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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Zack de la Rocha
Zack de la Rocha
Vocals
Tom Morello
Tom Morello
Guitar
Brad Wilk
Brad Wilk
Drums
Tim Commerford
Tim Commerford
Bass
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Eric Barrier
Eric Barrier
Songwriter
Rakim Allah
Rakim Allah
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Co-Producer
Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin
Producer
Jim Scott
Jim Scott
Recording Engineer
David Schiffman
David Schiffman
Recording Engineer
Rich Costey
Rich Costey
Mixing Engineer
Katie Teasdale
Katie Teasdale
Assistant Engineer
Darren Mora
Darren Mora
Assistant Engineer
Matt Marin
Matt Marin
Assistant Engineer
Mike Scotella
Mike Scotella
Assistant Engineer
Geoff Walcha
Geoff Walcha
Assistant Engineer
Rich Veltrop
Rich Veltrop
Assistant Engineer
Vlado Meller
Vlado Meller
Mastering Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Yo, I was a fiend before I became a teen
I melted microphones instead of cones of ice cream
Music-orientated, so when hip-hop was originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzle, complicated
Shot grabbed the mic and try to say, "Yes, y'all"
They tried to take it, and say that I'm too small
Cool, 'cause I don't get upset
I kick a hole in the speaker, pull the plug, then I jet
Back to lab, without a mic to grab
So then I add all the ryhmes I had
One after another one, then I make another one
To diss the opposite then ask if the brother's done
I get a craving like a fiend for nicotine
But I don't need a cigarette, know what I mean?
I'm raging, ripping up the stage and
Don't it sound amazing, 'cause every rhythm is made and
Thought of, 'cause it's sort of an addiction
Magnetized by the mixing
[Verse 2]
E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
[Verse 3]
But back to the problem, I gotta habit
You can't solve it, you silly rabbit
The prescription is a hypertone that's thorough
When I fiend for a microphone like heroin
Soon as the bass kicks, I need a fix
Gimme a stage and a mic and a mix
And I'll put you in a mood or is it a state of
Unawareness? Beware, it's the re-animator
A menace to a microphone, a lethal weapon
An assassinator, if the people ain't stepping
See a part of me that you never seen
When I'm fiending for a microphone
'Cause I take it to the maximum, I can't relax see, I'm
Hype as a hypochrondriac 'cause the rap be one
Hell of a antidote, something you can't smoke
More than dope, you're trying to move away but you can't, you're broke
More than cracked up! You should have backed up
For those who act up need to be more than smacked up
[Verse 4]
E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
[Verse 5]
A smooth operator operating correctly
A smooth operator operating correctly
A smooth operator operating correctly
A smooth operator operating correctly
[Verse 6]
Music-orientated, so when hip-hop was originated, originated
It fitted like pieces of puzzle, it's complicated, complicated
Music-orientated, so when hip-hop was originated, originated
It fitted like pieces of puzzle, it's complicated, complicated
Music-orientated, so when hip-hop was originated, originated
It fitted like pieces of puzzle, it's complicated, complicated
Music-orientated, so when hip-hop was originated, originated
It fitted like pieces of puzzle, it's complicated, complicated
[Verse 7]
Music-orientated, so when hip-hop was originated
It fitted like pieces of puzzle, it's complicated
Music-orientated, so when hip-hop was originated
It fitted like pieces of puzzle, complicated
[Verse 8]
'Cause I'm an E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
[Verse 9]
A smooth operator, operating correctly
A smooth operator, operating correctly
A smooth operator, operating correctly
'Cause I'm an E-F-F-E-C-T
Written by: Eric Barrier, William Michael Griffin Jr.

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