I Represent

I represent the city
I represent the city
I represent the city
I represent the city

In the city called Yiddy
Pretty lights glimmer over these blocks that are gritty
Fat Joe told you that the jealous ones envy
And the hungry ones be plottin in the cut by the plenty
In my close the thirty years, I have noticed this
The beautiful and the grotesque often both coexist
There's a dame beggin change on the train
Needing ice in her veins but she's such a sweet vocalist
I understand there's no hope in dope
By try to tell that to a 14-year-old wit a golden rope
He still young so maybe he hasn't sold his soul
So I throw him quotes I picked up as my scrolls unfold
If he feel what I'm sayin, he still prob'ly front
Be like, "forget all that my, g" then light a blunt
But when he sittin upstairs bumpin my newest hit
He bound to look back and recognize some of the truth I spit

I represent the city
New York, New York
The walk, the talk
Notorious for settin' it off
I represent the city
Yeah, NYC
Without a passport my accent is my ID
I represent the city
From 212 to 718
Holding it down is what we do
I represent the city
All my life
No matter where I'm at, I gotta rep NY right

I represent the home of the real rap
You on the mic son, show me where your skills at
You kickin nonsense? Nah, I can't feel that
This is where the wack get they stage time killed at
You mess around and get your whole team booed
And the promo CDs you gave out thrown at you
It ain't cuz my city's known for being mad rude
But we got a legacy of influential rap dudes
And women too
So responsibility is bigger, true
That's why K Swift will never say no dumbness in an interview
Without it being tongue in cheek
I even listen when dummies speak
Cuz often wisdom is simple as: 1-2-3
I learned my lessons in the street as well as in the books
So I'm respected equally by intellectuals and crooks
I'm LES to the death, Brooklyn birthed my flesh
And Q boro's where half my family rests, yes

I represent the city
New York, New York
The walk, the talk
Notorious for settin' it off
I represent the city
Yeah, NYC
Without a passport my accent is my ID
I represent the city
From 212 to 718
Holding it down is what we do
I represent the city
All my life
No matter where I'm at, I gotta rep NY right

Riding on subway lines, I pen the tightest lines
Tryna climb to new plateaus to show my brighter shine
Twenty-four seven, three sixty-five, it's time to grind
Aight I lied, cuz when I party, yo, I'm gotta vibe
I don't live at work, I work at life
If livin passionately kills me then it's worth that price
Because tomorrow ain't promised and I strive for longevity
Strong heavenly thoughts pull me towards destiny
I make it manifest by puttin' movement behind it
Ain't no purpose speculatin' how I'd choose to rewind it
Cuz it's forward ever, never look back unless it makes you smile
I'm lookin' at the Hip Hop throne, I wanna take the crown
That I could be the king e-m-c double e
Been a dream to me ever since the age of three
Of course it's only one city on earth where this is possible
New York metropolis, we made the planet rock for you

New York, New York
The walk, the talk
Notorious for settin' it off
Yeah, NYC
Without a passport my accent is my ID
From 212 to 718
Holding it down is what we do
All my life
No matter where I'm at, I gotta rep NY right

New York, New York
Yeah NYC
New York, New York
Yeah NYC