It's Been A Long Time - Rakim

{DJ Premier cuts early Eric B. & Rakim records} 
"It's been a long time.." 
"It's been a long time.." 
"It's been a long time.." 
"It's been a long time.." 
".. Rakim  the microphone soloist" 

[Rakim] 
Follow procedures  the crowd couldn't wait to see this 
Nobody been this long awaited since Jesus 
Who wouldn't believe this   I heard the word on the street is 
I'm still one of the deepest on the mic since Adidas 
They said I changed the times from the rhymes that I thought of 
So I made some more to put the New World in Order 
with Mathematics, put your status above the average 
And help you rappers, make paragraphs with graphics 
Cause new days is dawnin, new ways of peformin 
Brainstormin, I write and watch the night turn to mornin 
On and on and, I got the whole world respondin 
Rock, I keep it hot and blow the spot without warnin 
The Emperor, well known for, inventin a sentence 
full of adventure, turnin up the temperature 
Rush with adrenaline, how long has it been again 
to be in the state of mind that Rakim is in? 

{DJ Premier cuts early Eric B. & Rakim records} 
"It's been a long time.." 
".. Rakim, the microphone soloist" 
"It's been a long time.." 
"It's been a long time.." 
".. Rakim" 

[Rakim] 
When I'm out proppin - either, hangin or shoppin 
People see me stop and ask me when the album droppin 
The wait is over, in-formation like a soldier 
like I told ya, greater stronger, now that I'm older 
I broke the, code of silence with overloads of talents 
My only challenge, is not to explode in violence 
I'm Asiatic, and bl