Great 1989 tune. Times listed are elapsed time from the start. Tabbed by Marty Lurvey.


Intro:   F#    0:11


Verse 1
People call me the scandalizer,
D
The world was my appetizer,
E
I turned gangs into fertilizer,
F#
King of the New York streets.   0:25


Verse 2
I broke hearts like window panes,
D
For breakfast I'd eat nails and chains,
E
To my kingdom I'd proclaim,
F#
King of the New York streets.
                        F#    D    E    F#
We walked all the same...                        0:54


Verse 3
You know, I floored my accelerator,
D
All the way to the equator,
E
Just a local gladiator,
F#
I'm king of the New York streets.   1:10


Bridge
      D
Well, I was only sixteen years,
   A                 E
So what could I have known?
D 
In my mind these passing years,
A                   E       F#
The legend sure has grown.       1:27


Verse 4
Now, people come from miles around,
D
To see my royal tenement crown,
E
Always up Jack, never down,
F#
King of the New York streets, check it out...  1:44


Verse 5
Schools gave me nothing needed,
D
To my throne I proceeded,
E
Every warning went unheeded,
F#
King of the New York streets.
                   F#    D    E    F#
We walked always...                        2:13


Verse 6
I stood tall from all this feelin'
D
I bumped my head on heaven's ceilin'
E
Shooting dice and double-dealin'
F#
King of the New York streets    2:27


Bridge
      D
Well, I was only sixteen years,
   A                 E
So what could I have known?
D 
In my mind these passing years,
A                   E        F#
The legend sure has grown.       2:45


Verse 7
You know, each time I jumped behind the wheel,
     D
Of a pin-striped custom Oldsmobile,
E
The guys would bow and the girls would squeal,
F#
King of the New York streets.    3:00


Verse 8
Local bullies I deflated,
D
Back street jive that I translated,
E
Top Ten girls were all I dated,
F#
King of the New York streets.
                    F#    D    E    F#
We walked the same...                          3:30


Verse 9
I didn't need no bodyguard,
D
Huh, I just ruled from my backyard,
E
Living fast, living hard,
F#
King of the New York streets.
                             F#    D    E    F#
Check it out, we walked...                        4:00


Verse 10
Well, I was wise in my own eyes,
D
I woke one day and I realized,
         E
You know this attitude come from cocaine lies...
F#                              4:15


Coda  < repeat twice, fadeout on 2nd >    F#    D    E    F#    4:51