Breaking Beats: #NewYorkValues – What’s good Ted Cruz?
At the GOP debate Jan. 15 Ted Cruz threw major shade on New York, basically saying the people there are abortion-loving, liberal media heads who live for money and are probably gay (here’s what he actually said).
Obviously the internet went off on Ted Cruz with #NewYorkValues:
Ted should know that you can’t just generalize an entire city (or state) and get away with it. I’m pretty sure there are a ton of conservative people in New York City— has he never met anyone from the Upper East Side?
So, to show Ted just how wrong he is, here are 10 songs about the city’s amazingness. From the Bronx to Brooklyn, these songs will give you all types of feels. I’ll show you #NewYorkValues…
Jay Z — Empire State of Mind
As someone from the West Coast, my idea of New York was mostly shaped by TV. In one episode of Gossip Girl, they played “Empire State of Mind” as couples broke up in fancy hotel lobbies. I thought to myself, “Yeah, THIS is what NYC is about.” LOL, as if.
Jennifer Lopez — Jenny From the Block ft. Jadakiss & Styles P
Jennifer wants to say she’s the realest chick from the “South South Bronx,” but we know she’s fake AF, at least according to this Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous episode. Jenny, spending a million dollars on fur coats and eye lashes made out of fox furs isn’t something “real” people do. But her music is catchy, and she holds it down for Latinos everywhere — BLESS UP.
Chairlift — Ch-Ching
Chairlift’s upcoming album is about both the struggle and perks of living in New York. The band told radio god Zane Lowe that “Ch-Ching’ is about the feeling of getting lucky and not realizing what just hit you. It’s cool to see Chairlift play with more hip-hop inspired vibes—maybe frontwoman Caroline Polachek’s work with Beyonce inspired her in some way.
Lana Del Rey — Brooklyn Baby
“Brooklyn Baby,” from Lana’s excellent sophomore album, looks at all the posers out there and the clique boys they go for. The chorus says it all:
Well, my boyfriend’s in the band
He plays guitar while I sing Lou Reed
I’ve got feathers in my hair
I get down to Beat poetry
And my jazz collection’s rare
I can play most anything
I’m a Brooklyn baby
Even though Lana lives for the West Coast, she’ll always throw down for #NewYorkValues.
Nas — N.Y. State of Mind
Nas holds it down for #NewYorkValues. His flow on this Illmatic classic is nothing to LOL at. Also, this beat is so filthy I think I just shat myself.
Foxy Brown — B.K. Anthem
Throwing it down for female MCs everywhere, Foxy Brown is the epitome of #NewYorkValues.
Azealia Banks — 212 ft. Lazy Jay
When this track dropped, I heard it everywhere, and still I’m not sick of it. That change of tempo during the bridge is so different and cool. And how can you not love how Banks chants, “I’m-a ruin you, c**t!” I think she’s singing from the point of NYC, as in NYC will “ruin you, c**t.” Tough.
SBTRKT — NEW DORP. NEW YORK ft. Ezra Koenig
Koenig and SBTRKT get jazzy on the beat with this one. In classic Vampire Weekend fashion, Koenig throws down cryptic lines like, “Baseball bats that never hit home runs” and “Never seen the color yellow, never seen the sun.” Presumably this is about the give and take of the city and its people. Leave it to SBTRKT to keep it weird.
Neon Indian — Slumlord
Neon Indian comes back strong on this track about the terrible state of renting in New York. This is a straight jam, one of my top tracks of 2015. Synths for days.
Charles Hamilton — Brooklyn Girls
Because you can never have too many songs about the best part of New York.
