Brooklyn Beats: A Soundtrack for Our Favorite Borough

Many songs have been dedicated to the fair streets of Brooklyn. As part of our ongoing profile of American cities, The Root takes a look at the beauty of this famous New York City borough and the tunes that boast of Brooklyn pride.

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  1 of 13

  "Hello Brooklyn 2.0"

  ROBEL KASSA/PARADIGM84

  Hello Brooklyn

  How you doin’?

  Where you goin’?

  Can I come to?

  --Jay-Z feat. Lil Wayne

  PHOTOS BY ROBEL KASSA/PARADIGM84

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  2 of 13

  "Brooklyn"

  ROBEL KASSA/PARADIGM84

  Sometimes I feel like my only friend

  Is the city I live in, is beautiful Brooklyn

  --Mos Def

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  3 of 13

  "Brooklyn Blues"

  ROBEL KASSA/PARADIGM84

  Now I've come home to finish

  finish my Brooklyn Blues

  --Barry Manilow

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  4 of 13

  “Brooklyn’s Finest"

  ROBEL KASSA/PARADIGM84

  Peep the style and the way the cops sweat us

  The number one question is can the Feds get us?

  --Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G.

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  5 of 13

  “Brooklyn Girls”

  ROBEL KASSA/PARADIGM84

  BK girls down wit that ride or die

  So I always keep one right by my side

  --Charles Hamilton

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  6 of 13

  “Brooklyn (Go Hard)”

  ROBEL KASSA/PARADIGM84

  I'm a Brooklyn boy

  I may take some gettin' use to

  
  --Jay-Z ft. Santogold

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  7 of 13

  "Lighters Up (Welcome to Brooklyn)"

  ROBEL KASSA/PARADIGM84

  In the concrete jungle

  The strong stand and rumble

  The weak fold and crumble

  It's the land of trouble

  --Lil' Kim

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  8 of 13

  "Brooklyn"

  ROBEL KASSA/PARADIGM84

  You started with nothing but throwaways,
  You couldn't live with me so you moved to,
  Brooklyn

  
  --Jessie Malin

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  9 of 13

  “Brooklyn”

  ROBEL KASSA/PARADIGM84

  Brooklyn

  Child of rhythm riding on a moonlit star

  Brooklyn

  Pretty daughter born with a smile

  --Donna Summer

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  10 of 13

  "Dienda"

  ROBEL KASSA/PARADIGM84

  Let the harmony ring

  With the promise of spring

  On a Brooklyn street

  --Sting

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  11 of 13

  "Somewhere in Brooklyn"

  ROBEL KASSA/PARADIGM84

  Little miss perfect sitting at the train stop,

  
  Red nike high tops listening to hip-hop

  
  --Bruno Mars

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  12 of 13

  "Brooklyn Babies"

  ROBEL KASSA/PARADIGM84

  Growin' up as a Brooklyn baby,

  
  This is how I live my life...

  
  --RZA

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  13 of 13

  "Kickin’ 4 Brooklyn"

  ROBEL KASSA/PARADIGM84

  That’s the thing about Brooklyn

  They never get enough

  Of the rap and the music

  And all the good stuff

  
  --MC Lyte

 

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