Once Upon A Rhyme (Original Version) [AKA Nickleplate Remix]

Lyrics

Rakim - "Once Upon A Rhyme (Original Version) [AKA Nickleplate Remix]" [Emcee(s): Rakim] [Producer(s): Nick Wiz] [Scratches: DJ Slyce] [Verse 1: Rakim] Once upon a rhyme The time late 60s, dark age of history Murders and mysteries, the future was misty Needles were shot down and crime was risky Yo, check this party and stick with me Race brutality because of my nationality And this is what they call reality. From that State of mind and at that date and time, I was born Inclined and waiting to shine. Once upon a rhyme [Hook: Sample with Scratches by DJ Slyce] "Once upon a time, not long ago" - Sample from Slick Rick - "Children's Story" (x2) [Verse 2: Rakim] In the Beginning, the scеnery sets in New York, whеre times Is hard and streets ain't easy to walk, crimes Is underrated, neighborhoods overpopulated, competition Gets complicated, some can't take it No place to rest in The City That Never Sleeps. To compete It gets deep, I learned to play for keeps And hawk the sidewalk, dominate the courts I'm nice in all sports, was taught with high thoughts Then came in Africans that knew where it was at Spread across the map with no time flat. They said This kid name Herc started spinning records back Had to look into that then get it down pat First, I do research. It's gonna take time Me and my crew is hitting all the parties we could find Waiting for the day where I could go for mine But later dates await down the line. Once upon a rhyme [Hook: Sample with Scratches by DJ Slyce] "Once upon a time, not long ago" - Sample from Slick Rick - "Children's Story" (x2) [Verse 3: Rakim] Many shall come, but only few get the plot off the top You gotta be hip to hop and get visual With musical forms, lyrical pictures from city-slickers Beats getting blast by ass-kickers. It was The pioneers with all kind of ideas Trade will shift to higher gears over the years Some get left in the dust by the thrust Your rhymes won't bust with a mic full of rust DJs, get your fingers musically amputated You can't touch a jam if the next man slay it Battle at the center, I'm too young to enter We cool outside, even in the winter We have a good time with the people on line At party time, it seem like the neighborhood shine But I get vexed when I can't get mine But later dates await down the line. Once upon a rhyme [Hook: Sample with Scratches by DJ Slyce] "Once upon a time, not long ago" - Sample from Slick Rick - "Children's Story" (x4) [Verse 3: Rakim] Through the times My rhymes got longer, mind got stronger Wondered if I'd ever be a performer. My blood Starts to boil, I could heat up the party for you Girls wanna rub me and my mic down with oil Rappers started coming out the woodwork. A neighborhood Expert, we ready for trouble and stay alert Days got close 'til my debut, got recruited to a crew Now I could do the things I always wanted to Code red I inherited, many ways to say the unsaid Born with three 7's in my head Blessed and destined to be one of the best in anything I find interesting—yeah, no question A swift kid, I get lifted by the mind Gifted skills exist to beyond my prime Combined with all kinds of designs which is mine And showtimes await down the line. Once upon a rhyme