I feel like I've been running
For the last 8 years
Trying to escape
Life's hardships and tears
Ever since I quit my last day gig
I ain't looked back
I can thank my wife for that
I had to take some time to slow down a bit
But the older I get
Slow down feels like quit
And I'm not don't yet
At least in my mind
So I run the race like I'm running out of time
Win or lose
I'm not gonna' stop
Even if I never reach the top
Cause success is defined
In the mind of the beholder
So don't talk to me about getting older
Last July marked 25 years for me
As a recording emcee
Hip hop found me in 83
And that's a long damn time
But the only constant in my life is the rhyme
The rhyme is what made me
The rhyme is what saved me
The rhyme is the only thing
That can set me free
The rhyme is my essence
The rhyme is my presence
The rhyme is my whole soul
From past to present
The rhyme is my life force
The rhyme keeps me on course
The rhyme bleeds from my lips
Until I become hoarse
The rhyme is my heart
The rhyme is my mind
They rhyme will be with me
Until the end of time
Putting words together was always an art to me
From poetry spoken
To hot bars from emcees
Cause back in the day
Yes-yes you know it
Early emcees were like
Breakbeat poets
Telling stories of good times
Droppin' on the one
Peace love unity
And of course having fun
Those were the principles
That made hip hop dope
A strong social movement
Will it stop
Nope
Cause it can't stop
And it won't stop
Not till the break of dawn
Or till they call the cops
I remember those years
Like they were yesterday
So DJ drop the needle
And let the record play
So I can reminisce
Of my first kiss
Not with a girl
But when the mic first touched my lips
Cause when I'm in the zone
With a microphone
My heart bleeds rhymes
And I realize I'm home
The rhyme is what made me
The rhyme is what saved me
The rhyme is the only thing
That can set me free
The rhyme is my essence
The rhyme is my presence
The rhyme is my whole soul
From past to present
The rhyme is my life force
The rhyme keeps me on course
The rhyme bleeds from my lips
Until I become hoarse
The rhyme is my heart
The rhyme is my mind
They rhyme will be with me
Until the end of time