The City Is Mine Lyrics

[Chorus: Blackstreet & (Jay-Z)]
You belong to the city (the city is mine, what-what-what)
You belong to the night (ge-ge-geyeah, uh-uhh-uh, pa-pau)
In the river of darkness
He's a man of the night (the city is mine, that's right...)

[Verse 2: Jay-Z]
Y'all wanna know how I flow just seek and you find
I'm like a brain in the voice box, I speak my mind
About to redefine rap mami, either I'm
The illest nigga doing it or these niggas is losing it
I read a article that said I was ruining shit
But every time I look, I'm moving units in quick
So I'ma hit y'all, with these last two and split
And leave niggas with nothing but my influences-es

Students of Jigga, I ain't mad yeah, bite my shit
Sell half of what I sell because it's not quite my shit
I'm the type to buy a Rollie and just ice my shit
On the spot, fuck coming back twice to shit
How real is that? My floss game, still intact
Boss game, you lame dudes can't feel that
Like the first dude to cop the 850 in '89
And drove it up to 55th, the city is mine, what?

[Chorus: Blackstreet & (Jay-Z)]
You belong to the city (the city is mine)
You belong to the night (yeah, uhh, the city is mine)
In the river of darkness (pa-pause, feel me)
He's a man of the night (yeah, yeah, bounce, bounce)
[Verse 3: Jay-Z]
I snatch your girl 'cause your arm ain't strong enough
Plus y'all don't stay in the studio long enough
I make hits while y'all stay hating and take bricks
Had it locked 'til I came in the club, Take 6
Got your chick 'cause you swore she was innocent
Got her a Chinese manicure, hair done by Dominicans, all for what
So I could be in a dark corner, all in her butt
At the bar alchoholing her up
I represent the lifestyle of those who thirst cream
A buck fifty a shot, Louis the Thirteenth
Jay-Z, Roc-A-Fella yo, know the name
I ain't a player, get it right, I'm controlling the game
From now until they blow holes in my frame
I'ma stand firm, holding my aim, feel me?
I'm the focal, point like Biggie in his prime
On the low though—Shhh! The city is mine


[Chorus: Blackstreet & (Jay-Z)]
You belong to the city (uh-huh, yeah, the city is mine)
You belong to the night (ah ah, the city is mine)
In the river of darkness (feel me, the city is mine)
He's the man of the night (the city is mine, is mine, is mine, is mine)
You belong to the city
You belong to the night
In the river of darkness
He's the man of the night
[Outro: Blackstreet]
You belong
You belong
In the river of darkness
He's the man of the night

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About

Genius Annotation

“The City Is Mine” is the third single from rapper Jay-Z’s sophomore album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1. It features vocals from popular R&B group Blackstreet, and production from the group’s founding member, and famed creator of the “New Jack Swing” genre, Teddy Riley.

Riley sampled “You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else” by the Jones Girls for the track’s beat; while Blackstreet interpolated the Miami Vice hit single “You Belong to the City” by Glenn Frey and Jack Tempchin for the hook.

“The City Is Mine” had a little commercial success, reaching #52 on the Billboard “Hot 100” and #38 on the UK Singles Chart. However, it was panned by critics for its commercial nature, as were many other tracks on Vol. 1.

Q&A

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

Where did Hov record this track?
Genius Answer

Hov traveled to Virginia in 1997 to record “The City Is Mine” at Teddy Riley’s famed Virginia Beach studio Future Records Recording Studios. According to studio witnesses, Hov walked in, heard the beat, spat his verses, and left.

So as well as drug trafficking taking him through Virginia in the early-‘90s, as he mentioned on “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” his musical tenure did the same shortly after he quit the drug game.

What is the track's connection to The Neptunes?
Genius Answer

Not many people know that a young Chad Hugo plays saxophone on “The City is Mine.”

Teddy Riley, the track’s producer, was the first person to introduce Jay to The Neptunes, which as we know now would result in many hit tracks.

Alternate cover art:
Genius Answer

How did this song perform on the charts?
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