An Open Letter to NYC

Beastie Boys

About An Open Letter to NYC

"An Open Letter to NYC" is a song by American hip hop group the Beastie Boys. It was released as the third single from their sixth studio album, To the 5 Boroughs, in November 2004. The single entered and peaked at number 38 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was used during the opening credits of an episode of HBO's Taxicab Confessions, and is also included in the video game NBA Street V3. The group performed the song live during the 2004 MTV Europe Music Awards, on November 18, 2004 at the Tor di Valle Hippodrome, in Rome.  


Year:
2004
4:22
154 
#1

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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, prize fighters and Wall Street traders 
We come together on the subway cars 
Diversity unified, whoever you are 
We're doing fine on the One and Nine line 
On the L we're doin' swell 
On the number Ten bus we fight and fuss 
You know we're thorough in the boroughs 'cause that's a must 
I remember when the Duece was all porno flicks 
Running home after school to play PIX
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 doing well 
I know a lot's happened and you've been through hell 
So, we give thanks for providing 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 B.Q.E 
Hippies at the band shell with the L.S.D. 
Get my BVDs from VIM 
You know I'm reppin' Manhattan the best I can 
Stopped off at Bleeker Bob's, got thrown out 
Sneakin' in at four am after going out 
You didn't rob me in the park at Dianna Ross 
But everybody started looting 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 ten-ten 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 
Lifelong, we dedicate this song 
Just a little something to show some respect 
To the city that blends and mends and tests 
Since 9-11 we're still livin' 
And lovin' life we've been given 
Ain't nothing 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, rejecting no-one 
Accepting 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

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Beastie Boys

Beastie Boys is an American hip hop band from New York City, formed in 1981. For the majority of its career, the group has consisted of three MCs and musicians Michael "Mike D" Diamond (vocals, drums), Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass) and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (vocals, guitar). more »

4 fans

Written by: EUGENE O'CONNER, DAVID LYNN THOMAS, MICHAEL DIAMOND, ADAM YAUCH, ADAM HOROWITZ

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release Details
"An Open Letter to NYC" was released on November 11, 2004, as the second single from the Beastie Boys' sixth studio album, To The 5 Boroughs.
Message
The song is a tribute to the city of New York, expressing the group's love for their hometown following the September 11 attacks.
Musical Style
It includes a rap style highlighting the hip-hop culture prevalent in New York City.
Chart Performance
Upon release, the song reached number 38 on the UK Singles Chart and fared well in independent music retail stores.
Video
The music video, which premiered on MTV on March 7, 2004, was filmed in a rotating set, providing 360-degree views of the streets of New York.
Samples
Beastie Boys employed their unique blend of sampling and beat mixing, with the prominent sample in "An Open Letter to NYC" being "Sonic Reducer" by punk band The Dead Boys.
Lyrics
The lyrics highlight various iconic destinations of NYC, including Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Queens.
Reception
Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised the song as one of the standouts from the To The 5 Boroughs album.
Performance
Curiously, despite being one of the more popular songs from To The 5 Boroughs, "An Open Letter to NYC" has only been performed live by Beastie Boys a handful of times.
Tribute
In a heartfelt dedication to their hometown, the Beastie Boys recognize the diversity and resilience of NYC, acknowledging its influence on them as individuals and artists.

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    "An Open Letter to NYC Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/7727331/Beastie+Boys/An+Open+Letter+to+NYC>.

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