New York Undercover
DJ MUGGS Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nyc
Nyc, it's hell of a place to be
Come inside
Wanna know? Let's go
The big rotten apple surrounded by runaways, connected by bridges
Keeps criminals in vicious cycles
Unrestrainable
Cats be untameable and ghettos too
You might see nightly drug busts on corners and in corridors
Outside of tenement walls
Number holes in back store fronts where senior citizens press their luck
To win a quick bucks while blood guts
Litter sidewalks where cops use chalk to outline
Ya physical design, now peep the headlines
"madman kidnaps four or more
Torch a nig' apartment store
On 25th and douglas", parallel in pages "the mob hits"
In central park, rapists with shake faces
It's all thorough, one city, five boroughs
Associated with interlockin sub tunnels
New york's undercover, haa
You niggas wanna know why the skies are grey like cold steel
Air still, quality stand to see the mob tell
Too much confusion, car pollution, drug abusin
Distribution and gun shootin
Teenagers sportin vibrator pagers, fornicators
While immigrants work the garment district for low wages
Nigga's pop's crazy alcoholic wit swollen lips
My moms be on some ol' fat cat shit
It's economic, supply and demand, increase ya profit
Wit mad product, they can't sign us like domestic violence
It's goin down on my island or manhatten
The bronx, brooklyn, queens or staten where shit happens
It's all thorough, one city, five boroughs
Associated with interlockin sub tunnels
New york's undercover brothers
For all you motherfuckers and baby mothers
Believe that!
Outro:
We're under siege, envy's ny period!
See new york city we get deep
We's rolls threes three and creep
New york's undercover you'll discover
You're under siege, envy's the ny period!
See, huh
Execution type murders
Cops puttin niggas in the dope yoke hold
Stranglin their life source....
DJ Muggs's song "New York Undercover" is a portrayal of the city of New York's crime-ridden underside, where the pervasive sense of danger is almost palpable. From the outset, the lyrics describe New York City as a "big rotten apple surrounded by runaways, connected by bridges" that is infamous for crime and violence. The artist then goes on to detail the daily occurrences witnessed in the city, including drug busts on street corners and in corridors, senior citizens gambling their money away in back store fronts, and the incessant headlines of kidnappings, burglaries, murders, and assaults.
As the song progresses, DJ Muggs amplifies this bleak picture of the city with accounts of the pollution, drug and gun abuse, and the exploitation of the working class. He describes teenagers resorting to prostitution and selling drugs, while immigrants work low-wage jobs in the garment district. He also speaks of domestic violence and the unequal distribution of wealth, where the rich get richer at the expense of the poor.
Overall, DJ Muggs's "New York Undercover" is a melancholic retelling of a city that is both alluring and dangerous at the same time.
Line by Line Meaning
The big rotten apple surrounded by runaways, connected by bridges
New York City is a city in which the apples have gone bad and the people who live here are often runaways, but there are bridges that connect neighborhoods.
Keeps criminals in vicious cycles
The city of New York perpetuates a cycle of criminal activity.
Unrestrainable
Criminals in New York City cannot be contained or restrained.
Cats be untameable and ghettos too
The cats in New York City are wild and out of control, just like the ghettos.
You might see nightly drug busts on corners and in corridors
It is common to see drug busts taking place on street corners or inside buildings in New York City at night.
Outside of tenement walls
Drug busts might take place outside of the walls of tenement buildings.
Number holes in back store fronts where senior citizens press their luck
There are many holes in the back of storefronts where senior citizens take a chance on winning some money.
To win a quick bucks while blood guts
Senior citizens gamble for money even though it might be dangerous.
Litter sidewalks where cops use chalk to outline
The sidewalks are often covered in litter and the police use chalk to create outlines of where a crime took place.
Ya physical design, now peep the headlines
The way you look might determine if you end up in the news for committing or being the victim of a crime.
"madman kidnaps four or more
Torch a nig' apartment store
On 25th and douglas", parallel in pages "the mob hits"
In central park, rapists with shake faces
There are many different types of crimes that are happening all across New York City, from kidnappings and arson to mob hits and rapists in Central Park.
It's all thorough, one city, five boroughs
New York City is a complete and comprehensive entity, made up of five different boroughs.
Associated with interlockin sub tunnels
New york's undercover, haa
There are interconnected subways and tunnels in New York City, which makes it an undercover place with many hidden secrets and activities.
You niggas wanna know why the skies are grey like cold steel
Air still, quality stand to see the mob tell
People often wonder why the sky in New York City is grey and overcast. The air is stagnant and polluted, while the influence of organized crime is ever-present.
Too much confusion, car pollution, drug abusin
Distribution and gun shootin
There is a lot of chaos and disorder in New York City, including pollution from cars and widespread drug use. Guns are also prevalent.
Teenagers sportin vibrator pagers, fornicators
While immigrants work the garment district for low wages
Teenagers are often seen with pagers or beepers, while immigrants work hard in the garment district for little pay.
Nigga's pop's crazy alcoholic wit swollen lips
My moms be on some ol' fat cat shit
Many fathers in New York City struggle with alcohol addiction and physical health problems, while some mothers are more concerned with material possessions and wealth.
It's economic, supply and demand, increase ya profit
Wit mad product, they can't sign us like domestic violence
The economy of New York City revolves around supply and demand. People are always trying to increase their profits by selling more products, but it's impossible to 'sign' us like they would with a contract due to the prevalence of domestic violence.
It's goin down on my island or manhatten
The bronx, brooklyn, queens or staten where shit happens
Crime can happen anywhere in New York City, whether it's on an island or in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, or Staten Island.
For all you motherfuckers and baby mothers
Believe that!
This song is dedicated to all the mothers and fathers in New York City who are struggling to provide for their families.
We're under siege, envy's ny period!
New York City is always under attack from other people who are jealous of its success.
See new york city we get deep
We's rolls threes three and creep
New york's undercover you'll discover
You're under siege, envy's the ny period!
New York City is a complex place with many layers that are hidden from view. There are always people trying to bring it down, but the city will survive.
Execution type murders
Cops puttin niggas in the dope yoke hold
Stranglin their life source....
There are many violent crimes happening in New York City, including murders and police brutality.
Contributed by Eliana K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.