I Know You Got Soul
Eric B. & Rakim
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It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you Without a strong rhyme to step to Think of how many weak shows you slept through Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you Thinking of this, you keep repeating you miss The rhymes from the microphone soloist And you sit by the radio, hand on the dial, soon As you hear it, pump up the volume Dance wit the speaker 'till you hear it blow, Then plug in the headphone 'cause here it go It's a 4 letter word when it's heard, it control your body to dance (You got it) soul, Ditects the tempo like a red alert Reaches your reflex, so let it work When this is playing, you can't get stuck wit The steps, so get set and I'm a still come up wit A gift to be swift, follow the leader, the rhyme will go Def wit the record that was mixed a long time ago It can be done but only I can do it For those that can dance and clap your hands to it I start to think and then I sink Into the paper like I was ink When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines, I escape when I finish the rhyme... I got soul You got it You got it You got it You got it I know you got soul Picture a mic, the stage is empty A beat like this might tempt me To pose, show my rings and my fat gold chain Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train But I'll wait 'cause I mastered this Let the others go first so the brothers don't miss Eric B. break the sticks (you got it) Rakim will begin when you make the mix I'll experiment like a scientist You want to rhyme, you gotta sign my list 'Cause I'm a manifest and bless the mic I hold You want it next? then you gotta have soul 'Cause if you ain't got it, I'm a make an encore Take the mic, make the people respond for The are, 'cause that's the way it'll have to be If you want to get on after me Think about it, wait, erase your rhyme Forget it and don't waste your time 'Cause I'll be in the crowd if you ain't controlling it Drop the mic, you shouldn't be holding it This is how it should be done This style is identical to none Some try to make it sound like this but you're getting me So upset that I'm wet 'cause you're sweating me I drip steam like a microphone fiend Eager to MC is my theme I get hype when I hear a drum roll Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul You got it You got it You got it You got it You got it I got soul (you got it) that's why I came To teach those who can't say my name First of all, I'm the soloist, the soul controller Rakim gets stronger as I get older Constant elevation causes expansion I write my rhyme while I cool in my mansion Then put it on tape and in the city I test it Then on the radio the are's requested You listen to it, the concept might break you 'Cause almost anyone can relate to... Whoever's out of hand, I'm give him handles Light 'em up, blow 'em out like candles Or should I just let him melt? Then give him a hand so they can see how it felt I'm not bold just 'cause I rock gold Rakim is on the mic and you know I got soul You got it You got it You got it You got it Now I'm a stop to see what you got Get off the mic before I get too hot I want to see which posse can dance the best It should be easy 'cause the beat is fresh Now if your from Uptown, Brooklyn- bound, The Bronx, Queens, or Long Island Sound, Even other states come right and exact, It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at Since you came here, you have to show and prove And do that dance until it don't move 'Cause all you need is soul self-esteem will release, The rest is up to you, Rakim 'll say peace You got it You got it You got it You got it You got it You got it You got it You got it You got it You got it
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Written by: Eric Barrier, William Griffin, James Brown, Charles A. Bobbit, Clarence Eugene Haskins, Calvin Eugene Simon, Grady Thomas, Michael Williams, Bobby Byrd
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Origin of the Song"I Know You Got Soul" is a song that was released by the hip-hop duo Eric B. & Rakim in 1987. Produced by Eric B. and Marley Marl, the track appears on the duo's debut studio album "Paid in Full."
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Successful in ChartsThe single was a significant success in the US, reaching number 39 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart. This makes it one of the group's most commercially successful singles.
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Unauthorized SamplingThe song has sparked controversy due to an alleged unauthorized use of a sample from Bobby Byrd's song of the same name. However, the sample became one of the track's most identifiable characteristics.
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Influence on Hip-Hop Culture"I Know You Got Soul" had a massive impact on the hip-hop culture, it represents a significant milestone in the development of hip-hop. Rakim's complex lyrics and flow have been highly influential.
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Break Dance ConnectionThe song is considered a break dance classic and frequently appears in related compilations. Its distinctive rhythm and catchy beats made it widely adopted in the break dancing scene.
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Legacy in Music WorldThe track has been widely sampled by various artists since its release, including 'M|A|R|R|S's' "Pump Up the Volume," which uses Rakim's iconic line "Pump up the volume".
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Rakim's RoleRakim wrote the song and performed as the lead vocalist. His lyricism and the complexity of his rhymes in “I Know You Got Soul” is often considered to have changed the course of hip-hop music.
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Vinyl CopiesThe initial release of "I Know You Got Soul" was pressed on vinyl and has become a collector's item since the full-length album, "Paid in Full" became a classic.
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Live PerformancesDespite the song being one of the duo's best-known tracks, it didn't feature heavily in live performances, due to its complex lyrics and rhythms.
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High PraiseRolling Stone magazine, in 2015, listed "I Know You Got Soul" at number 23 in their 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time.
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Citation
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"I Know You Got Soul Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 8 Jun 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/35320198/Eric+B.+%26+Rakim/I+Know+You+Got+Soul>.
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