Brooklyn
Jay-Z (Feat. Santogold & Kanye West) Lyrics

Brooklyn, we go hard, we go hard
Brooklyn is tough and determined–we never give up

This is black hoodie rap
This song is gritty and raw, representing Brooklyn's street culture

There's no fear in my eyes where they lookin' at
I am confident and unafraid of anyone who challenges me

Better look on map, besides, me nah like to eye fight
If you're trying to start a fight, you better be ready to back it up, because I won't back down easily

Me nah think such a ting is worth a man's life (Christ!)
I don't believe in violence unless it's absolutely necessary

But if a man test my Stuy
If someone tries to mess with my neighborhood of Bed-Stuy, they're going to regret it

I promise he won't like my reply
I have a reputation for being tough and I won't hesitate to defend myself

Boom bye bye, like Buju I'm crucial
I am a force to be reckoned with, just like the influential Jamaican artist Buju Banton

I'm a Brooklyn boy, I may take some gettin' use to
I come from a tough background, so my personality and mannerisms reflect that

Chain snatchin', ain't have it, gotta get it
Growing up in poverty, I had to resort to stealing to survive

Same shitted, from Brownsville to Bainbrid-idge
I've faced the same struggles and hardships no matter where in Brooklyn I have lived

Fatherless child, Mama pulled double shifts
My father was never around and my mother had to work extra hard to support our family

So the number runners was the only one I hanged widith
I surrounded myself with people in the illegal numbers game because it was the only way for me to make money at the time

Before you know it I'm in the game, bang fidith
Soon enough, I was involved in the dangerous world of street crime, and I was good at it

Fear no orangutans, pe-deal cid-daps
I'm not afraid of anyone, not even tough guys like orangutans. In fact, I'm a tough guy myself

Like oranges-es, I'm dangerous
Just like the fruit, I may seem harmless, but in reality, I am capable of harm

Please tell me what the name of this shit
I'm so proud of my Brooklyn roots and tough persona that I want everyone to know about it

I father, I Brooklyn Dodger them
I take care of and lead others, just like the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team was led by well-known owner Branch Rickey

I jack, I rob, I sin
I have done many illegal and immoral things in my life to advance my own interests

Aww man, I'm Jackie Robinson
Just like the famous baseball player Jackie Robinson broke barriers and made history, so have I in my own way

'Cept when I run base, I dodge the pen
Unlike Jackie Robinson, who was known for his base-stealing abilities, I try to avoid getting caught by the law

Lucky me, luckily they didn't get me
I've managed to evade punishment for my crimes, at least so far

Now when I bring the Nets, I'm the black Branch Rickey
Now that I've achieved success, I identify with successful black businessmen like Branch Rickey, who was responsible for Jackie Robinson's historic career

From Brooklyn corners, burnin' branches of sticky
Growing up in Brooklyn, I was used to smoking marijuana with my friends on street corners

Spread love, Biggie, Brooklyn, hippie
I'm all about promoting love and unity in my hometown of Brooklyn, inspired by beloved rapper Biggie Smalls and the free-spirited hippie movement

I pity the fool with jewels like Mr. T
I feel sorry for anyone who flaunts their wealth and material possessions, because they are likely to attract unwanted attention

With no history in my borough, they borrow
People who have no connection to Brooklyn often come to my neighborhood and try to exploit it for their own gain

With no intentions of returnin' tomorrow
These outsiders have no plans to invest in the community or give back

The sun don't come out for many, like Annie
For many people in my neighborhood, life is a constant struggle and they don't have much to look forward to

Half orphan, Mama never had an abortion
My mother had a difficult life, but she never gave up on her kids–even after my father abandoned us

Papa sort of did, still I managed to live
My father was not a good role model, but I managed to survive and thrive despite his absence

I go hard, I owe it all to the crib
I work hard and never give up because I feel a strong connection to my hometown of Brooklyn

Now please tell me, what the f***'s harder than this?
I challenge anyone to find something more difficult and challenging than what I have lived through in Brooklyn

While I'm doin' my time due to circumstance
Because of some past wrongs, I am currently serving time in prison

Cross that bridge, face the consequence
I know that I made a mistake and I'm willing to face the consequences of my actions

Once bid 10, now I paid my dues
I used to be involved in illegal activities that landed me in jail, but now I am paying the price for what I've done

Risk takers, we break the rules
Sometimes in order to succeed in Brooklyn, you have to be willing to take risks and break the rules

Get so dark but I see good
Life can be tough and grim in Brooklyn, but I still try to find the good in people and in the world around me

Bed-Stuy stay high in my neck of the woods
My neighborhood of Bed-Stuy is where I come from and where I will always feel at home

Now, let it ring out, it's a warnin'
I'm sending a warning message to anyone who would try to mess with me or my community

(Brooklyn) Let it be sworn in
I proudly swear by my allegiance to Brooklyn and everything it represents

Gotta make it stick workin' like we blue collar
To succeed in Brooklyn, you often have to have a blue-collar work ethic and be willing to put in long hours and hard labor

Rip it to the core, underneath it all we harder
No matter how much Brooklyn may seem to have changed on the surface, its tough and gritty character will always remain deep down

Right into the clip, bring it to the floor
I'm ready for anything and I'm ready to take on anyone who tries to challenge me

One step, one step, give it up more
I'm not content to settle for mediocrity, I'm always trying to push myself harder and do better

The road is rough and the street's a mess
Life can be difficult and chaotic in Brooklyn, but we're used to it and we're always prepared for whatever comes our way

Got big cash dreams and a sick death wish
I have ambitious plans and goals for the future, but I also know that my dangerous lifestyle may lead to a premature death

Robbin' out the commercial stash
I'm not afraid to take what I want, even if it means stealing from big corporations

Kill the voice screamin' in my head
I have to silence the voice inside my head that tells me to take the easy way out or give up when times get tough