The song “International Love” (2011) by American rapper Pitbull contains the lyrics:
 
“You put it down like New York City. I never sleep.”
 
“I never sleep” refers to the famous moniker of New York City, “the city that never sleeps” (that is, where the action is around the clock). “Put it down” was entered in the Urban Dictionary on April 2, 2003, meaning “In the process of ‘doing it.’”
 
Although the song “International Love” made the phrase famous in 2011, similar sayings had been cited in print before that. “Jayz and Keys put it down for New York” (referring to the 2009 song “Empire State of Mind”) was posted on Twitter by Coachballfirm on September 13, 2009. “Yankees baby. Gotta put it down for NEW YORK!! Let’s GOO!” (referring to the New York Yankees baseball team) was posted on Twitter by mamamoon🇭🇹 on October 25, 2009. “BIG-PUN,ODB,BIGGIE SMALLS,JAM MASTER-J YES YES YA’LL!!THE BIRTH PLACE OF RAP,THE #1 CITY ON DA MAP NEW YORK WE PUT IT DOWN LIKE THAT!—CNN” was posted on Twitter by 5th Seal on December 17, 2009.
   
     
Wikipedia: International Love
“International Love” is a song by American rapper Pitbull from his sixth studio album, Planet Pit (2011). The song features vocals from American R&B singer Chris Brown. It was written by Pitbull, Soulshock, Peter Biker, Sean Hurley and Claude Kelly, and it was produced by Soulshock, Biker and Hurley. The song was first released on May 27, 2011 as the first promotional single from the album. However, on October 11, 2011, the single started airing on rhythmic radio in the United States, and was finally released as the fourth and final official single on November 1, 2011, when it impacted US mainstream radio. It peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
 
Genius
International Love
Pitbull
(...)
[Chorus: Chris Brown & Pitbull]
You put it down like New York City, I never sleep (Yeah)
Wild like Los Angeles, my fantasy (Chris Brown, woo!)
Hotter than Miami, I-I-I feel the heat, oh, yeah
Oh, girl, it’s international love, oh, oh, oh, yeah, it’s international love (woo!)
 
YouTube
#Pitbull #InternationalLove #Vevo
Pitbull ft. Chris Brown - International Love (Official Video)
Dec 8, 2011
Pitbull
Pitbull’s official music video for ‘International Love’ ft. Chris Brown. Click to listen to Pitbull on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/PBSpot?IQid=PitIL
       
Urban Dictionary
put it down
In the process of “doing it”
Im gonna put it down fo real
by Anonymous April 02, 2003
   
Urban Dictionary
PutItDown
Put It Down- to swear by, making it the truth, promise, the truth
I don’t believe you. PutItDown on your hood that you did that.
#truth#no lie#promise#dog#cat#cool#neighborhood
by MAXXYB September 14, 2008
 
Twitter     
Coachballfirm
@Coachballfirm
Jayz and Keys put it down for New York..
11:32 PM · Sep 13, 2009·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter
mamamoon🇭🇹
@_cynnsation
Yankees baby. Gotta put it down for NEW YORK!! Let’s GOO!
7:54 PM · Oct 25, 2009·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter 
5th Seal
@5thSealBeats
BIG-PUN,ODB,BIGGIE SMALLS,JAM MASTER-J YES YES YA’LL!!THE BIRTH PLACE OF RAP,THE #1 CITY ON DA MAP NEW YORK WE PUT IT DOWN LIKE THAT!—CNN
9:31 AM · Dec 17, 2009·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter           
King Of Sorrow
@KoolPapaiLL
The birth place of rap new york city….we put it down like that… Long Island blood in my vein, new york make my heart beat…
8:52 PM · Dec 17, 2009·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
GetYourz Uncle E
@GetYourz_
THE BIRTH PLACE OF RAP THE NUMBER ONE CITY ON THE MAP NEW YORK!! WE PUT IT DOWN LIKE THAT… IM FROM NEW YORK!!!!
8:45 AM · Dec 31, 2009·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter
Steven_Fanlu
@Steven_Fanlu
I put it down like dat new york nigga suppose to.
6:02 PM · Apr 23, 2010·Twitter Web Client
     
Twitter
J.DOT
@J_DOT718
Replying to @shaybutta21
@shaybutta21 let me know when you coming to New York and I’ll show you how to put it down that’s where we do dat at
1:49 AM · Jul 22, 2010·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter
Rudeboy NMS
@yurztruley89
new york was fun niggaz put it down in brooklyn ..shout out to my niggaz u-neek , laca, fresh & jitty .. hip hop new era
4:36 PM · Jul 30, 2010·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter
RAW.ROCK.REBEL.RIOT.
@Rainbow__Kush
These last couple of days have been perfect. Some of THE best memories of my life. Show up, Show out, We put on & Put it down, NEW YORK CITY
5:44 AM · Sep 11, 2010·ÜberSocialOrig
 
Twitter
Miss
@missDominique_
Shout out to the nigga that said “aye girl let me show u how a new york nigga put it down” #imSayin hahhaahha
2:07 AM · Sep 18, 2010·ÜberSocialOrig
 
Twitter
rick
@ricksnotdead
you put it down like new york city
12:50 AM · Oct 4, 2010·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter
Marloek Oudshoorn
@MARLOEK_
u put it down like new york city, never sleep, wild like los angeles, a fantasy, hotter than miami, i feel the heath, its international love
6:13 AM · Oct 7, 2010·Twitter Web Client