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'ma 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 should've 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'ma 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 'til 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 out of 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 throw down, 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, MCs 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 of 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