Which borough in New York is the best? Watch politicians represent their people as if they were in a SMACK battle!
There’s a new generation of politicians in New York, and they’re not afraid to put up a fight with a slick little talk about the neighborhood.
It was full throttle last week after Gen X members of the Borough Presidents’ Office became mixed as to which borough has the brightest Hip-Hop lineage.
It started after the Department of Transportation wanted to change the name of old BP Ruben Diaz, Jr. to the new one and got it wrong. Instead of putting Vanessa Gibson, the current borough president, under Mayor Eric Adams’ name on the “Welcome to the Bronx” sign on Hutchinson River Parkway, they put Queens BP Donovan Richards.
Spectrum News’ NY1 Dean Meminger first pointed this out.
“Battle of the Bourges. Oh no! #NYC @nyc_dot President Boro is wrong on Welcome to The #Bronx Sign on the BX side of Whitestone Bridge. Vanessa Gibson is the BXBP, Donovan Richards is the QueensBP. Whoops! @QnsBPRichards @Vanessalgibson now claim that their respective boro is the best.
Then the speedy Queens native jumped like 50 Cent, a rap hero from his borough, and started trolling.
“Being the president of New York’s best borough by far means understanding that everyone always has Queens on their minds,” Richards joked. “The Bronx and Borough President Gibson also deserve their due, so I’d be happy to step aside and work with the DOT to make that happen.”
Gibson, he represented feminists, said: “Sorry, I’m late for the chat. I was too busy being the BP which represents the best district and the TRUE cradle of Hip-Hop. What did I miss?”
And Richards replied, “The Bronx could be the birthplace of hip-hop, @bronxbpbut we all know #queens perfected it. Nas, LL Cool J, A Tribe Called Quest, shall we continue?
“Hmm… @big joe and @RealRemyMa might disagree. Also, the last time I checked the @uhhmuseum where was going to be? #JustSaying All the love to all of our hip-hop legends though”
“The Bronx has big stars, no doubt, but #queens home to hip-hop legends, trailblazers and trailblazers. All love is fair, however! Also, I think we can both agree that the outer boroughs are the best boroughs”
“I wholeheartedly agree and look forward to working with your colleague to bring much-needed attention and recognition to our boroughs. All the love always! #Bronx #queens #Outerboroughs”
And just when you thought it was over…here is Brooklyn! Antonio Reynoso, the new Brooklyn BP replacing Eric Adams, the new mayor, has successfully shut down.
“Biggie Big Daddy Kane Hov Need I say more? Brooklyn keep taking it,” he tweeted.
Queens might have the edge on cool though. Hip-hop isn’t just about being put together, but about being put together, but by working people and it looks like Richards might have an edge over them — getting as close to rap culture as Diaz has for years.
At the time, before entering public service, Richards was an intern for Chris Lighty and Mona Scott-Young at Violator Records, a label that boasted top rappers from both boroughs (LL Cool J, Fat Joe, Mobb Deep, A Tribe Called Quest and more). Check him out saluting his mentor at a recent event at the Universal Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx. Maybe it’s an #OutboroughThing
