"Empire State of Mind" Jay-Z | Alicia Keys

"Empire State of Mind"
Single by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys
from the album The Blueprint 3
Released	October 20, 2009 (single)
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2009; Roc The Mic Studios, Oven Studios (New York City, New York)[1]
Genre	Hip hop, R&B, Rap rock
Length	4.37 (Album Version) 3.16 (Radio Edit)
Label	Roc Nation, Atlantic
Writer(s)	A. Hunte, A. Keys, A. Shuckburgh, B. Keyes, J. Sewell, S. Carter, S. Robinson
Producer	Al Shux
Certification	3× Platinum (RIAA)
Jay-Z singles chronology
"Run This Town" (2009) "Empire State of Mind" (2009) "On to the Next One" (2009)
Alicia Keys singles chronology "Another Way to Die" (2008) "Empire State of Mind" (2009) "Doesn't Mean Anything" (2009)

"Empire State of Mind" is a song by American rapper and hip hop artist Jay-Z, featuring vocals from R&B and soul singer Alicia Keys. It was released as the third single from Jay-Z's 11th studio album The Blueprint 3 (2009), from his Roc Nation label in October 2009. The song is an anthemic ode to both artists' native New York, and features a music sample of "Love on a Two-Way Street" (1970) by The Moments. The track was originally written afterBrooklyn natives Angela Hunte and Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic were feeling homesick while on an overseas trip in February 2009. The following month they sent the song in for consideration at Roc Nation, but the song received negative reviews. Initially discouraged, the duo sent the song to Jay-Z after being suggested to by an associate of EMI, and after an incident which they described as an omen.

After hearing the song, Jay-Z immediately recorded it, having changed all of the verses, but keeping the hook. The track was supposed to feature Hunte on the song's hook, but when Hunte and Sewell-Ulepic were asked if they thought someone else would be more appropriate for the chorus, Hunte suggested Keys. Mary J. Blige was also considered for Keys' part, but Keys was chosen after Jay-Z heard the song's piano loop. The song was viewed as being an "orchestral rap ballad" and has pop-rap musical styles. It contains references to drugs, locations in New York as well as its famous residents, and describes the city's essence. Profanity is also present throughout the song, and although it is usually included during live performances, it was omitted during Jay-Z and Keys' performance at Game 2 of the 2009 World Series.

It was included in multiple critics top 10 list for the best songs of 2009, including Rolling Stone magazine's and the New York Times'. "Empire State of Mind" achieved commercial success worldwide. The track peaked within the top 10 in multiple countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Italy and Sweden. The single was commercially successful in the United States, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks, becoming Jay-Z's first number-one single on the chart as a lead artist. The song appeared in 2009 year-end charts in Italy, Australia and the U.S.

In the song's music video, which is primarily in black-and-white, Jay-Z and Keys are shown performing the song in various locations in New York. "Empire State of Mind" has been performed by Jay-Z and Keys multiple times, including during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards and the 2009 American Music Awards. Usually when the duo performs the song, an overhead screen shows images of places in New York. Keys has recorded a sequel entitled "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down", which is featured on her fourth studio album The Element of Freedom (2009). Keys' version was well received by critics and was commercially successful, although it was not as successful as its predecessor. Keys said that she chose to record her own version of "Empire State of Mind" because she wanted to express her own personal feelings about New York. On December 1st, 2010, the song received threeGrammy nominations, for Best Rap Song, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Record of the Year. Moon Music

Empire State Of Mind (Part II) Lyrics

Ooohh New York x2

Grew up in a town that is famous as the place of movie scenes
Noise was always loud, there are sirens all around and the streets are mean
If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere, that's what they say
Seeing my face in lights or my name on marquees found down on Broadway

Even if it ain’t all it seems, I got a pocketful of dreams
Baby, I'm from New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Hear it for New York, New York, New York!

On the avenue, there ain't never a curfew, ladies work so hard
Such a melting pot, on the corner selling rock, preachers pray to God
Hail a gypsy cab, takes me down from Harlem to the Brooklyn Bridge
Some will sleep tonight with a hunger far more than an empty fridge

I'm gonna make it by any means, I got a pocketful of dreams
Baby, I'm from New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York
These street will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Hear it for New York, New York, New York!

One hand in the air for the big city,
Street lights, big dreams all looking pretty
No place in the world that can compare
Put your lighters in the air, everybody say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

In New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
http://www.elyricsworld.com/empire_state_of_mind_(part_ii)_lyrics_alicia_keys.html
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Now you're in New York!

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York
These street will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Hear it for New York!