It all starts back in Italy, actually in Sicily
A sad symphony in the early Twentieth Century
A dark peasant boy named Benito Raphioni
In the barn with the ponies and leftover macaroni
But the lack of bread left him hungry when he's back in bed
So he racked his head dreamin' of what he could have instead
Walkin' around his village, never askin' for sympathy
And the lack of affinity had him practice divinity
'Till he had an epiphany and he gathered his misery
Packed it in a tiny bag and then he scattered from Italy
Woulda traveled it differently, had he had the ability
But without a penny, Benny couldn't travel efficiently
Gatherin' his scraps, bought a third class to Manhattan
Packed with the packages of the passengers in the cabin
Greeted by the Lady of political Liberty
City imagery of vividly livin' in Little Italy
Entered Ellis Island with only a small sac
His skin so dark, they thought he was all black
Took the I's out of his name, Benito couldn't complain
Raphioni or Raphone, to him it was all the same
He just wanted money so he started workin' at the docks
But could only make enough for a little place in the Bronx
A diligent immigrant in a primitive tenement
With the skill of a city citizen bringin' in dividends
Now he's livin' with benefits and it opened his mind
So he's hopin' to find his utopian bride
Benito opened his eyes to a beautiful black queen
No longer was she broke and deprived
On the way to top class, 'till the morning she woke with a hot flash
Cash from the dock stash stopped fast when the stock crashed
Benito contemplatin' robbery and slaughter
That's what happens when you mixin' the milk with the tap water
Perverted by the Dirty Thirties
He heard of murder but assertively averted juries
Cause he would rather have a family at home, didn't plan to be alone
So they had a little boy named Anthony Raphone
And Anthony had grown dark like his poppa is
Hangin' on the street corners of Metropolis
He was proud of his heritage but his dad's music had to go
Mad dudes would rock the show – jazz, blues and rock & roll
So he would hit the nightclubs and reside inside
Comin' eye to eye with this pretty little Irish bride
Movin' in together unexpectedly
Had a little baby girl in the early seventies
Last name Raphone, first name Michelle
It ain't hard to tell, yo her name should ring a bell
I said last name Raphone, first name Michelle
"It ain't hard to tell"
In a black neighborhood back then when they hate the Irish
Michelle was called a mic but was never afraid to hide it
Where you come from, there's nothing they can do to disparage it
Yo especially when you carry a beautiful heritage
This is strictly allegorical, the race is no concern to me
The story's metaphorical, emphasis on diversity
Emphasis on the poverty, and makin' it through
All of the places that dedication is takin' you to
And so, as Michelle grew, it would only take some time
A proper way to find the "N.Y. state of mind"
She was hangin' with the hip-hop heads and all of the thugs
Michelle flows with shell toes inside of a club
Stayed connected to the turntables
Even though she was a tomboy, she was always the life of the night
But her friends never thought her name was an accurate label
And so everybody started callin' her Mikey or Mike
But despite the masculinity, her virtuous virginity
Would eventually mingle its way into her identity
And by the time that Mikey was nineteen
She had become a woman – no – matter fact a queen
Psychedelic rays, an amazin' way with men
With intelligence, benevolence, and beauty in the perfect blend
If you were stressed or you ever felt depressed
You would go and talk to Mikey and she would help you express (yes)
Gradually became a symbol in the rap community
Every single rapper wanted her, even including me
And she was older, but still I wanted to hold her
And hopefully be the soldier that's standin' over her shoulder
But hope isn't always noble enough when movin' a boulder
If you was in my position then tell me what you'd have told her
In order to win her over, all I wanted was a taste
Face to face, ready to embrace
And I would always see her in my dreams, she was slippin' in my bed
Diminishin' inhibition the minute she's in my head
With Nag Champa burnin,' we're kickin' it like karate
My hand would be at peace when it was wrapped around her body
Perfectly curved, her skin shiny and black
With a tattoo on her back that said RadioShack
I would play an instrumental and read her my poetry
And if she liked what I was sayin' then she would come close to me
Right in front of my lips, now we're ready to kiss
The room was fillin' up with a mist
Suddenly the connection was made, and I was drained of my energy
So I burst and I gave her everything inside of me
We even had a child in one of my other dreams
A beautiful baby girl that I named Harmony
Harmony Dussolliet, and if you translate the name
Harmony of the Sun is the creation that I made
But eventually I'd awake, and no longer could I reach her
A pain that was burnin' my body like it was "ether"
And everywhere she went, Mike was always adored
Yo they even have her picture on the cover of The Source
And her name is comin' up in songs like all the time
But out of this long list, only one comes to mind
It was this one song where the chorus was like…
"All I need is one mic"
But like I said in the beginnin' yo this song that I been singin'
Is a tragedy, so naturally it has a tragic endin'
And I was so concerned with it when I learned that it happened
So it's time to take "affirmative action" (ayo check it)
Mikey wasn't the type for the wifey of one guy
A girl with that kinda light has gotta spread the sunshine
Givin' everyone some lovin', she wasn't a slut or nothin'
But a guy to keep her all to himself is so motherfuckin'
Inconsiderate, considering she was so beneficial
Unless he treated her worthy enough and he was official
But all these other kids are actin' snakey and scandalous
So a girl with good intention is gettin' taken advantage of
If I was man enough then I could stop the abuse
I mean honestly cousin, yo what could I possibly do?
Ayo "if I ruled the world"
I would search the whole land for the one man worthy of the girl
And if she fit into his hands, then I would give the man his throne
Someone that is worthy of givin' a Mikey a home
And actually I know the perfect candidate to handle it
And yo my nomination has been hidden in this poem
But in the meantime I have to sit back watchin'
A woman is in trouble and I know I have to stop it
Cause I don't want to see her with the rats and the snakes
Happily havin' a date and then gettin' battered and raped!
I said last name Raphone, first name Michelle
It ain't hard to tell, yo her name should ring a bell
I said last name Raphone, first name Michelle
It ain't hard to tell, yo her name should ring a bell
I said last name Raphone, first name Michelle
It ain't hard to tell, yo her name should ring a bell
Last name Raphone, first name Mike
Someone step up and rock the Mike Raphone right