New York by Jay-Z / Beyonce (2024)

Yeah

Yeah, I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
Right next to De Niro, but I'll be hood forever
I'm the new Sinatra, and since I made it here
I can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me everywhere
I used to cop in Harlem, hola, my Dominicanos (dímelo)
Right there up on Broadway, brought me back to that McDonald's

Took it to my stashbox, 560 State Street
Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons whippin' pastry
Cruisin' down 8th St, off-white Lexus
Drivin' so slow, but BK is from Texas
Me, I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
Now I live on Billboard and I brought my boys with me
Say what up to Ty-Ty, still sippin' Mai Tais
Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee
Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from

Don't you know, don't you know (ayy)
New York was killing me?
Yes, I was standing nearly dying here
New York was killing me
Seems like I need to start over
And move back home in Jackson, Tennessee
In-in-in-in, in New York

Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can
You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
But I got a gang of- walkin' with my clique though
Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
Afrika Bambataa sh-, home of the hip-hop
Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
For foreigners it ain't fair, they act like they forgot how to act
Eight million stories, out there in the naked
City is a pity, half of y'all won't make it
Me, I got a plug, Special Ed, "I Got It Made"
If Jeezy's payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwyane Wade
Three dice Cee-lo, three-card Monte
Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade
Long live the king, yo, I'm from the Empire State that's

Don't you know, don't you know (ayy)
New York was killing me?
Yes, I was standing nearly dying here
New York was killing me (in-in-in-in, in New York)
Seems like I need to start over
And move back home in Jackson, Tennessee

Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
So they can step out of bounds quick, the sidelines is
Lined with casualties, who sip the life casually
Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple, Eve
Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in style
Into the winter gets cold, en vogue, with your skin out
City of sin, it's a pity on a whim
Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out
Everybody ride her, just like a bus route
"Hail Mary" to the city, you're a virgin
And Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church end
Came here for school, graduated to the high life
Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight
Mdma got you feelin' like a champion
The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien

Lord have mercy, mercy on me
Yeah, Lord have mercy, have mercy on me
Tell him to bury my body back home in Jackson, Tennessee

Yeah, Lord have mercy, have mercy on me
In-in-in-in, in New York

The song 'New York' by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys is an ode to New York City, known as the cultural and financial capital of the United States. The lyrics are filled with references to the city's crime, hip-hop culture, and iconic landmarks. Jay-Z boasts of his lyrical prowess, describing his flow as "not slipping rap flows," and rapping about topics like drug addiction, poverty, and police brutality.

The song opens with the line, "the city." In New York lingo, "the city" always refers to Manhattan, the most densely populated borough in New York City. Jay-Z and Alicia Keys emphasize the significance of New York City by calling it "number one." They point out that the city is much more than just the five boroughs, and that its influence spreads far and wide.

Jay-Z's verse is full of criminal imagery, from references to Riker's Island prison to drug addiction to gun violence. Despite this, he speaks to the pride of New Yorkers, saying, "We from New York, my city never sleeps." The lyrics speak to the gritty, unrelenting nature of the city, while also paying homage to its successes and achievements.

Overall, the song is a tribute to the city that never sleeps, full of both pride and grit, and representing the various cultural and historic landmarks of the city.

Yeah "the city"
We're talking about the one and only, New York City

This is serious, here "number one"
New York City is the best of the best - it's top-notch

New York! It's beyond the 5 boroughs keep it real, I get ill
New York City is more than just the five boroughs - it's authentic and I'm excited about it

Number one, this will rock! "the city" "I gotta get in"
New York is the best and it's going to be amazing, I need to be a part of it

This is that, Riker's Island, not slipping rap flows
We're not messing around with our raps - this is the real deal, not some soft stuff

For them box bitten bing monsters, sniffin' that blow
Talking about drug addicts who are desperate for their next fix

Block covers know the style, triple that dough
The people in our neighborhood know what we're all about and we make big money

Forty cal. for them co*ck suckers, sittin' back slow
If anyone tries to mess with us, we're ready with guns blazing

What y'all know about co*ke pies, give 'em that low
We're talking about selling drugs and making big money

I mouth them before the bowtie resemble cash flow
We're always watching out for the competition so we can be on top and make big money

Rap NY, no lie, my side is back Ghost, so hot
Talking about the rap music scene in New York and how our side is the best and most successful

Crooked cops are searching your asshole, it's the drop
Be careful because corrupt police officers will go to any lengths to catch criminals

That freeze nigg*z right where they stand for the gwap
The fear of getting caught will stop anyone from trying to mess with us and our money

nigg*z'll play Pac and pop with they man, it don't stop
Gang violence and retaliation is common in New York and it never ends

We up top, but we locked and landing
We're at the top of our game, but we have to be careful because we're being watched and tracked by the authorities

He roadblock, he flow shots, get Ghost and scram
If there's any obstacle in our way, we'll take it down and leave without a trace

Gingerbread nigg*z on the run from feds
People who are being chased or investigated by federal authorities, trying to avoid getting caught

sh*t is sick, pretty chicks'll put a gun to ya head
The city is dangerous and even attractive women are capable of violent crimes

Never a vic', either think quick or end up dead
You always have to be on your toes and be able to react quickly, otherwise you could end up dead

'Cause when we flip, what's left to be said? New York
When we unleash our potential and show off what we're capable of, nobody can argue that New York is the best

Yo, we was raised in the dead arm district
Talking about growing up in a rough part of New York

Live from the New York borough, keeping it thorough
Proudly representing our city and keeping it real

Cuz a snitch gon' crack that nut, don't give a f*ck
Snitches are not tolerated and will be dealt with severely if they try to turn on us

Did ten hours long and try to wrap us up
Someone who spent time in prison and is now trying to get us in trouble by talking to the authorities

He dry snitching, post up in the whip with a fly wisdom
Talking about someone who is giving away information without actually speaking - possibly through hand signals or other non-verbal cues

Stuck ya man for his vegi's and his lame ass circus
We're not above robbing people to get what we want

So I dare nigg*z act up, y'all nigg*z act up
Don't try to test us or you'll regret it

Now like cars in reverse, y'all better back up
You better retreat or back out before things get ugly

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