[Intro: Santigold]
Brooklyn we go hard, we go hard
[Verse 1: Jay-Z]
This is black hoodie rap
There's no fear in my eyes where they lookin' at
Better look on map, besides, me nah like to eye fight
Me nah think such a ting is worth a man's life (Christ!)
But if a man test my Stuy
I promise he won't like my reply
Boom bye bye, like Buju I'm crucial
I'm a Brooklyn boy I may take some gettin' use to
Chain snatchin', ain't have it, gotta get it
Same sh**ted, from Brownsville to Bainbrid-idge
Fatherless child, mama pulled double shifts
So the number runners was the only one I hanged widith
Before you know it I'm in the game, bang fidith
Fear no orangutans, pe-deal cid-daps
Like oranges-es, I'm dangerous
Please, tell me what the name of this sh**
[Hook]
Brooklyn we go hard, we go hard
(B-R-O-O-K-L-Y-N, come again)
[Verse 2: Jay-Z]
I father, I Brooklyn Dodger them
I jack, I rob, I sin
Aww man, I'm Jackie Robinson
'Cept when I run base, I dodge the pen
Lucky me, luckily, they didn't get me
Now when I bring the Nets, I'm the black Branch Rickey
From Brooklyn corners, burnin' branches of sticky
Spread love, Biggie, Brooklyn, hippie
I pity the fool with j**els like Mr. T
With no history in my borough, they borrow
With no intentions of returnin', tomorrow
The sun don't come out for many, like Annie
Half orphan, mama never had an abortion
Papa sort of did, still I managed to live
I go hard, I owe it all to the crib
Now please tell me, what the f**'s harder than this?
[Hook]
Brooklyn we go hard, we go hard
(B-R-O-O-K-L-Y-N, come again)
[Verse 3: Santigold]
While I'm doin' my time due to circumstance
Cross that bridge, face the consequence
Once bid 10 now I paid my dues
Risk takers we break the rules
Get so dark, but I see good
Bed-Stuy stay high in my neck of the woods
Now, let it ring out, it's a warning
(Brooklyn) Let it be sworn in
Gotta make it stick workin' like we blue collar
Rip it to the core, underneath it all we harder
Right into the clip, bring it to the floor
One step, one step, give it up more
The road is rough and the street's a mess
Got big cash dreams and a sick d**h wish
Robbin' out the commercial stash
k** the voice screamin' in my head
[Hook]
Brooklyn we go hard, we go hard
(B-R-O-O-K-L-Y-N, come again)