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There are so many things happening around town today to get New Yorkers even more giddy about the Knicks' Game 4 showdown at MSG tonight (not that this city needs much more hyping up right now) but this might be the most effective one yet at really getting us excited: Spotify has unveiled a billboard just steps from Madison Square Garden featuring a real fan-created playlist in honor of our home team titled "waiting for this since '99."
The reference hits particularly hard for Knicks fans. The franchise hasn't reached the NBA Finals since 1999, meaning generations of New Yorkers have spent the past 27 years hoping, heartbroken and convincing themselves that next year would finally be the year. This playoff run feels different and the playlist title perfectly captures that long-awaited sense of possibility. Let's go, Knicks!
Created by Spotify user charlieevans134, the collection features 60 songs and runs about four hours long, meaning you still have enough time to squeeze in a few full listens before tip-off. The tracklist reads like a love letter to New York itself, featuring Nas' "N.Y. State of Mind;" Kyah Baby's "NY Knicks Energy;" Black Rob's "Whoa!;" Ja Rule, Fat Joe and Jadakiss' "New York;" Kurtis Blow's "Basketball;" and JAY-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West's "Run This Town," among many others.
And, of course, no Knicks soundtrack would be complete without Jesse Itzler's "Go NY Go." While not officially designated as the team's official song by the organization, the track has long served as the Knicks' de facto anthem. First introduced at Madison Square Garden in 1993 and embraced during the team's memorable 1994 Finals run, the song has become synonymous with Knicks basketball, blasting through the Garden during home games for decades and inspiring countless fans to chant along. Itzler has even updated the anthem over the years with references to different Knicks eras, cementing its place as one of New York sports' most recognizable rallying cries.
If there was ever a day to hit play on a Knicks playlist at full volume, this is it, so here you go: