Going Back To Brooklyn

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.)