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.  


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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 »

5 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. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/15424258/Beastie+Boys/An+Open+Letter+to+NYC>.

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