New York
Busta Rhymes feat. Cam'Ron Lyrics

New York City
We are in the city of New York

Welcome to Medina, the Mecca, the melting pot
Welcome to the city that has a mixture of cultures and is considered the birthplace of hip-hop

Where you could be playin' ball or sellin' rocks
In this city, you can either engage in legal activities like sports, or illegal ones like drug dealing

Tell the cops, they don't care
The police in this city are indifferent to your problems

If you starvin', they won't share
If you're hungry and need help, the police won't provide assistance

All they'll say is, "Get your own, mothafucka'"
Their response would be to tell you to fend for yourself

See the love isn't unconditional
People in this city don't show love for others without expecting something in return

A demonstration of unification is uncivilized
Coming together as a community is not seen as a civilized act

If you're ahead of the game, it's you they epitomize
If you're successful, you are seen as the best example of success

But all these bright lights, how could you not visualize?
With all the opportunities and excitement, it's hard not to see the potential in this city

The Apple is rotten, but I love it
Even though the city can be corrupt, the singer still has a strong attachment to it

(We're in New York)
Reiterating that they are still in New York City

42nd and Broadway, you'll see a play
There are plenty of theaters in the city, particularly on 42nd street and Broadway

142nd and Broadway, see the yay
Drug deals are happening on 142nd street and Broadway

I've written rules you follow, it's no need to say
The singer has created unwritten rules that everyone in the city follows

They take your chips, I ain't talkin' no Frito Lay
People will steal from you, even your money (or poker chips), not just your snacks

No Allstate or Geico
The artist is implying that there is no safety net in the city, unlike with insurance companies like Allstate and Geico

But she got that money for lipo'
Despite the lack of safety net, people still have money to spend on cosmetic surgery

In the trunk, most of us got the rifle
Many people in the city carry guns for protection

Get your purse snatched from a psycho in
You could have your purse stolen by a crazy person in the city

When I watched the towers fall
The artist is referencing the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York City

But nobody takin' ours, y'all
Despite the tragedy, they will not let their city be taken away

20 gunshots, call that a shower, y'all
20 gunshots is so common in the city that it's almost like a shower of bullets

Money, respect, don't forget the power, y'all
In the city, money and respect are important, and they give you power

Certain beef you can't call off
Some conflicts in the city cannot be resolved peacefully

So get holes in your body, like a golf course
If you're not careful, you could end up with bullet holes in your body like a golf course has holes for golfers to aim for

Yeah, shotty to the brain
Getting shot in the head with a shotgun

See you thought it was a game, but
You may have thought this was a joke or not a serious threat, but it is