Beastie Boys - An Open Letter To NYC 

Kendall’s got fine taste in music

My boy Squiggle cooked this beat up

"You're the man, Mr. Roy."

One of the most underrated Beastie tracks.

the actual anthem of NYC. A mandatory listen today, twenty years later.

NYC now literally needs another letter from u guys. We miss u, MCA.

The beat on this song. Holy crap. This song is just INSANE. How did this not get more air play?

Kendall Roy in the house

Listening to these guys since I was in the 2nd grade.. I’m 42 now.

Easily one of their best songs. Been a fan since the late 80's and forever will support the Beastie Boys!!

pov : your homework is to listen to this

Listen to this in english class and we talked about the lyrics

Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten From the Battery to the top of Manhattan Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin Black, White, New York you make it happen That's some truth there.

Still gives me good chills.

Being a native NYer this always gives me shivers

I'm 43 yrs old and the first time saw the Beasties they opened for Madonna on her Like a Virgin tour. Think I was in 6th grade. My friends mom brought us lmao! Greatest time of my life

I love that they Sampled Dead Boys "Sonic Reducer" for this. One of my favorite punk tunes.

Thank you Kendall.

“Two towers down but you’re still in the game”

3:20 dear ny i know alot has changed 2 towers down but you're still in the game! ♥️💯🇺🇸🙏

This is appropriate listening on the 20th anniversary

You’re the man, Mister Roy.

FAMILY THERAPY FAMILY THERAPY FAMILY THERAPY

The best part about their videos is that almost all of them cost them nothing to make and are still iconic.

NBA STREET V3. TIMELESS.

You're the man, Mr Roy. You're the man.

From Russia. Listen this song practically every two days. Great group, great history. Miss MCA. All good on heaven to you.

Intro to Succesion on HBO brought me back son

I always thought and still think this is the Beasties best song.

The Dead Boys Sonic Reducer sample is so well-placed…these guys never fail to impress🙌…I love them

You're the man, Mr Roy.

One of my favourite songs of beastie boys. I'm an Aussie, saw them live in my country at least 5 times. Lived in New York City a year after 9/11. Love new York City. Love the beastie boys forever..R.I.P MCA

This song makes me cry for the pain my beautiful Chicago home is experiencing.

Beasties have been my boys since I was 17. So many study sessions were rechanneled and sidetracked by Licensed To Ill. I am 49 now and all of their cds are still in regular rotation. Life regret: not seeing them live. They are a truly powerful force, even still. I loved you, Adam. MCA will live forever.

Love MCA’s tone getting huskier over the years.. he flows smooth like no other.. all of them do, their uniqueness and authenticity will forever be unmatched! RIP MCA.. if he was still around they would probably be touring with the RHCP and maybe RR would be around somewhere in the crowd in disguise 🥸

Thank you Kendall Roy

MCA FOREVER

Especially on the memoriam of 9/11, this is extremely meaningful 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

it`s still a big loss! New York, you make it happen! respect to the Beastie Boys and all the best for their families and thanks for all the good music and attitude towards Hip Hop and the world!

Kendall Roy !!

Kendall brings this one back

I appreciate the way you mention 9/11 and kept people spirits up KEEP IT UP

Lyrics here: Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten From the Battery to the top of Manhattan Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin Black, White, New York you make it happen Brownstones, water towers, trees, skyscrapers Writers, prize fighters and Wall Street traders We come together on the subway cars Diversity unified, whoever you are We're doing fine on the One and Nine line On the L we're doin' swell On the number Ten bus we fight and fuss You know we're thorough in the boroughs 'cause that's a must I remember when the Duece was all porno flicks Running home after school to play PIX At lunch I'd go to Blimpies down on Montague Street And hit the Fulton Street Mall for the sneakers on my feet Dear New York I hope you're doing well I know a lot's happened and you've been through hell So, we give thanks for providing a home Through your gates at Ellis Island we passed in droves Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten From the Battery to the top of Manhattan Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin Black, White, New York you make it happen The L.I.E. the B.Q.E Hippies at the band shell with the L.S.D. Get my BVDs from VIM You know I'm reppin' Manhattan the best I can Stopped off at Bleeker Bob's, got thrown out Sneakin' in at four am after going out You didn't rob me in the park at Dianna Ross But everybody started looting when the light went off From the South South Bronx on out to Queens Bridge From Hollis Queens right down to Bay Ridge From Castle Hill to the Lower East Side From ten-ten WINS to Live At Five Dear New York, this is a love letter To you and how you brought us together We can't say enough about all you do 'Cause in the city we're ourselves and electric too Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten From the Battery to the top of Manhattan Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin Black, White, New York you make it happen Shout out the South Bronx where my mom hails from Right next to High Bridge across from Harlem To the Grand Concourse where my mom and dad met Before they moved on down to the Upper West I see you're still strong after all that's gone on Lifelong, we dedicate this song Just a little something to show some respect To the city that blends and mends and tests Since 9-11 we're still livin' And lovin' life we've been given Ain't nothing gonna take that away from us We lookin' pretty and gritty 'cause in the city we trust Dear New York I know a lot has changed Two towers down but you're still in the game Home to the many, rejecting no-one Accepting peoples of all places, wherever they're from Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten From the Battery to the top of Manhattan Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin Black, White, New York you make it happen Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten From the Battery to the top of Manhattan Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin Black, White, New York, we make it happen

This song helped me learn my home town NYC Bronx Forever 💪✊ Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten, Queens, Manhattan, and Long Island

This is seriously one of the most badass videos EVER made. Considering it was made in the wake of 911, and the fact I am a Chicagoan who experienced this song being played everywhere that year - this should be "required listening and viewing" in all high school history classes.

One of my favorites when it started I'm 52 still listening never forget 😎💙

CANT BELIEVE THE MADE A CITY FOR THIS SONG 🤯🤯🤯

MCA will be always in our memories and heart.

Probably one of the greatest samples crossing genre's on one of the most underrated BBoys tracks and I'm a Paul's Boutique purist. "I see you're still strong after all that's gone on Life long we dedicate this song" RIP MCA

I'm here from the SUCCESSION Soundtrack - first episode, Ken bouncing in his s-class

Kendal was so real for this one

REAL HIP-HOP w0rD💯💯💯💯

Backing here after watching the last episode of Succession. Hope Kendall can find his way, always like you brother!

11 Sept. 2021, listen every year from southern Italy 🇮🇹 💓🗽🇺🇸

here for our number one boy .. and his sick taste for musicc .

Awesome. Was so lucky to see them in Concert in Brighton England. Miss them so much it aches.

Succession bring me here.

listen all the new yorkers: "dear new york, i hope you understand" hello mca, i love ur lyrics, while i was a young 80's teenager i was confused, but listening to ur rhymes gave me perspectives ..... love ur music so much!!!

to our sisters and brothers in NYC suffering right now with Covid-19 - the rest of the world is with you - any of could be next. love and strength from Budapest - Paul T xx

This is showing mad love for NY.

That kind of song who make you proud of your city NY... even if you live in France :D

Wish that all major cities were proud like this today.

Desde hoy 9 de septiembre de 2023 Beastie Boys tiene su esquina!!! Square Beastie Boys!!! Felicitaciones!! Congratulations!!! Desde Argentina BB fan

The most beautiful love letter to the city that never sleeps ever written...

Kendall in da house!

The real stuff is classic, cool and fun. 3 guys just being themselves, editing spot on, effects ahead of its time, locations all of over the city, talking about themselves and how they feel about nyc, bikes and a skateboard used in telling their story, where they lived at, their parents, the use of black and white footage, the use of color and fisheye photography. And killer tracks used by musicians, played on turntables using vinyl. And you actually can hear what they are saying…..

Still here for them in 2020. There will never be another group like the Beastie Boys. So glad it was my lifetime. RIP MCA

blew my grandsons mind the beastie boys are my age, and still kicking ass, love this song

This is the greatest location specific Homage song of all time. WOW.

In about 2006 I had busted out of an appalling relationship with an ex (who was incredibly beautiful and gorgeous and sexy but amazingly hard work to live with on a daily basis) and decamped from Hatfield where I was living and moved back to my mother's in Guildford and I got a low-rent job cleaning a local church at 6am to 9am and I went in every morning with my Sony Discman and fired up this album amongst some other great ones and blasted it into my ears as I hoovered and dusted and mopped and the music kept me sane in the midst of such a dull gig and I left work every morning with the sun risen feeling real nice and happy.

Since 9/11, we're still livin' And lovin’, life we've been given ❤

Kendall Roy punching the seat car on the way to business! 😎

Kendall Roy ❤

I was in a pub quiz the other day and there was a question about the names of New York boroughs. I just mentally sang the lyrics to this song and got full marks. The prize was a gallon of cider and now I'm wrecked. I've never felt quite so English. God bless the Queen and God bless The Beastie Boys. Yes I'm lit don't judge.

This is so awesome, after all those years I keep coming back to this song just like "Alive" and "Right Right Now Now". And to think it all started with "Intergalactic".... Greetings from Poland - all the best for You guys and mix master Mike. Thank You for all the positive vibes

I love this song. While I am 400 miles away in Toronto and an occasional visitor to New York, hold your heads high in the greatest city in the world. Love

R.I.P. MCA

You are the man Mr Roy

One of my favourite beastie songs......and shout out to New York City. Ive visited numerous times and I'm an Aussie boy FM the country. But there's just something about New York. Much love to U all during this covid-19...I lost a few mates who live there to it. Love U beastie boys. R.i.P m.c.a

Yauch Is still with us. ❤️❤️ he never left.

Any #NYC native born (damn skip that detail lol) knows their music. This group blew up before my time. What I recall from their rise is they went hard for their respect, rocked out, keeping it real to their roots from their styling to their words all while staying relevant within their brand of music. They didn’t cave to their haters. This song proved they got skills and smarts. It dropped what in 2003 post 9/11? Still good timing, positive messaging with a dope beat. What makes this song stand out? While they aren’t part of my genre of hip-hop, they’re the only group with true credit to give a shot out to us #NYCNatives post 9/11. They didn’t get political, in their feelings. Nope. They kept shit moving in a surprising direction. It caused a stir in NYC because again they have many haters alongside their fans. I’m a #Bronx native, born and raised, who was a UG at #PaceUniversityNYC with an morning class living in St. George, #StatenIsland. I saw the second plane hit and the after loss. I never considered paying tribute to my hood, to my city; a city who in point of fact made me and a former hood that tried to break me., literally. After the attack, the camaraderie, the banding together, changed my view point for some years.

No matter how many times I hear this tune it gives me a shiver.

I love you guys so much!! ❤️ thank you for everything.

Three thumbs up. One for each of you guys. Thanks for keeping the spirit alive.

I'm a proud native of NYC. 🗽

Legendary

Does anyone love the hometown as the b boys?Respect!!👍🇭🇲

One of da Best track of Da Beastie Boys...

Kendall Roy I love you

This came out right after 9-11 it was so needed at the time. Truly bittersweet. R.I.P. Yauch...😪

stay strong New York!! love n support from England,,,,The spirit of MCA is fighting not just for New York..... but for us all!!,,,,its the kinda guy he was

They need to release another Beastie Boys music video anthology DVD and Blu Ray with ALL their music videos on pleeeeeease!!!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

My favourite Beastie Boys song!

Never forget

Never forget. I listen to this song every year on 9/11. The Beastie Boy's wonderful ode to the greatest city in the world.

Underrated jam

Thanks, Kenny !

We doin fine on the 1 and 9, line, on the EL, we doin swell.....

STAY STRONG NYC, You have been through so much so you are resilient. Bless All New York Quarantine 2020 x!

That Beat is off the hook! Im Coming outta the Boogie Down Bronx