- published: 12 Nov 2011
- views: 27429
Coordinates: 40°41′34″N 73°59′25″W / 40.69278°N 73.99028°W / 40.69278; -73.99028
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with approximately 2.5 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, after New York County (Manhattan). It is also the westernmost county on Long Island.
Brooklyn was an independent city until it was annexed by New York City in 1898. It continues to maintain a distinct culture. Many Brooklyn neighborhoods are ethnic enclaves where particular ethnic groups and cultures predominate.
Brooklyn's official motto is Eendraght Maeckt Maght. Written in the (early modern spelling of the) Dutch language, it is inspired by the motto of the United Dutch Provinces and translated "Unity makes strength". The motto is displayed on the borough seal and flag, which also feature a young robed woman bearing fasces, a traditional emblem of republicanism. Brooklyn's official colors are blue and gold.
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2011.He has sold approximately 50 million albums worldwide, while receiving fourteen Grammy Awards for his musical work, and numerous additional nominations. He is consistently ranked as one of the greatest rappers of all-time. He was ranked #1 by MTV in their list of The Greatest MCs of All-Time in 2006. Two of his albums, Reasonable Doubt (1996) and The Blueprint (2001) are considered landmarks in the genre with both of them being ranked in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Blender included the former on their 500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die.
Jay-Z co-owns the 40/40 Club, is part-owner of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets and is also the creator of the line Rocawear. He is the former CEO of Def Jam Recordings, one of the three founders of Roc-A-Fella Records, and the founder of Roc Nation. As an artist, he holds the record for most number one albums by a solo artist on the Billboard 200 with eleven. Jay-Z also has had four number ones on the Billboard Hot 100, one as lead artist.
Oh Churchyard, Churchyard please,
sing something back to me.
The bell that rang my bones,
they left me feeling old.
I saw young lovers carved on trees.
my gravel voice and your smoky hair.
To whisper maliciousness and swear
That we'll never leave our names on anything
Brooklyn was calling us out
but I couldn't stand embracing you now.
lucid dreams on burial schemes
with dead men standing behind me.
Brooklyn was calling us out.
It's a war of dead men vs. new ideas.
My god I hate your friends.
Lucked out and learned to dance to misery
while hanging onto your consent
This is the last romance sponsored by cigarettes.
When these low lives spoke to me of redemption,
I lost my confidence in
Ethics so loosely laced together
cause I fold at the slightest touch.
Still had the guts to hold your friends
between our lips.
Ethics this loosely laced together
cause I fold at the slightest touch.
Still had the grace to torch my past,
pick up my phone, come pick me up.
Brooklyn was calling us out
but I couldn't stand embracing you now.
Hollow dreams of casualties
that casually rest their hands on me.