An Open Letter to NYC

Listen, all you New Yorkers Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten From the Battery to the top of Manhattan Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin Black, White, New York you make it happen Brownstones, water towers, trees, skyscrapers Writers, prizefighters and Wall Street traders We come together on the subway cars Diversity unified, whoever you are, uh We doin' fine on the one and nine line On the L, we're doin' swell On the number ten bus, we fight and fuss 'Cause we're thorough in the boroughs and that's a must I remember when the Deuce was all porno flicks Runnin' home after school to play PIXX At lunch, I'd go to Blimpies down on Montague Street And hit the Fulton Street Mall for the sneakers on my feet Dear, New York, I hope you're doin' well I know a lot's happened, and you've been through hell So, we give thanks for providin' a home Through your gates at Ellis Island, we passed in droves Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten From the Battery to the top of Manhattan Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin Black, White, New York you make it happen The L.I.E., the BQE Hippies at the band shell with the LSD Get my BVD's from VIM You know I'm reppin' Manhattan the best I can Stopped off at Bleecker Bob's, got thrown out Sneakin' in at 4:00 a.m. after goin' out You didn't rob me in the park at Diana Ross But everybody started lootin' when the light went off From the South-South Bronx, on out to Queens bridge From Hollis, Queens right down to Bay Ridge From Castle Hill to the Lower East Side From 1010 WINS to Live At Five Dear, New York, this is a love letter To you and how you brought us together We can't say enough about all you do 'Cause in the city we're ourselves and electric, too Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten From the Battery to the top of Manhattan Asian, Middle-Eastern, and Latin Black, White, New York you make it happen Shout out the South Bronx where my mom hails from Right next to High Bridge across from Harlem To the Grand Concourse where my mom and dad met Before they moved on down to the Upper West I see you're still strong after all that's gone on Life long we dedicate this song Just a little somethin' to show some respect To the city that blends and mends and tests, uh Since 9/11, we're still livin' And lovin', life we've been given Ain't nothin' gonna take that away from us We lookin' pretty and gritty 'cause in the city we trust Dear, New York, I know a lot has changed Two towers down, but you're still in the game Home to the many, rejectin' no one Acceptin' peoples of all places, wherever they're from Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten From the Battery to the top of Manhattan Asian, Middle-Eastern, and Latin Black, White, New York you make it happen Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten From the Battery to the top of Manhattan Asian, Middle-Eastern, and Latin Black, White, New York we make it happen N-N-N-New York New York, New York (City, City) New-New York, New-New-New- New-York City Y-Y, Y-Y, Y-York, Y-York Y-Y, Y-York, Y-York (New-New York, New-) (New-New York, New-) New York City