An Open Letter to NYC

"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 group performed the song live during the 2004 MTV Europe Music Awards, on November 18, 2004 at the Tor di Valle Hippodrome, in Rome.[1]

"An Open Letter to NYC"
Single by Beastie Boys
from the album To the 5 Boroughs
B-side	Instrumental / A cappella (12")
Released	November 2004
Recorded	2004 at Oscilloscope Laboratories (Tribeca, New York)
Genre	East coast hip hop rap rock alternative hip hop political hip hop alternative rock
Length	4:18
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz, Adam Yauch, Eugene O'Connor, David Lynn Thomas
Producer(s)	Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys singles chronology
"Now Get Busy" (2004) "An Open Letter to NYC" (2004) "The Electric Worm" (2007)
Music video
"An Open Letter to NYC" on YouTube

Composition

The song's lyrics talk about the group's affection for their hometown, New York City. It alludes to the 9/11 terrorist attacks but also implies there are deeper flaws in the system people need to acknowledge and come together as a community, or suffer as a whole. The song samples "Sonic Reducer" by The Dead Boys,[2] and also features a brief sample of "New York's My Home" by Robert Goulet.[2] The Goulet sample was cut from the Solid Gold Hits version of the song.

Track listing

12" vinyl

• Capitol — 7243 8 16523 1 2[3]

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"An Open Letter to NYC"	4:18
2.	"MTL Reppin' for the 514"	3:01

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"An Open Letter to NYC" (Instrumental)	4:13
2.	"An Open Letter to NYC" (A cappella)	3:19

CD

• Capitol — 6189572, EMI/Parlophone — 70876 19857 2 8[4]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"An Open Letter to NYC" (Andy Wallace Mix)	4:02
2.	"An Open Letter to NYC"	4:22
3.	"An Open Letter to NYC" (A cappella)	3:19
4.	"An Open Letter to NYC" (Instrumental)	4:13

Charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
Dutch Singles Chart[5]	17
UK Singles Chart[6]	38

In popular culture

In the pilot of Succession, Kendall Roy is introduced singing along to the song on headphones.[7]

References

1. "Beastie Boys: "Open Letter to NYC"". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
2. "Beastie Boys - To the 5 Boroughs (CD, Album)". Discogs. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
3. "Beastie Boys - An Open Letter To NYC (Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
4. "Beastie Boys - An Open Letter To NYC (CD)". Discogs. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
5. "dutchcharts.nl - Beastie Boys - An Open Letter to NYC". Retrieved 2011-05-11.
6. "The Official Charts Company - Beastie Boys". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-05-11.
7. Lipka, Carolyn. "'Succession' Premiere Promises More Jokes Than It Delivers". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-08-15.