Fun Lovin' Criminals - The King Of New York

What this video is

Released in 1997 as the fourth single from Fun Lovin' Criminals' debut album Come Find Yourself (Chrysalis Records, 1996), 'The King of New York' sits at the intersection of mid-90s NYC street mythology and transatlantic alternative-rock chart culture. The song centres on a fictionalised tribute to incarcerated mob boss John Gotti, head of the Gambino crime family, framing Mafia lore through the lens of hip-hop…

Why it matters

A defining artefact of mid-90s rap-rock crossover, 'The King of New York' exemplifies the brief but culturally potent moment when Tarantino-inflected crime aesthetics fused with hip-hop delivery and alternative rock sonics to produce a distinctly urban American sound that resonated most strongly…