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Bobby Shmurda
Bobby Shmurda | |
---|---|
Birth name | Ackquille Jean Pollard |
Born | Miami, Florida, U.S.[1][2] | August 4, 1994
Origin | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instruments | Vocals |
Years active |
|
Labels | |
Associated acts | |
Criminal status | Released from Clinton Correctional Facility, on parole (2021) |
Conviction(s) | Third-degree conspiracy and one count of weapons possession (2016) Sneaking a shiv in prison (2017) |
Criminal penalty | 7 years imprisonment (2016) 4 years imprisonment - to be served concurrently (2017) |
Ackquille Jean Pollard (born August 4, 1994),[3] known professionally as Bobby Shmurda, is an American rapper.[4] Along with Rowdy Rebel, Shmurda is considered a pioneer of Brooklyn drill music.[5][6] He rose to international fame in 2014 when his song "Hot Nigga" peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100.[7][8] The success of the single led to Shmurda signing a deal with Epic Records. His debut EP, Shmurda She Wrote, was released on November 10, 2014.
On December 18, 2014, New York City Police arrested Shmurda and charged him, along with several other members of GS9, with conspiracy to murder, weapons possession, and reckless endangerment.[9][10] In 2016, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years in prison, which was reduced to five years after receiving credit for the two years he already served awaiting trial.[11] After over six years in prison, Shmurda was released from Clinton Correctional Facility on February 23, 2021.[12] His release was widely celebrated across the hip-hop community.[13]
Early life
Ackquille Pollard was born in Miami, Florida.[2] His mother is Trinidadian and his father is Jamaican.[14] His mother moved to East Flatbush from Florida after his father's incarceration.[15] Shmurda had run-ins with the law while living in Brooklyn, including fifteen months spent in detention for probation violation and being arrested on gun charges that were later dropped. According to his 2014 indictment, Shmurda was the ringleader of a criminal enterprise called "GS9" that regularly entered into disputes with criminal gangs, was responsible for murders and non-fatal shootings, and engaged in drug trafficking[16] along Kings Highway to East Flatbush.[17]
Career
The first song that he remixed was Crime Mob's "Knuck If You Buck";[15] however, he did not receive any attention until 2014, with the release of his song "Hot Nigga".[1] The song uses the instrumental from Lloyd Banks' 2012 song "Jackpot".[18] The song and its accompanying music video went viral shortly after being uploaded to YouTube in the spring of 2014.[15] Shmurda's signature "Shmoney dance", which he performs in the video, soon became an internet meme and was featured in numerous popular Vines from the latter half of 2014;[19] it was also replicated by Beyoncé and Jay-Z during their On the Run Tour[20] and by Canadian rapper Drake while hosting the 2014 ESPY Awards, among other celebrities.[21][22] Freestyles over the instrumental were made by a number of rappers after its release, including Juicy J,[23] French Montana,[24] Lil' Kim,[25] Gunplay,[26] and T.I.[27] Following the song's viral success, Shmurda was signed to Epic Records, and the song was officially released as his debut single under Epic.[28] The song topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart, and peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The music video received over 649 million views on YouTube as of July 2020.[29] The song's official remix—featuring guest vocals from Fabolous, Chris Brown, Jadakiss, Rowdy Rebel, Busta Rhymes, and Yo Gotti—was released on September 4, 2014.[19][30] A reggae remix of the song was also released in August 2014 that featured Junior Reid, Mavado, Popcaan, and Jah X.[31] Shmurda also became known for his song "Bobby Bitch" which peaked at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100. His debut EP, Shmurda She Wrote, was released on November 10, 2014.
Shmurda's debut studio album with Epic Records was scheduled for release in 2016 and was going to be produced by Jahlil Beats.[18] It was postponed, however, due to his imprisonment. In February 2017, Shmurda freestyled for rapper Meek Mill and claimed that he was still writing music while in prison.[32] The following year, Shmurda featured on fellow rapper 6ix9ine's single "Stoopid",[33][34] phoning in his verses over the prison telephone. The single peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Shmurda made his first concert performance appearance since being released from prison at Rolling Loud Festival in Miami, Florida on Friday, July 23, 2021.[35]
Criminal conviction
On June 3, 2014, Shmurda was arrested and charged with felony criminal possession of a weapon. Police say they saw him flashing the gun in an apartment, and when they went to investigate he tried to hide it in a couch. He was set free on US$10,000 bail.[36] On December 17, 2014, police arrested Shmurda and 14 others, including his brother Javese and his fellow GS9 label-mate Rowdy Rebel.[10] Police charged Shmurda with conspiracy to commit murder, reckless endangerment, and drug and gun possession; charges against the others included murder, attempted murder, assault, and drug dealing.[9] Shmurda pleaded not guilty and was held on $2 million bail.[37] Police said they had been investigating the gang for murder and shooting indiscriminately at crowds in public places long before Shmurda rose to fame. Police said Shmurda was "the driving force" in a gang also known as GS9 (standing for "Grimey Shooters," "Gun Squad" or "G Stone Crips."),[38] the name of his label, as they dealt crack cocaine and waged deadly battles with rival gangs for territory. He faced a maximum sentence of 8–25 years.[39][40]
James Essig, head of the NYPD unit that made the arrests, said Shmurda's songs and videos were "almost like a real-life document of what they were doing on the street."[39] In his song "Hot Nigga", Shmurda rapped that "I been selling crack since like the fifth grade" because "Jaja taught me"; Shmurda also rapped about his crew's past and future murders.[41] Shmurda has asserted that the lyrics represent his real life in several interviews, though the Supreme Court of New Jersey recently ruled that lyrics cannot be read at trial as evidence unless they have a "strong nexus" to a specific crime.[9] During his jail time, Shmurda was involved in a fight suspected to be related to the Bloods vs. Crips rivalry.[42]
Between late June and early July 2015, the rapper and his ex-girlfriend were caught by officials after smuggling a knife into Rikers Island jail.[43] Both were charged with two counts of promoting contraband, in addition to one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, which could result in an additional seven-year sentence. Shmurda appeared in the Bronx Supreme Court to face his charges of prison contraband plus 25 years for his previous charge in late 2014. He and his ex-girlfriend pleaded not guilty to the contraband charge, but Shmurda was still facing a maximum sentence of 25 years for the drug and gun charges.[44][45]
Conviction
On September 9, 2016, as part of a plea deal, Shmurda pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree conspiracy and one count of weapons possession, and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Under the deal, Shmurda could not appeal the sentence, but was to be given credit for two years served, leaving five years left on his sentence, followed by five years of probation.[46] His lawyer, Alex Spiro, expected that with good behavior Shmurda would only serve approximately three and a half years.[47] In early 2017 Shmurda was given a four-year sentence for sneaking a makeshift knife (shiv) into his cell. The sentence was to run concurrently to his ongoing seven-year sentence, so that he would not face any additional prison time.[48]
Incarceration
Shmurda was first imprisoned in Rikers Island.[49] He was involved in numerous incidents while incarcerated. In May 2015 Shmurda took part in a brawl that included members from the Bloods and Crips street gangs.[50] In November 2016 Shmurda was involved in a brawl between several inmates that led to him losing phone privileges for an unnamed period of time and being subject to solitary confinement for a month.[51] In 2017 he was moved to Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York, to finish his sentence in protective custody.[52]
Images of Shmurda while incarcerated surfaced online after three years served of the five-year sentence.[53]
Release
A hearing in the week of August 18, 2020 denied Shmurda parole.[54][55]
Shmurda's conditional release date was set to December 11, 2020, after serving his full sentence, by his parole board.[56][57] However, after a review by the Department of Corrections, Shmurda's credit for good institutional behavior was restored, qualifying him for conditional release on February 23, 2021, with the rest of his sentence to be served on parole.[58][59]
Shmurda was released on February 23, 2021 under supervision by fellow community members in Kings County, New York.[60] He will be under parole until the end of his full sentence on February 23, 2026.[61] Rapper Quavo picked up Shmurda from prison on February 23, 2021, after stating in an interview with Billboard that he was "...personally (gonna go) pick up Bobby Shmurda."[62][63]
Discography
Mixtapes
Title | Album details |
---|---|
Shmoney Shmurda (with GS9)[64] |
|
Shmurdaville |
|
Extended plays
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [65] |
US R&B/HH [66] |
US Rap [67] | |||
Shmurda She Wrote |
|
79 | 7 | 5 |
Singles
As lead artist
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [8] |
US R&B/HH [70] |
US Rap [71] |
CAN [72] |
FRA [73] |
UK [74] | ||||||||
"Hot N*gga" | 2014 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 131 | 74 | Shmurda She Wrote | |||||
"Bobby Bitch" | 92 | 25 | 21 | — | — | — |
| ||||||
"No Time for Sleep (Freestyle)"[75] | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | TBA | |||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
As featured artist
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [8] |
US R&B/HH [70] |
AUS [76] |
AUT [77] |
CAN [72] |
NZ Hot [78] |
UK [79] | ||||
"How Can I Lose" (YT Triz featuring Bobby Shmurda) |
2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Tales from Crime Hill | |
"Body Dance" (Uncle Murda featuring Bobby Shmurda) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | non-album single | ||
"Computers"[80] (Rowdy Rebel featuring Bobby Shmurda) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | Shmoney Shmurda | ||
"Bodies" (Chinx featuring Bobby Shmurda and Rowdy Rebel) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | non-album single | ||
"Stoopid"[34] (6ix9ine featuring Bobby Shmurda) |
2018 | 25 | 15 | 63 | 48 | 22 | 5 | 34 |
|
Dummy Boy |
Guest appearances
Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
---|---|---|---|
"Hit Em Hard" | 2014 | The Game, Freddie Gibbs, Skeme | Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf |
"24 Hours (Remix)" | TeeFLii, Ty Dolla $ign | N/A | |
"On My Way" | Rich The Kid, Rowdy Rebel | Rich Than Famous | |
"Celebration" | Shy Glizzy | Law 3: Now or Never | |
"Block Boy" | Foolie Tha Prince, Gusto Tha Animal | N/A | |
"Shmoney Never Stop" | 2015 | Migos | Migo Lingo |
"Right Now" | 2016 | Rowdy Rebel, French Montana | Shmoney Keeps Calling |
"She All About Her Shmoney" | Rowdy Rebel, Too $hort | ||
"Time Ticking" | Juelz Santana, Dave East, Rowdy Rebel | N/A |
References
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Bobby Shmurda's one Hot Ni**a". Jamaica Observer. August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Nestel, M. L. (December 17, 2014). "Rapper Bobby Shmurda Arrested at New York's Notorious Quad Studios". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
- ^ dan-rys (December 18, 2014). "Here Are The Official Charges Against Jamie Do And GS9". XXL Mag. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
- ^ https://www.thefader.com/2014/08/28/premiere-brooklyns-last-badmon-bobby-shmurda-talks-hot-nigga-reggae-remix. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - ^ "You're Not Paying Attention to New York's Most Exciting New Rap Scene". www.vice.com. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^ "There's a New Hip-Hop Movement Brewing in New York, and Everybody Knows It". XXL Mag. April 15, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ "Tomorrow's Hits: Bobby Shmurda, Priory & Anzel". Billboard. July 25, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Bobby Shmurda – Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 30, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Sullivan, Gail (December 19, 2014). "How rapper Bobby Shmurda, charged in murder, drug trafficking sting, became an alleged gangster". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Rosenberg, Rebecca; Perez, Chris (December 18, 2014). "Bobby Shmurda to be arraigned on drug ring charges". New York Post. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda cops seven-year plea deal in gang conspiracy, case". Retrieved September 12, 2016.
- ^ Yoo, Noah. "Bobby Shmurda Released From Prison". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Why 'Free Bobby Shmurda' Meant So Much to So Many People". Complex. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Premiere: Brooklyn's Last Badmon Bobby Shmurda Talks "Hot Nigga" Reggae Remix". The Fader. United States. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Ahmed, Insanul (July 14, 2014). "Meet Bobby Shmurda, the Brooklyn Rapper Everyone Is Talking About". Complex. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ "15 members of GS 9 gang indicted and arrested: 210 firearms seized" (PDF). nyc.gov. December 18, 2014.
- ^ Pearce, Sheldon (December 16, 2015). "Why is Bobby Shmurda still in jail?". The Guardian. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Trammell, Matthew (July 30, 2014). "Interview: Jahlil Beats Talks Producing "Hot Nigga," Bobby Shmurda's Breakout Hit". The Fader. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Smith, Trevor (August 8, 2014). "Bobby Shmurda Confirms Chris Brown & More For "Hot Ni**a" Official Remix". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ Dharmic X (July 12, 2014). "Looks Like Beyoncé Did the Shmoney Dance At the "On The Run" Show Tonight". Complex. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
- ^ Fall, Kyle (July 16, 2014). "Drake Hosts The 2014 ESPY Awards". rapWAVE. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ Goddard, Kevin (July 17, 2014). "Drake Hosts 2014 ESPY Awards". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ "Juicy J "Hot Nigga Freestyle"". HipHopDX. July 21, 2014. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ Fleischer, Adam (August 5, 2014). "French Montana Shmoney Dances All Over Bobby Shmurda's 'Hot N—a' Remix". MTV. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ Robertson, Darryl (August 7, 2014). "New Music: Lil Kim Jumps On Bobby Shmurda's 'Hot Nigga'". Vibe. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ Rys, Dan (August 8, 2014). "Gunplay Throws Shots At 50 Cent On His "Hot Nigga" Remix". XXL. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ "New Music: T.I. – 'Hot Ni**a (Remix)'". Rap-Up. August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ Alexis, Nadeska (July 18, 2014). "Bobby Shmurda Signed A Record Deal… Break Out The Shmoney Dance". MTV. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
- ^ Mendizabal, Amaya (August 7, 2014). "Iggy Azalea Closes In On Rap Chart Record With 'Fancy'". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^ "New Music: Bobby Shmurda Feat. Fabolous, Jadakiss, Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, Rowdy Rebel And Yo Gotti 'Hot Ni**a (Remix)'". Vibe. September 7, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
- ^ Alexis, Nadeska (August 29, 2014). "Listen To Bobby Shmurda's Official Reggae Remix Of 'Hot N—a'". MTV. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
- ^ "Listen to Bobby Shmurda Deliver a Freestyle From Prison". Spin. February 28, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda Guests on 6ix9ine's New Song "Stoopid"". Complex. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Stoopid – Single by 6ix9ine on Apple Music". Apple Inc. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
- ^ Lamarre, Carl (July 24, 2021). "A$AP Rocky & Bobby Shmurda Bring New York Swagger to Miami's 2021 Rolling Loud Festival". Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda – Rapper Bobby Shmurda Facing Gun Charge". Contactmusic.com. August 29, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda Speaks From Jail: 'People Are Trying to Take My Life Away for Being Blessed' (Exclusive)". Billboard. February 8, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ "A 20-Year-Old Kid From Brooklyn Just Owned Hip-Hop This Summer, Here's How". Elite Daily.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Hays, Tom (December 18, 2014). "NYC Rapper pleads not guilty to gun, drug charges". Yahoo News. Associated Press. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda will be eligible for prison release next month". Happy Mag. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ "Hot Nigga Lyrics". Genius Lyrics. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda -- Knuckles Up for Crips vs. Bloods ... Jailhouse Edition". tmz.com. May 16, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
- ^ Hill, John. "Bobby Shmurda Faces More Jail Time After Smuggling a Knife into Jail – Noisey". Vice. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda & Girlfriend Plead Not Guilty to Her Smuggling Knife Into Prison: Report – Billboard". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. July 24, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
- ^ Schwartz, Danny (October 5, 2015). "Bobby Shmurda Denied Bail Yet Again, Trial Set For 2016". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda Accepts Plea Deal, Will Serve Seven Years". Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ Mckinley Jr., James C. (September 9, 2016). "Rapper Bobby Shmurda Takes 7-Year Plea Deal in Gang Case". The New York Times. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda Sentenced For Prison Shank". tmz.com. April 7, 2017.
- ^ https://hiphopdx.com, HipHopDX- (February 3, 2017). "Bobby Shmurda Moves Prisons After Someone Tries To Stab Him". HipHopDX.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda Was Reportedly Involved in a Gang-Related Jail Fight". Complex. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
- ^ "Here's How Much Money Bobby Shmurda Is Reportedly Making With New Prison Job". BET.com. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda Looks Happy In Prison In New Photo With Family". Urban Islandz. October 6, 2018.
- ^ "Photos Released of Bobby Shmurda as He Approaches 3 Years Behind Bars". BET.com. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
- ^ "Despite online rumors, Bobby Shmurda's parole hearing isn't until later this month". ajc. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda wont get out of prison until 2021 He was Denied Parole". CelebrityInsider. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda jail photo surfaces ahead of 2020 release date". Monsters and Critics. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda wont get out of prison until 2021 He was Denied Parole". CelebrityInsider. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda Is Coming Home. What Happens Next?". NPR. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda Eligible for Release From Prison in February". The New York Times. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ Trepany, Charles. "Bobby Shmurda, viral 'Hot Boy,' 'Shmoney Dance' rapper, released from prison". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda Will Enjoy Family Time, Back to Work After Prison Release". TMZ. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Quavo Says He Will Pick Up Bobby Shmurda From Prison When Released: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Quavo Picked Up Bobby Shmurda With a Private Jet". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "GS9 – Shmoney Shmurda (Shmixtape)". DatPiff. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016.
- ^ "Bobby Shrmurda – Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016.
- ^ "Bobby Shrmurda – Chart History: Top Rap Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016.
- ^ "Shmurda She Wrote – EP by Bobby Shmurda". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "American certifications – Bobby Shmurda". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Bobby Shmurda – Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 30, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda – Chart History: Hot Rap Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 30, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Bobby Shmurda – Chart History: Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 30, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
- ^ "Discographie Bobby Shmurda". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
- ^ "Bobby Shmurda". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
select "Singles" tab
- ^ Saponara, Michael (August 30, 2021). "Bobby Shmurda Teases Return To Music". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "6ix9ine feat. Bobby Shmurda - Stoopid". australian-charts.com. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ "6ix9ine feat. Bobby Shmurda - Stoopid". austriancharts.at. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ "Hot Singles Chart". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ "BOBBY SHMURDA | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ "Computers (feat. Bobby Shmurda) - Single by Rowdy Rebel on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ "American single certifications – Rowdy Rebel – Computers". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "American single certifications – 6ix9ine – Stoopid". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- 1994 births
- 21st-century American rappers
- 21st-century American singers
- 21st-century male singers
- American prisoners and detainees
- American rappers of Jamaican descent
- American rappers of Trinidad and Tobago descent
- African-American male rappers
- Crips
- East Coast hip hop musicians
- Epic Records artists
- Gangsta rappers
- Living people
- People from Flatbush, Brooklyn
- Prisoners and detainees of New York (state)
- Rappers from Brooklyn
- Rappers from New York (state)
- Rappers from New York City