Before Brooklyn became overrun with affluent ex-pats from Manhattan and before the heart of the indie rock scene was firmly located here, Brooklyn was a place that conjured up an image of a rough-and-tumble landscape that was only for the hardest of the hardcore. The toughness of everyday life simultaneously served as a reminder of a shared struggle and a source of local pride for those who could survive the mean streets. To be sure, Brooklyn certainly still has it hardscrabble neighborhoods that are often overlooked and frequently avoided. However, in many people’s minds the most daunting thing associated with Brooklyn today is how “long” it takes to get there from Manhattan.
I put together a short playlist of some obscure (lesser-known) hip hop tracks that illustrates how Brooklyn retains a certain mystique and street credibility that musicians are not soon to relinquish. Whether it’s simply representing where you are from or using the idea of Brooklyn to invoke a certain vibe (i.e. The Black Keys’ Brooklyn Bound), Brooklyn will be a sort of cultural touchstone for musicians for some time to come.
I’m proud to call it home.
Give it a listen and I hope you enjoy.
Track listing:
1) Brooklyn (5:10) – Mos Def
2) That Brooklyn Shit (3:35) – Danger Mouse & Jemini
3) Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers (5:03) – Crooklyn Dodgers
4) Brooklyn Zoo (3:38) – Ol’ Dirty Bastard
5) Brooklyn Bound (3:11) – The Black Keys
6) Brooklyn-Queens (3:39) – 3rd Bass
7) Super Brooklyn (3:38) – Cocoa Brovaz
8) Brooklyn Took It (3:23) – Jeru Da Damaja
9) Brooklyn’s Finest (4:37) – Jay-Z feat Notorious B.I.G.
10) No Sleep Till Brooklyn (4:07) – Beastie Boys
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