Some of my favorite people of all time are from Brooklyn
Jay-Z, Spike Lee, my Uncle Joel!
Mel Brooks! The Beastie Boys! Lou Reed! O.D.B.!
Now, I’m not from Brooklyn, but this is my story
Once upon a time in the Bay, there was nothing left to say
So I had to get away I’d been sittin’ all up in Duboce Park
With Lanark on my mind, like Alasadair Gray, feeling strangely fine
26 years old, at a crossroads
Was time for grad school or time for more shows?
Time to rock my thesis, or write more songs?
Time to call it quits when I’d been doing this so long?
I couldn’t decide so I made an EP
With a rapper named K.Flay that opened for me
I helped her get discovered and on tour with 3OH!3
I heard she got a deal, I read it in AP
I bought the Jay-Z book “Decoded” and I noted something funny
You’ve got to grind and hustle if you want to make that money
I met a girl with purple hair, a Puget Sound grad
Fell head over heals – life wasn’t that bad
[Hook]
I’m going (going), back (back) to Brooklyn! (DJ Premier!)
I’m going (going), back (back) to Brooklyn! (The RZA! The GZA!)
I’m going (going), back (back) to Brooklyn! (Woody Allen, what up?)
I’m going (going), back (back) to Brooklyn! (Jimmy Fallon, yo, you’re killing it!)
I went to Europe with Zebrahead
Ed played drums on my set and it sounded so sick
Knew I had to get back, in the game, stop sleeping on my craft
And bring that fire back quick
I made some comments in the press that got some kids upset
On white rappers that were taken out of context
But Sage Francis had my back and I don’t regret a thing I said
I was just being honest
So I got lost and rode my bike around Lake Merritt
I found a safe routine, but yo I couldn’t bare it
Every day was exactly the same like NIN
My Upper Playground hoodie was starting to wear thin
That’s a metaphor – the Bay was played out
My inspiration was gone like a cerebral drought
So I got running and moved back East
Built a studio in Greenpoint and made a bunch of beats
Now I could be enlightened, or could be in love
Or I could be confused, or I could be on drugs
Or this Buddha in my pocket might just have been a sign
That everything was back on track and everything was fine
Now I could be enlightened, or could be in love
Or I could be confused, or I could be on drugs
Or this Buddha in my pocket might just have been a sign
That everything was back on track and everything was fine
[Hook]
I’m going (going), back (back) to Brooklyn! (Jerry Seinfeld, you’re paid!)
I’m going (going), back (back) to Brooklyn! (Mike Tyson! Come on!)
I’m going (going), back (back) to Brooklyn! (Eddie Murphy, Charlie Murphy, I see you!)
I’m going (going), back (back) to Brooklyn! (Biggie. Respect.)