I Ain’t No Joke Songtext
von Eric B. & Rakim

I ain′t no joke, I used to let the mic smoke
Now I slam it when I'm done and make sure it′s broke
When I'm gone, no one gets on, 'cause I won′t let
Nobody press up, and mess up, the scene I set
I like to stand in a crowd, and watch the people wonder, damn
But think about it, then ya understand
I′m just a addict, addicted to music
Maybe it's a habit, I gotta use it

Even if it′s jazz, or the quiet storm
I hook a beat up, convert it into hip-hop form
Write a rhyme in graffitti and, every show you see me in
Deep concentration, 'cause I′m no comedian
Jokers are wild, if you wanna be tamed
I treat you like a child then you're gonna be named
Another enemy, not even a friend of me
′Cause you'll get fried in the end when you pretend to be


Competin', ′cause I just put your mind on pause
And I complete when, you compare my rhyme wit′ yours
I wake you up and as I stare in your face you seem stunned
Remember me, the one you got your idea from
But soon you start to suffer, the tune'll get rougher
When you start to stutter, that′s when you had enough of
Bitin', it′ll make you choke, you can't provoke
You can′t cope, you should've broke, because I ain't no joke

I got a question, it′s serious as cancer
Who can keep the average dancer
Hyper as a heart attack, nobody smilin′
'Cause you′re expressin' the rhyme that I′m stylin'
This is what we all sit down and write
You can′t make it so you take it home, break it and bite
Use pieces and bits of all the hip-hop hits
Get the style down pat then it's time to switch

Put my tape on pause and add some more to yours
Then you figured, you're ready for the neighborhood tours
A E-M-C-E-E, don′t even try to be
When you come up to speak, don′t even lie to me
You like to exaggerate, dream and imaginate
Then change the rhyme around, that could aggravate me
So when you see me come up, freeze
Or you'll be one of those 7 emcees


They think that I′m a new jack, but only if they knew that
They who think wrong, are they who can't do that
Style that I′m doin', they might ruin
Patterns and paragraphs based on you and
Your offbeat DJ, if anything he play
Sound familiar, I′ll wait 'til E say
Play 'em, so I′mma have to diss who broke
You could get a smack for this, I ain′t no joke

I hold the microphone like a grudge
B'll hold the record so the needle don′t budge
I hold a conversation, 'cause what I invent
I nominated my DJ the president
When I emcee I′ll, keep a freestyle, goin' steadily
So pucker up, and whistle my melody
But whatever you do, don′t miss one
They'll be another rough rhyme after this one

Before you know it, you're followin′ and fiendin′
Waiting for the punchline, to get the meanin'
Like before, the mural of my story I′m tellin'
Nobody beats the R so stop yellin′
Save it, put it in your pocket for later
'Cause I′m movin' the crowd, and B'll wreck the fader
No interruptions ′til the mic is broke
When I′m gone, then you can joke

'Cause everything is real on the serious tip
Keep playin′, and I get furious quick
And I take you for a walk through hell
Freeze your dome, then watch your eyeballs swell
Guide you out of triple stage darkness
When it get dark again, then I'mma spark this
Microphone, ′cause the heat is on
You see smoke, then I finish when the beat is gone, I'm no joke