Brooklyn In My Mind

Lyrics

[Intro: Mos Def & DJ Premier scratches] "Brooklyn!" "It's the Brooklyn way" "Brooklyn! Go Brooklyn!" Wutup 9th! Fantastic thanks everyday They can't hold us back It's right and exact ("We be doin' it up Crooklyn styyyle") Yessir, yessir! ("Brooklyn!") History occurs everyday You're rockin' with the boi, the best, Black Dante From mine's to you – 9th, I love how you do! "We be doin' it up Crooklyn styyyle" [Verse 1: Mos Def] Ready, ready for action Intimate swift, like a cash transaction Speaker blow-out from row house to the mansion This ghetto soundcraft, right arousal of passion They don't know the language and shouting the anthem The beat translator make the world understand some My voice like magic, my flow fantastic In summary, I'm real, ordinary, elaborate Now check the profile, this is lyrically handsome Resemble my pay scale, slim nigga ain't frail And I ain't in the gym on some 'Ebony' man shit I'm in the laboratory bench pressing the standard In shorthand, I'm raising the bar Right home and abroad, get closer to God, stay focused and sharp High stake and there's way more than paper involved You must evolve or die, that ain't falsified Home team, I know you keep trouble on your mind But don't let bullshit knock you off your grind That's real talk for all of mine And for all of yours Rock steady, keep about your cause Low-key, cool breeze, and I'm about my balls It's tap-tap, knock down your door Tap-tap and break down the wall Collect and count it all And like bang, in the air, I'm gone Yes, I'm riding on – keep cool, you could ride along But keep it up, you won't ride for long That's word to bond, yuh Show me where you are BK – we the brightest star, let's get involved! [Hook: Mos Def & DJ Premier scratches] ("Brooklyn!") 9th, you're on your job! ("Brooklyn!") For you and yours ("Yup!" "We be doin' it up Crooklyn styyyle") "Yup!" "Brooklyn!" "It's the Brooklyn way" "Brooklyn!" Smart Village! Brownsvillers, all my realest guerillas Ya got to feel us ("We be doin' it up Crooklyn styyyle") "Brooklyn!" The almighty 'K! [Verse 2: Jean Grae] This is history twice, first girl on a 'Crooklyn' series – thank 9th First one, just clearly Brooklyn in the mind Not Brooklyn I was born, but in Brooklyn I was formed Not Brooklyn I was raised, but Brooklyn I was taught to form a young woman Dawn of my first love, first lovers' spat Thirst to rap at 307 Clinton – nurse that First crib out of Manhattan – young, broke, man Back in the days – the G train, jam-packed in On the stoop year round, forty in hand Kum Kau Chicken and Broc on Myrtle Ave Say word to Brooklyn, ask Words, said that "Brooklyn's back!" Like the track's fixed on the L train on a weekday Black, bent, on a MetroCard's how we pay Trees – let's fill in the Backwoods, like my man D first spilt in the bathroom C'mon... man, Brooklyn gave me confidence Fulton Brooklyn boys with them-with them compliments When my mind slipped, Brooklyn gave me consciousness Accomplice – Clinton Hills, Bushwick, so I still just (What?) Walk the BK swag and rep two boroughs Say, "She's so bad, respect too thorough" Neck-tatted and sweat blood for NY Medina, Mecca, niggas, heads high Brooklyn – stand up! Come on [Hook: DJ Premier scratches] "Brooklyn!" "Brooklyn!" "Yup!" "We be doin' it up Crooklyn styyyle" "Yup!" "Brooklyn!" "It's the Brooklyn way" "Brooklyn!" "We be doin' it up Crooklyn styyyle" "Brooklyn!" [Verse 3: Memphis Bleek] Uh-huh... uh.... yo – go ("Brooklyn!") Where we be doing the most It's diverse, you now rocking with Memph, Jean, and Mos And this verse – it ain't where you from, it's where you at The body off to travel, the mind ahead of that That's why I'm 4 albums deep, none of which been printed 'Cause I ain't got a script what a nigga really living 'Cause I ain't known to fabricate or imagine Brooklyn ain't a dream, them boys really be clapping So I'll never greet you with "Peace" – 'Cause they'll never be peace, until you stay down or stay off the street Bed-Stuy, what's up! Crown Heights, what's up! Flatbush, Brownsville, what's up! It's all love where I come from To keep it real, shit, I used to cut school on the block Big come from Went in the stu, tryin' to come with flow At 15, I spit something that impressed Hov – and here I go! [Hook: Memphis Bleek & DJ Premier scratches] "Brooklyn!" M dot E-M P-H I-S Bleek, I'm for the streets "Brooklyn!" 9th Wonder, wutup! Little Brother, wutup! "Brooklyn!" N.C., wutup! Let's – go! ("It's the Brooklyn way") "Brooklyn!" "We be doin' it up Crooklyn styyyle"