Downtown Smokers Night Vol.4
Knicks Tape 2026
Knicks Tape — A Victory Lap for New York
There are mixtapes, and then there are time capsules.
Knicks Tape is a 27-track celebration of New York City at one of its defining cultural moments—the return of the New York Knicks to the top. More than a championship soundtrack, this mix captures the sound of a city rediscovering its swagger.
Curated and mixed by DJ Kando, the project moves through every borough, every era, and every emotion that has shaped New York's musical identity. From the unmistakable street anthems of Jadakiss, Nas, Jay-Z, Big Pun, M.O.P., and The Notorious B.I.G. to the triumphant voices of Alicia Keys and Frank Sinatra, every transition feels like another block on a championship parade route.
Rather than following a traditional playlist format, Knicks Tape unfolds like a cinematic journey. It opens with raw street energy, builds through Harlem, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, and reaches its emotional peak with a collection of New York's most iconic anthems. Along the way are exclusive edits, live freestyles, rare moments, and DJ Kando's signature sequencing that transforms familiar classics into one continuous celebration.
The timing couldn't be more fitting.
As New York celebrates a long-awaited basketball championship, the city has once again become the center of the cultural conversation. From packed subway platforms and corner bodegas to championship parades and late-night celebrations, Knicks Tape bottles the sound of a city united by pride.
This is not simply music for Knicks fans.
It is a soundtrack for anyone who has ever fallen in love with New York.
Whether you're driving across the Brooklyn Bridge at midnight, walking through Harlem, standing in Times Square, or remembering the city from halfway across the world, every record on this mix reminds listeners why New York continues to set the rhythm for global culture.
Closing with "Empire State of Mind", the project comes full circle—ending where every New York story ultimately belongs: with the city's unofficial anthem echoing through the skyline.
Knicks Tape is more than a championship mixtape.
It's a love letter to New York.
Track List
Intro
Jadakiss Freestyle
We Gonna Make It - Jadakiss
Skit
New York - Ja Rule
Lean Back - Fat Joe Feat Remy Ma
All The Way Up Remix - French Montana Feat Remy Ma
Ante Up Remix - M.O.P. Feat Busta Rhymes, Remy Ma and Big Pun
New York Giants - Big Pun feat M.O.P.
Heart of The City - Jay-Z
Welcome to New York City - Camron feat Jay-Z
N.Y State of Mind REMIX - Nas feat Alicia Keys and Rakim
Empire State of Mind (Part2) - Alicia Keys
New York (Ya Out There) - Rakim
The Place Where We Dwell - Gang Starr
Live Freestyle - Notorious BIG
Brooklyn - Fabulous feat Jay-z
It’s Alright (New York Edit) - Jay-Z
New York Knicks Energy (Do It Again) - Kyah Baby
The City is Mine - Jay-Z feat Blackstreet
New York Knicks Anthem - Busta Rhymes feat Swizz Beats, Papoose, Nems, Joey Bada$$
Hands Up (DJ Kando Edit) - DJ Riz and Fatman Scoop
Deja Vu (Uptown Baby) - Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz
Ghetto Jiggy - Lost Boyz
I Like It (I Wanna Be Where You Are) - Grand Pub
Theme From New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z feat Alicia Keys