Crooklyn Lyrics

[Spoken: Bob Woolf]
Here comes the pitch, and it comes in wide
And the count now is one and one to Jackie Robinson
Billy Martin...

[Intro: Special Ed]
Yeah, we represent
Church Ave., Nostrand Ave. in the house, Flatbush Ave
My brothers in Bed-Stuy, Throop Ave., word up
Fort Green, Crooklyn, yeah

[Scratched Chorus]
"Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn"
"Never takin' shorts 'cause Brooklyn's the borough"

[Verse 1: Special Ed]
Panic, as another manic depressant
Adolescent stares at death
Now, what's left when there ain't no guide?
And a whole lot of pride?
It might be a homicide, so let the drama.. slide

We don't want no problems, B
Get your name in the obituary column sheet

'Cause life is too short, and it just gets shorter
I wish I had a quarter for all my people they slaughter
Last year alone, in the dead zone
Walk straight, but don't walk late
'Cause I'm comin' with a hate only made from what it made me
'Cause nobody ever played me
Now it's only gettin' worse
Buckshot and Ace in the land of the waste
Kickin' you in ya face!
[Verse 2: Masta Ace]
We be doin' it up Crooklyn style!
What does it take to get you wild?!
My mentality is gettin' iller!
Killer instinct is tryin' to infiltrate, but wait!
I know you wanna enter, but I can't let ya in
My mind-state's the maddest, I'm gone with the wind
Because it is survival of the fittest
When the shit hits the fan, I got my shank in my hand

Black man with the permanent tan
I come from the 'Ville and never ran
Damn!


[Verse 3: Buckshot]
I'm feelin' another part of reality
Hit me when I represent the F.A.P
Straight from the 'Ville, Tilden played the building
I mean literally when I say, “I make a killin'"
For my cipher, see, I'm finnin' to bust a piper
Original heads represent the Brooklyn all-nighter
Do or die, I'm sayin', "It's you and I"
Bring your clique, so we can get Stone like Family Sly
Peace to C.I. and the Bush
Mighty Mateen, Ruck and the Rock givin' a push

[Scratched Chorus]
"Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn"
"Never takin' shorts 'cause Brooklyn's the borough"
"Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn"
"Never takin' shorts 'cause Brooklyn's the borough"
[Verse 4: Masta Ace]
We did it like that, and now we do it like this
We did it like that, and now we do it like this
Go inside your mind and find a time that you miss
And just think about the steel in your fist
It's just an extension of your arm
It's that ghetto type of charm
That makes all the homeboys swarm
Can I drop the bomb? Oh, yes, I can
Move with the groove, smooth like Geechie Dan
Who is the man? That kid there
Who is the chick with the pick in her hair?
Angela, uhh.. Davis
, and we roll like Avis
Rent-a-Car kid, there you are

[Verse 5: Special Ed]
You know where to find me, whenever you need me
If you know the Ave., follow the path to the land of the aftermath
But don't frolic in the midst, crazy-ass Crooklyn kids!

'Cause they always throwin' a body on my lawn
I'm gettin' a Rottweiler without a collar
Get off my block, boy, and give me a dollar
For the trouble, or get blown up like a bubble

[Verse 6: Buckshot]
Now, let's take a sec' to think back
To the year of the 7-0, when Brooklyn was the place to go
Flow on a journey up to Crown Heights
Ebbets Field
, feel the real-to-real on your life
Trife individuals live in the PJ's
Dee Evil, check my DJ
Hey, play, what I wanna play in the day
But in the night, I feel the right, took the left
Bucktown, Brooklyn, break it down
Heads from state to state, travel as I unravel the rate
Howard, Tapscott and Sutter
I remember way back in the days playin' Hot Peas & Butter
Brother, if you want another lesson, Crooklyn session
Take it back, "Black Smif-N-Wessun"

How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

To learn more, check out our transcription guide or visit our transcribers forum

About

Genius Annotation

This 1994 classic features solid verses from three Brooklyn representers, including Special Ed who had been MIA for four years prior to this. It was made for the Spike Lee movie Crooklyn. Produced by Q-Tip.

Also see the Primo-produced sequel Return Of The Crooklyn Dodgers.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Q-Tip say about making this song?
Genius Answer

I actually did the ‘Crooklyn Dodgers’ beat over at Special Ed’s studio in Brooklyn. Everybody wanted to meet at his spot, so I brought my equipment over and I banged it out right there. I was just in one of those dark vibes. Sometimes I don’t know where it comes from. The inspiration just comes out and you just go with it. It was Spike Lee’s idea to use the ‘Brooklyn Wins!’ part from an actual Brooklyn Dodgers game. We had a screening for the Crooklyn movie for a whole bunch of Brooklyn MC’s. Originally we all wanted ‘Ol Dirty Bastard to be on it. He came to screening and in the middle of watching the movie when the little girl went to visit her other family Dirty was like, ‘This ain’t no Brooklyn shit!’ He got up and walked out. I guess he didn’t want to be in that boat [laughs].

Vibe, 2011

What did The Crooklyn Dodgers say about "Crooklyn"?
Genius Answer

In a May 5th, 2013 interview, the artists involved provided insight on the process of creating “Crooklyn.”

Credits
Additional Production
Scratches
Release Date
January 1994
View Crooklyn samples
Tags
Comments