Check the Rhime Lyrics
Uh, uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, uh, check the rhyme
[Verse 1: Q-Tip & Phife Dawg]
Back in the days on the boulevard of Linden
We used to kick routines and the presence was fittin'
It was I, The Abstract
And me, the Five Footer
I kicks the mad style so step off the frankfurter
Yo, Phife, you remember that routine
That we used to make spiffy like Mr. Clean?
Um... um... a tidbit, um... a smidgen
I don't get the message so you gots to run the pigeon
Heh, okay, you on point, Phife? All the time, Tip
You on point, Phife? All the time, Tip
You on point, Phife? All the time, Tip
Well, then grab the microphone and let your words rip
[Verse 2: Phife Dawg]
Now here's a funky introduction of how nice I am
Tell your mother, tell your father, send a telegram
I'm like an energizer 'cause, you see, I last long
My crew is never ever wack because we stand strong
Now if you say my style is wack, that's where you're dead wrong
I slayed that Buddy in El Segundo then Push it Along
You'd be a fool to reply that Phife is not the man
'Cause you know and I know that you know who I am
A special shout of peace goes out to all my pals, you see
And a middle finger goes for all you punk MC's
'Cause I love it when you wack MC's despise me
They get vexed, I roll next, can't none contest me
I'm just a fly MC who's five foot three and very brave
On top remaining, no home training 'cause I misbehave
I come correct in full effect, have all my hoes in check
And before I get the butt, the Jim must be erect
You see, my aura's positive, I don't promote no junk
See, I'm far from a bully and I ain't a punk
Extremity in rhythm, yeah, that's what you heard
So just clean out your ears and just check the word
Check the rhyme y'all, check the rhyme y'all
Check the rhyme y'all, check the rhyme y'all
Check the rhyme y'all, check the rhyme y'all
Check it out, check it out
Check the rhyme y'all, check the rhyme y'all
Check the rhyme y'all, play tapes y'all
Check the rhyme y'all, check the rhyme y'all
Check it out, check it out
[Verse 3: Phife Dawg & Q-Tip]
Back in the days on the boulevard of Linden
We used to kick routines and the presence was fittin'
It was I, the Phifer And me, the Abstract
The rhymes were so rumpin' that the brothers rode the 'zack
Aiyo Tip, do you recall when we used to rock What?
Those fly routines on your cousin's block?
Um, let me see... damn, I can't remember
I receive the message and you will play the sender
You on point, Tip? All the time, Phife
You on point, Tip? Yeah, all the time, Phife
You on point, Tip? Yo, all the time, Phife
So play the resurrector and give the dead some life
[Verse 4: Q-Tip]
Okay, if knowledge is the key, then just show me the lock
Got the scrawny legs but I move just like Lou Brock
With speed, I'm agile plus I'm worth your while
One hundred percent intelligent Black child
My optic presentation sizzles the retina
How far must you go to gain respect? Umm
Well, it's kinda simple, just remain your own
Or you'll be crazy, sad and alone
Industry rule number four-thousand-and-eighty
Record company people are shady
So kids, watch your back 'cause I think they smoke crack
I don't doubt it, look at how they act
Well, off to better things like a hip-hop forum
Pass me the rock and I'll score 'em with decorum
And proper, what you say, Hammer? Proper
Rap is not pop, if you call it that, then stop
NC, y'all check the rhyme y'all
SC, y'all check it out y'all
Virginia, check the rhyme y'all
Check it out, check it out
In London, check the rhyme, y'all
About
“Check the Rhime” is the quintessential and most celebrated hip-hop song for call-and-response rhyme cipher. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg celebrate their middle-class roots from Queens, with Phife delivering one of his most inspired verses.
“Check the Rhime” was released as the lead single for Tribe’s sophomore album The Low End Theory on September 6, 1991, with “Skypager” on the B-side. “Check The Rhime” was ranked #30 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs list and included on The Source’s list of the 100 Best Rap Singles of All Time.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
In the 90’s, it was common for hip-hop artists to make an old soul or funk sample cool, which would pave the way for an R&B artist to sample the same song and make a hit partially off of sample recognition.
Family R&B group Soul IV Real took their cue from “Check the Rhime” and scored a #1 hit with “Candy Rain,” which uses the same Minnie Riperton sample of “Baby, This Love I Have.”
The hook samples Minnie Riperton’s 1975 song “Baby, This Love I Have” and the classic horn sample from Average White Band’s 1976 song “Love Your Life”:
The drums throughout the beat were sampled from Grover Washington Jr.’s 1975 song “Hydra” and Dalton & Dubarri’s 1976 song “I’m just a Rock N' Roller”:
The drum beat that can be heard immediately after Verse 4 was sampled from Biz Markie’s 1987 song “Nobody Beats the Biz”:
That’s my all-time favorite Tribe record. For the simple fact that—call me selfish or whatever—that was the song that set off my coming out party on Low End Theory. ‘Cause if you judge by the People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm album, it was like, “What what the hell does he do? He don’t do nothing.” That was just the consensus on Phife Dawg or whatever. So when Low End came out and “Check The Rhime” was the first single, it was like, “Oh, okay, so he can rhyme.” I hold that closest to my heart.
— Phife Dawg, XXL, 2013
- 1.Check the Rhime
- 3.Award Tour
- 5.Scenario
- 6.Buggin’ Out
- 11.Hot Sex
- 12.Oh My God
- 14.Luck of Lucien
- 17.Find a Way
- 18.Sucka Nigga
- 19.Vivrant Thing
