for inventin' a sentence full of adventure
Turnin' up the temperature
Rush with adrenaline, how long has it been again
To be in the state of mind that Rakim is in?

[Chorus: Samples with Scratches by DJ Premier]
“It’s been a long time”
“Rakim… the microphone soloist”
“It’s been a long time”
“Rakim”

[Verse 2: Rakim]
When I’m out proppin', either hangin' or shoppin'
People see me, stop and ask me when the album droppin'
The wait is over, in formation like a soldier
Like I told ya; greater, stronger, now that I’m older
I broke the code of silence with overloads of talents
My only challenge is not to explode in violence
I’m Asiatic, and blazin' microphones' a habit
At least once durin' the course of a day — it’s automatic
In ghetto apparel, mind of a Egyptian pharaoh
Far from shallow, thoughts travel like an arrow
Allah’s monotony, so far, they can’t stop me
You know Ra want property like Muammar Gaddafi
More thoughts than Bibles, recitals taught disciples
A sawed-off mic, so words scatter like a rifle
Thoughts that’s trifle, I’m bustin' these for you
Aye yo, technical difficulties is through

[Chorus: Samples with Scratches by DJ Premier]
“It’s been a long time”
“Rakim… the microphone soloist”
“It’s been a long time”
“Rakim… the microphone soloist”
“It’s been a long time”
“Rakim… the microphone soloist”
“It’s been a long time”

[Verse 3: Rakim]
When I flow tonight, I'll show ‘em new heights I go to write
They know I strike with new prototypes to blow the mic
Critics and biters don’t know where my source of light is
Still leave authors and writers with arthritis
Cursed kids like the pyramids when they found the style
First to ever let a rhyme flow down the Nile
The rebirth of hip-hop’ll be dropped now
‘Cause the crowd didn’t hear the original in a while
So be alarmed, what you ‘bout to see is the bomb
Like 3D in ‘Nam, vivid like CD-Rom
Info kept like internet.com
My notebook’s my bond like the Holy Quran
Since I came in the door, said it before
But, no, I ain’t down with Eric B. no more
At night, the open mic be invitin' me to rhyme
So, yo, I’m online, it’s been a long time

[Chorus: Samples with Scratches by DJ Premier]
“It’s been a long time”
“Rakim… the microphone soloist”
“It’s been a long time”
“Rakim… the microphone soloist”
“It’s been a long time”