Strictly Business

(album: Strictly Business - 1988)

"I shot the Sheriff"
Don't get too close because you might get shot
"I shot the Sheriff"

Try to answer to the master or the MC rap god is no joke
On the lyric it's hard to be modest
I knew I was the man with the master plan
To make you wiggle and jiggle, like gelatin
Just think while I sink, into the brain structure

Don't sleep on the E

You see, something might rupture
It don't take time for me to blow your mind
Take a second to wreck it because you're dumb and blind
So just lounge... 'cause you're an MC clown
Go join the circus... EPMD's in town

Total chaos no mass confusion
Rhymes so hypnotizing known to cause an illusion
Like a magician... who draws a rabbit out a hat, son
I draw them all like a .44 Magnum
MC, freeze stop look and listen, and try to imagine
It's travelling the speed of light, but everything's motionless
Is frightening... plus the thought you alone
You now enter dimension, called the Twilight Zone
You're terrified... plus you can't bear the thought
You and I one-on-one, in the Land of the Lost
You start to shiver... then you scream, my friend
Yo, wake up, Muttley, because you're dreaming again
But next time I'm on the scene, do not try to diss us
Keep your mouth shut sucker duck, because I'm strictly business

"I shot the Sheriff"
Don't get too close because you might get shot
I'm Strictly Business
"I shot the Sheriff"
Don't get too close because you might get shot

This is the rap season when the E starts pleasing
Girls around the world no need to be skeezing
When I roll I stroll, Cool always pack a 2
Just in case a brother acts a fool
I've got the energy to put the girlz in a frenzy
Put a shock when I rock even though I'm not stingy
Make sure I don't bore when I'm on the dance floor

Get busy, boy

Like you never saw before
Rhyme flow good to go
After the show I'll pull your hoe, boy

"Do you sniff blow?"

Hell no
Got my whole life ahead of me, no time to be sniffing
And if my parents find out, then they start riffing
So I stay, A-OK
'Cause I'm the E the R-I-C-K

MC's look me in the face and their eyes get weak
Pulse rate descends heart rate increases
It's like beam me up, scotty, I control your body
I'm as deadly as AIDS when it's time to rock a party
With all due respect, when I say mike check
I let a sucker slide once then I break his neck
So when I say jump, you'll reply "How high?"
Because I'm taking no prisoners, so don't play hero and die
You're just a soldier and I'm a Green Beret
I do not think twice about the MCs I slay
So if you want to battle, I highly recommend this
Bring your dog, mom, and dad because I'm Strictly Business

Yo, yo, you're still picking on that four-leaf clover?
Bring in the sandman, sucker because it's over
My name is Eric Sermon and I'm back again
I see the head's still turning of my so-called friends
They smile in my face behind my back they talk trash
Mad and stuff because they don't have cash
Like the E-Double or the Pee-MD
He drives a Corvette, I drive a semi-iroc Suzuki
I'm the locksmith with the key to fame
Never high on myself, always stay the same
Play a lot because I'm hot and like a horse I trot

Around the track and back

Fatigued?

No, I'm not

I'm the mellow, the fellow, the one that likes to say hello
To a fly girl that is good to go
With the slow tempo and the off-beat rhyme flow
'Cause when I am in action, there is no time for maxing or relaxin
Just reacting and subtracting
On a sucker MC who's mouth keeps on yapping and flapping
I lose my cool, then I'll be start slapping and smacking
You on a roll, then I'll be start jacking and capping
No time to lounge, I'm packing and strapping
At my point attack I soar at you like an eagle
I'm the sheriff, and biting is illegal
So next time in town, I highly recommend this
You gots to chill, because I'm Strictly Business