Released November 2004 | Length 4:18 | |
B-side Instrumental / A cappella (12") Format 12"CDdigital download | ||
"An Open Letter to NYC" is a song by American hip hop group the Beastie Boys. It was released as the third single from their sixth studio album, To the 5 Boroughs, in November 2004. The single entered and peaked at number 38 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was used during the opening credits of an episode of HBO's Taxicab Confessions, and is also included in the video game NBA Street V3. The Beastie Boys performed the song live during the 2004 MTV Europe Music Awards, on November 18, at the Tor di Valle Hippodrome, in Rome.
Contents
Composition
The song's lyrics talk about the group's affection for their homeplace, New York City. It also alludes to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The song samples "Sonic Reducer" by The Dead Boys, and also features a brief sample of "New York's My Home" by Robert Goulet. The Goulet sample was cut from the Solid Gold Hits version of the song.