The track was produced by Cool & Dre , who initially offered the beat to Fat Joe before Ja Rule secured it.
While intended as a city tribute, the song became a "lightning rod" for the feud between Ja Rule and 50 Cent . Ja Rule’s verse contained subliminal disses toward 50 Cent, including a reference to Lloyd Banks' "On Fire". The track was produced by Cool & Dre
The chorus is based on the 1990 song "100 Guns" by Boogie Down Productions. It also contains uncredited slowed-down elements of "Nkalakatha" by South African artist Mandoza. The chorus is based on the 1990 song
released on October 27, 2004, is a defining East Coast hip-hop anthem that served as a street-centric tribute to the city and a pivotal moment in mid-2000s rap rivalries. As the second single from Ja Rule's sixth studio album, R.U.L.E. , the track features powerhouse collaborations with Fat Joe and Jadakiss, representing the Bronx and Yonkers respectively. Production and Musical Style As the second single from Ja Rule's sixth studio album, R
The song marked a departure from Ja Rule's melodic, R&B-influenced hits toward a grittier "boom-bap" sound. The Official Music Video
50 Cent viewed Fat Joe and Jadakiss’s participation as siding with Ja Rule, leading him to release the retaliatory diss track "Piggy Bank" in 2005, which targeted all three artists.