(Play Playlist - Yahoo Music Unlimited)

New York City, officially the "City of New York" is without a doubt, one of the most important, if not THE most important cities in the world. NYC is a leader in both business and culture, and is a place where dreams come true, or where dreams can be destroyed.

As Frank said, "If you can make it here, you'll make it anywhere".

Hip hop culture has a strong connection to the city. After all, the genre was born from the block parties of the South Bronx in the 1970s. The Big Apple is the place where hip hop was forged, developed and fine-tuned, and was the launching pad for what would become one of the most popular forms of popular music in the world.

With over 19.7 million people living in the New York metropolitan area, it's the most populous metropolitan area in the United States and the 4th most populous in the world after Tokyo, Seoul and Mexico City.

I thought it only fitting to create a playlist of hip hop songs that pay homage to the place where the genre was born.

Add your favorites to the comments.

A Hip Hop Tribute to New York City

The Place Where We Dwell - Gang Starr

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Daily Operation
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

An Open Letter To NYC - Beastie Boys

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album To The 5 Boroughs
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Bedstuy Parade & Funeral March - Mos Def

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album The New Danger
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South Bronx - KRS-One

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album A Retrospective (Explicit)
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Brooklyn-Queens - 3rd Bass

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album The Cactus Cee/D
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Brooklyn Zoo - Ol' Dirty Bastard

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Return To The 36 Chambers (Explicit)
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NYC - Les Nubians

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Les Nubians Presents: Echos, Chapter One: Nubian Voyager
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New York - Method Man

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album New York
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Brooklyn To T-Neck - Das EFX

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Dead Serious
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Cali To New York - Black Eyed Peas

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Bridging The Gap (Explicit)
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Brooklyn's Finest - Jay-Z

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Reasonable Doubt
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Back To The Bronx - The 2 Live Crew

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album The Essential DJ 12-Inch
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Bronx Tale - Moss

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Strictly 'A' Class
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Pacifics (From The Soundtrack To The Motion Picture "N.Y. Is Red Hot") - Digable Planets

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Reachin' (A New Refutation Of Time And Space)
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Welcome To New York City - Cam'Ron

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Come Home With Me
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New York - AZ

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album A*W*O*L (Explicit)
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New York City - Dr. Octagon

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Clayborne Family (Explicit)
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One-Two-Five (Main Street, Harlem, USA) - Kurtis Blow

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album The Best Of Kurtis Blow
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