The Symphony

[Intro: Marley Marl]
I don't care who's first or who last
But I know that y'all just better rock this at the drop of a dime, baby
I don't know what y'all gon' do with this, but it got to be funky
It got to be funky if you're gonna be on it
I don't care who start
I don't care what y'all do
But you got to be finished before the music is through
Now, who's first up to bat?

[Verse 1: Masta Ace]
Listen closely, so your attention's undivided
Many in the past have tried to do what I did
But just the way I came off then, I'm gonna come off
Stronger and longer, even with the drum off
I keep on goin' and flowin' just like a river
I got a whole lot to give, so I'mma give a
Little at a time, new trails are blazin'
Action is in effect, and always stays in
Yeah, just like a shot from a cannon
I am the man in charge and I've been plannin'
A jam strong enough that it can lift your soul
I'm the originator, and my rhymes are made of gold
Once you hear the capital A, rap, it'll stay
With you for a while, it won't go away
Unless you force it, because it stays with you, my friend
And if you toss it away, I'mma hit ya again
I project my voice so it's right in the crowd
There's a sign at the door: No bitin' allowed!
And if you didn't read it, I suggest you do so
Or you'll be stranded, just like Crusoe
Sleep if ya wanna, go 'head, get some shut-eye
A man broke his jaw tryin' to say what I
Say on the microphone, you shoulda left it alone
Just for the record, let it be known
That my ego's only partially grown
And never will I ever condone bitin' in any form
Yo, I only warn, that verse was the calm, now here's the storm

[Bridge: Masta Ace & (Craig G)]
Next up! (Yo, I believe that's me)
Craig G, light up the mic for the Symphony

[Verse 2: Craig G]
This jam is dedicated to all un-optimistics
That thought I wasn't comin' out with some exquisite rhymes
But that's alright, 'cause now I'm back
To kill all the rumors and straighten the facts of me
Not rockin' rhymes like I always used to
But you jumped on the tip when you heard me and the Juice Crew
You said, "Mmm-mmm-mmm! Ain't that somethin'?
Yo, Craig, I heard you in that jam, and it's pumpin'!
I apologize, oh yeah, and uh
Can I have your autograph for me and my grandma?"
That's how I'm livin' — on surprise mode
Don't even sleep, try not to keep your eyes closed
'Cause if you do, when you awaken
Your so-called spot will be taken
I'll take you over like a greedy executive
'Cause on the mic, my prospective is
To be the best in all rap events
And since I have a call, I call experience

[Bridge: Craig G & (Kool G Rap)]
Next up? (Yo, I believe that's me)
Kool G Rap, light up the mic for the Symphony

[Verse 3: Kool G. Rap]
Yo, Marley gives a slice, I get nice
And my voice is twice as horrifyin' as Vincent Price
Goes deep, 'til you fell in a spell of a sleep
And while I'm countin' the money, you count sheep
When G Rap strikes the mic
I recite the type of hype that you like that make the people unite
I grip up hips and zip up lips, step on reps
You flip and wanna sip on my tip
Take a deep breath, because you don't have another left
Comin' back like I'm avengin' my brother's death
Makin' veterans run for medicine
'Cause I put out more lights in a fight than Con Edison
Rip the damn cage like I'm on a rampage
So if you want rage, I'mma make front page
Read the headlines, suckers! Today's the deadline
Your head is way past bedtime
Can't kill, though, solo, 'cause you're still all soft like a pillow
My rap is rougher than Brillo
So fear me, don't dare dare me
And don't compare me to him when you hear me
Talk about a battle, but you ain't yet ready for war
Your metaphor sucks more than a whore!
You can't replace me, ice me or ace me
Bass me, face me, slice me or race me
Bite me or taste me — I'll show you that I got force
My rap burns your mouth like hot sauce
Run for water while I break your tape recorder
Serve the sucker, the order is manslaughter
Another rapper G Rap wrecks
He's rated X, that means the boy is sex, next!
The amplifier gets used and abused
Pumps so loud, we might blow a fuse
This is anger, madness, ready to hang a rapper or singer
I'm puttin' up my middle finger

[Bridge: Kool G. Rap & (Big Daddy Kane)]
Next up? (I believe that's me)
Big Daddy Kane, get on the mic for the Symphony

[Verse 4: Big Daddy Kane]
Settin' it off, lettin' it off, beginnin'
Rough to the endin', you never been in
The move to groove with the smooth rap lord
Like a bottle of juice, rhymes are bein' poured
Down your ear, crisp and clear
As I prepare to wear, tear and smear, then I'm outta here!
With a mark left that you can all cling
'Cause rockin' a party, yo, it's a small thing
I rip many places on regular basis
And broken down mics were the only traces
That I'd been there and there at the party
The mic had my prints, and on it was a body
So take caution — I'm not horsin' around
In a throwdown, clown, I'm takin' yours, son
So just acknowledge the way that I kicked it
'Cause if rap was a house, you'd be evicted!
And dismissed from the microphone
Chokin' on a bone 'cause Daddy's home
And battlin' me is hazardous to health
So put a quarter in your ass 'cause ya played yourself
Like a game in the arcade, you need a far aid
I'm walkin' the path that Allah made
I'll attend and then begin to send a speech to reach and teach
So just say when
So I can let lyrics blast like a bullet
My mouth is the gun, on suckers I pull it
The trigger, ya figure, my pockets gettin' bigger
'Cause when it comes to money, yo, Grant's my nigga!
You've got to groove, MC's, freeze, stand still, nobody move
It's a sabotage, as I take charge
Don't barge, 'cause goddamn, I'm livin' large
Like a giant, you're nothin' but a midget, a small digit
You ain't wit' it, forget it, quit it!
I reign superior, always takin' care o'ya
No-frill rappers, you will evaporate
Disintegrate, deflate to your fate
As the great will dominate straight to the state
Of reignin', gainin', so put Kane in
That category, period, end of story

[Outro: Marley Marl]
Not in my book
Y'all are supposed to keep goin' 'til the end of the record
I still hear beats, what's wrong with you?
Yo, fellas y'all got to do somethin' on this them tracks
So let the track house you, what?
So let the track house you, what?
Yo, I can't believe it
I can't believe it
I can't believe it
I can't believe it