[Chorus: Illogic] I don't know what you thought you had or what you got But yo, to be an MC it takes a lot Are you willin to take the responsibility of this quest Cause if you do it right you might not have nothin left [Illogic] Yo, it takes artistic ability and knowhow lyrically To express in forms of poetical wizardry It takes rhythmic structures and phenomenal thoughts It takes creation of hooks on which the wack can get caught It takes knowledge of self and creator It takes payin attention to that music in the elevator and elevatin If you call yourself a lyrical surgeon it takes patients/patience It takes takin a trip with God on that ship of relation It takes self-denial AND realization It takes keepin it realistic Not real just to become a statistic It takes evolution and edification It takes a person, it takes a family, takes a city, it takes a nation It takes surroundin sound, not lettin sound surround you It takes surroundin yourself with fam and a dope crew It takes hot tracks and it takes hot use of words I don't about you but for me it took a third [Chorus] - 2X [Illogic] Yo, it takes a sense of focus and clear mindstate It takes shape and destiny and acceptin fate It takes you takin a stand and not conceit It takes you bein and actin like a man and not a beast It takes squashin beef It takes, treating our women like queens and men like kings It takes replacement of material with spiritual things It takes a one for education and lack of stupidity It takes discovering your faults and seeking a remedy It takes some illogical thinking in this rational world It takes passiveness and confontation, rebellion and confirmation It takes, an open and a closed mind It takes a lack of compromise and, findin some truth in lies It takes healin, it takes booze and it takes tryin It takes winnin, it takes losin, it takes livin, it takes dyin It takes them, it takes us, it takes you what takes me These are the essentials I think it takes to be an MC [Chorus] - 2X [Illogic] I'm an MC cause I got what it takes Are you an MC, do you have what it takes? If you don't know, I've defined it So go ahead kid, and just rewind it I'm an MC cause I got what it takes Are you an MC, do you have what it takes? If you don't know, I've defined it So go ahead kid, and just rewind it "Clap your hands everybody, if you got what it takes" -> KRS-One (Repeat 4X)