New York City

New York City is our captain's very own home port, Josh Block who's known to fans and critics as "The Drunken King of New York," Josh has claimed a self-styled "monopoly" over the city’s streets through his roaming videos. From the sidewalks of Manhattan to the trains of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), New York City is both his playground and his battleground, fueling a relentless stream of public incidents.

Josh has frequented New York City from an early age, but his visits became progressively more common after turning 20. Josh used to go to New York City via the Long Island Rail Road from his home in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. Josh claims to be from the Bronx (in specific, Grand Concourse), Brownsville, and East New York.

Josh has referred to himself as the "Captain of NY" and "King of New York" the city propelled him into internet niche stardom after he began going viral by singing erratically along to the lyrics of the 2009 single by Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys, Empire State of Mind.

The city’s energy amplifies his volatility, with figures like Mr Based and Michael Quinn orbiting him, either egging him on or reeling him in. Josh remains tethered to New York, a figure as inescapable as the city itself.

Josh Block and NYC

Josh’s bond with New York City kicked off with his rise on TikTok under @worldoftshirts, where he turned its streets into his personal runway. Early videos showcased him wandering, through Times Square, the Bronx, and beyond, building a following drawn to his "unique" style of content.

The city’s dense, unforgiving layout has been a perfect match for Josh’s antics. Public transit—like the LIRR, where he spat at teens on April 1, 2024, made a natural stage for his meltdowns. Bars like Mickey Spillane’s and The Long Pour, which banned him in 2024 for verbal abuse and racial slurs, mark his turf as much as the streets he’s urinated on, from store windows to subway cars.

Key Figures

Mr Based

Main article: Jason Itzler

Mr Based, real name Jason Itzler, became Quinn's replacement as Josh’s de-facto enabler/ manager and New York companion. Jason serves as Josh's livestream partner who’s both accomplice and punching bag. Their dynamic has produced gems like Josh dousing him with a mystery liquid (possibly urine) on July 14, 2023, and "fatherly" moments like Mr Based scolding Josh for saying the N-word on a September 17, 2024, stream. Based’s presence ties Josh deeper to New York, preventing him from traveling as frequently as he'd like.

Michael Quinn

Main article: Michael Quinn

Michael Quinn drifted into Josh’s NYC life as his first major enabler/ manager, linked to Josh's earliest crashouts. Quinn’s TikTok posts, like his spin on the LIRR spitting incident as a heroic stand, clash with video evidence, hinting at manipulation.

Important Locations

Hoyt–Schermerhorn Street

Main article: Ahoyt

Joshua's obsession with Hoyt-Schermerhorn likely has to do with him creating a video in reference to Michael Jackson's "Bad" music video, which was filmed at the station. In the video, Josh donned a black wig and leather jacket, and filmed himself dancing around the station, lip syncing the song.

Mr. Based's Apartment

Main article: Mr Based's Apartment

Mr. Based's Apartment, owned by Jason Itzler, is a notable location on St. Marks Place in the East Village, Manhattan, New York City, frequently used as a setting for Josh's livestreams. The apartment has gained attention for its cluttered, eclectic decor and its role in Josh's online content, often marked by controversial incidents.

Durgey's Bar

Main article: Durgy's Bar

Durgy's Bar is a dive bar that is a frequent streaming location in the Mr. Based Era. Formerly named The Area 140 First Bar, Josh and Mr. Based refers to it as "Durgy's" or "Durgy's Bar" after its owner, Michael Durgavich.

Durgy's Bar permits the livestreams from Mr. Based. Some streams featured the bartenders remarking how their affiliation with Josh was good for business, but many patrons loudly object to having cameras pointed at them. On some occasions Josh flees into the bar to seek refuge as he's being pursued by trolls, bringing a commotion inside.

On April 10, 2025 Mr. Based was arrested inside the bar for violating the restraining order protecting Alex Novell.

Notable Incidents

Stomping a Fish (June 2021)

Main article: Fish Stomping Incident

Josh’s NYC saga kicked into high gear when he stomped a fish to death, grinning and saying, "I want to smash its brains out." His later excuses—he was "set up" and dared—didn’t stop a hotel swatting fallout, setting the tone for his city tenure.

Public Table Tantrum (July 20, 2023)

On a Manhattan street, Josh jumped on a table, stomped it cartoon-style, then charged at bystanders recording him. It’s one of his 33 violence counts, pure NYC chaos.

Gay Bar Ban (March 5, 2024)

Banned from Mickey Spillane’s after abusing staff and patrons, Josh confirmed it in a TikTok comment. It’s tied to his 35 discrimination incidents, with a possible N-word link later that month.

Kicking People, Damaging Cars (September 17, 2024)

Josh went full tilt in NYC, kicking two women, fighting a parked car, and screaming death threats. Mr Based called him a "lunatic" and paused their streams, a rare break in their city routine.

Train Piss (August 28, 2024)

Main article: Beatbox Incident

Back from San Francisco, Josh whipped it out on a subway to refill a Beatbox carton with urine, dubbed "The Captain dropping his barnacle anchor" by fans. Censorship led to an artistic redraw.

Money and Law

Josh’s NYC life isn’t cheap. On April 19, 2024, he admitted owing $9,000 in taxes, whining it’d cramp his travel style despite a payment plan. Arrests pile up too, like when Josh punched Gina Borgia on July 20, 2024.

See also

• Josh Block
• Jason Itzler
• Michael Quinn