The Boombox Music Blog

Features

All Categories

Back to Paid in Full 25-Year Anniversary

Getty Images

Lyrics: "Your hands in the air, your mouth, shut/ 'Cause I'm on the mic and Eric B. is on the cut/ For those that know me, indeed I like to flow/ Especially when the music's going slow"

Song: "Move the Crowd"

The track is called "Move the Crowd" and Rakim says in this line that even when the music's slowed down, his rhymes can keep up. Further, he's commanding the crowd to respect his presence. In a way, though, it's arresting. You have the right to remain silent and your hands stay in the air. That's how Rakim wants to see his crowd when he's spitting his rhymes. Don't talk; just listen. Fans of Rakim who later pursued rap and referenced him as an influence, must have taken those orders.