NY State of Mind Lyrics

I'm from the Big Apple, you know the big city

You know the place the boys get down to the nitty gritty

The guns get to clacking, when they be getting gritty

The concrete be turning red, and it ain't pretty

Grew up in Starrett city, a place in Brooklyn

One of the better areas while in Crooklyn

But still shook when, my boy got his bike jacked

We were way too young to encounter that

Don't get me wrong, a lot of good came from up top

I experienced the birth place of hip hop

My boom box played Rakim and Run DMC

LL Cool J, BDP and Public Enemy

Your background plays a role in shaping your fate

You can't shake your destiny, it is too great

Even if you in another state

God can save you from the other state before it's too late ohh

I rock with VA cause that's where I got saved

Even though I'm from New York, straight born and raised

RVA is where I spend most of my time

But I'm always in a New York state of mind

I rock with VA cause that's where I got saved

Even though I'm from New York, straight born and raised

RVA is where I spend most of my time

But I'm always in a New York state of mind

I was born in Bayshore of Long Island

Some people prefer to call it Strong Island

Cause we were wilding, hanging on the street corners

I was always attracted, to the street performers

I went to high school at, Amityville High

Yeah the place that had the house where all the people died

I wasn't scared, cause I made my own teen horror

Most of the time, I was the one causing the drama

Disrespecting my dad's wishes with every chance

We rode our bikes, down on straight path to Wyandance

A area that had, heavy drugs and mad thugs

I felt, like the man, when them boys showed me love

I didn't know who I really was

At 15, I started drinking 40s just to get a buzz

Even if you in another state

God can save you from the other state before it's too late ohh

I rock with VA cause that's where I got saved

Even though I'm from New York, straight born and raised

RVA is where I spend most of my time

But I'm always in a New York state of mind

I rock with VA cause that's where I got saved

Even though I'm from New York, straight born and raised

RVA is where I spend most of my time

But I'm always in a New York state of mind

New York taught me how to rock my hat, it taught me

How to like a bass line that's fat, it taught me

How to rap and spin on my back, it taught me

How to make a whole crowd react, it taught me

It's nothing wrong of being proud of where you come from

But everywhere got memories, good and bad ones

And Rakim said it for a fact

It ain't where you from, it's where you're at

Don't forget that, so now it's time to shine

Operate where you at, in a New York State of mind

Live divine showing love that is genuine

Even if, mankind was to decline

Receive ya crown, after ya enter through the pearly gate

You'll be excited like you're going on your first date

Even if you in another state

God can save you from the other state before it's too late ohh

I rock with VA cause that's where I got saved

Even though I'm from New York, straight born and raised

RVA is where I spend most of my time

But I'm always in a New York state of mind

I rock with VA cause that's where I got saved

Even though I'm from New York, straight born and raised

RVA is where I spend most of my time

But I'm always in a New York state of mind