“I grew up on the crime side, the New York Times side”

December 30, 2018 9:46 AM

City Council Approves Street Co-Naming For Woody Guthrie, Notorious B.I.G. & Wu-Tang Clan [Gothamist] “In its final meeting of the year, the New York City Council voted 48-0 to honor three music icons in their home boroughs: famed hip hop artists Biggie Smalls/Notorious B.I.G. (a.k.a. Christopher Wallace) and the Wu-Tang Clan, as well as folk singer Woody Guthrie. Christopher Wallace Way would be located on St. James Place, between Fulton Street and Gates Avenue in Brooklyn, the same block where the late rapper Biggie Smalls grew up. [...] And in a nod to the city’s folk tradition, Woody Guthrie Way would be located on Mermaid Avenue between West 35th and West 36th streets in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, where the singer moved with his wife in 1943.”
posted by Fizz (15 comments total)

Isn't that near where Woody Guthrie penned "Old Man Trump"?
posted by Catblack at 9:52 AM on December 30, 2018 [6 favorites]

When I read "street co-naming" I originally assumed that one street would commemorate all three - perhaps with a name something like Wallace Woody Wu Way...
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:06 AM on December 30, 2018 [25 favorites]

This street sign kills fascists.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:07 AM on December 30, 2018 [16 favorites]

Christopher Wallace Place - It's real hard to find now
posted by JPD at 11:11 AM on December 30, 2018

*Bring The Ruckus this weekend and every weekend to the Wu-Tang District"

I both absolutely love this and am just bracing for my in-laws city councilman to start using lyrics as part of his campaign to stop this.
posted by JPD at 11:19 AM on December 30, 2018

I both absolutely love this and am just bracing for my in-laws city councilman to start using lyrics as part of his campaign to stop this.

If that happens, make sure you pass this on to your in-laws councilman. A transcription of Julian Carr's hate-filled and racist speech at the dedication of Silent Sam. And then ask him/her to confront the legacy of monuments scattered all across the south dedicated to slave-owning asshats.
posted by Fizz at 11:32 AM on December 30, 2018 [3 favorites]

Isn't that near where Woody Guthrie penned "Old Man Trump"?

As well as 'Trump Made a Tramp Outta Me'. Woody really didn't like papa Trump.
posted by downtohisturtles at 11:50 AM on December 30, 2018

Too bad it couldn't be "Notorious BIG Way," because I didn't know until today his non-rapper name was Christopher Wallace. Hearing "Hypnotize" while watching the new Spidey movie reminded me what a great song that is even today, >20 years later.
posted by honey badger at 12:06 PM on December 30, 2018 [1 favorite]

Maybe it's just me, but I never had any problem with just 3rd Street and 24th Ave. 'Cuz next came 4th Street. And 25th Ave. ... not Zbiglienskiwitz St. and Marlborough Drive.

(No offense meant, Zbiglienskiwitz.)
posted by Twang at 1:39 PM on December 30, 2018 [2 favorites]

I both absolutely love this and am just bracing for my in-laws city councilman to start using lyrics as part of his campaign to stop this.

The Council voted unanimously in favor. I do recall that the Biggie one took years to get past the community board over such objections, though.
posted by retrograde at 1:39 PM on December 30, 2018

my in-laws city councilman to start using lyrics as part of his campaign to stop this.

I love that shit. Anyone have a video or audio link?
posted by axiom at 3:10 PM on December 30, 2018

using lyrics as part of his campaign to stop this.

We could compromise and also name a road "I Fucked Your Bitch You Fat Motherfucker Avenue", if he doesn't like it
posted by thelonius at 3:49 PM on December 30, 2018 [1 favorite]

Maybe it's just me, but I never had any problem with just 3rd Street and 24th Ave. 'Cuz next came 4th Street. And 25th Ave. ... not Zbiglienskiwitz St. and Marlborough Drive.

Street names and suburb names and park names are culture. Sure, numbered and lettered streets make it easy to reference, but maps aren't that hard to come by, and in the meantime you lose the opportunity to give your city a character all its own.

There's a cafe in New York called Little Collins, and I know it sells Melbourne-style coffee just from the name.
posted by Merus at 12:53 AM on December 31, 2018 [2 favorites]

So, I thank the Soviets and the mighty Chinese vets
The Allies the whole wide world around
To the battling British, thanks, you can have ten million Yanks
If it takes 'em to tear the fascists down, down, down
If it takes 'em to tear the fascists down

But when I think of the ships and the men going down
And the Russians fight on across the Don
There's London in ruins and Paris in chains
Good people, what are we waiting on?

Good people, what are we waiting on?
posted by AnhydrousLove at 1:00 AM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

Ol' Dirty Boulevard.
Method Mews.
GZAvenue.
Raekwon Road.
Capadonna Close.
posted by ZipRibbons at 2:07 AM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]