![\"Empire](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/6\/64\/Empire_State_of_Mind_%28Part_II%29_Broken_Down.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAlicia Keys | Empire State Of Mind | 2009<\/p>\n
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“Empire State of Mind<\/b>” is a song performed by American rapper\u00a0Jay-Z\u00a0featuring American singer\u00a0Alicia Keys\u00a0from the former’s eleventh studio album,\u00a0The Blueprint 3<\/i>\u00a0(2009). It was released by his then-newfound record label\u00a0Roc Nation\u00a0and\u00a0Atlantic Records\u00a0on October 20, 2009. Produced by\u00a0Al Shux, the song features a music\u00a0sample\u00a0of “Love on a Two-Way Street” performed by\u00a0The Moments.\u00a0Angela Hunte\u00a0and Janet Sewell-Ulepic originally wrote it as a tribute to their hometown,\u00a0New York City. The following month, they submitted it to Roc Nation, whose reviews were discouraging. They later took the suggestion of an\u00a0EMI Music Publishing\u00a0associate and resubmitted it to Jay-Z, who kept the “New York” singing part on the\u00a0hook, changed the verses, and recorded it. The song’s title, similar to “New York State of Mind” by\u00a0Billy Joel\u00a0and “N.Y. State of Mind” by\u00a0Nas, is a play on and tribute to New York’s nickname “Empire State”.<\/p>\n
The song originally featured Hunte on the hook, but when Hunte and Sewell-Ulepic were asked if they thought anyone else would be more appropriate for the chorus, Hunte suggested Keys. Fellow New York-based musician\u00a0Mary J. Blige\u00a0was also considered, but turned down the hook because of “Stronger with Each Tear” recordings and Keys was chosen after Jay-Z heard the song’s piano loop. “Empire State of Mind” contains songwriting contributions from Keys and Shux. Critics described the song as an “orchestral rap ballad” with “crashing piano chords” and a “soaring” hook. It references several locations in New York and its famous residents, while describing the city’s essence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Alicia Keys | Empire State Of Mind | 2009 “Empire State of Mind” is a song performed by American rapper\u00a0Jay-Z\u00a0featuring American singer\u00a0Alicia Keys\u00a0from the former’s eleventh studio album,\u00a0The Blueprint 3\u00a0(2009).<\/p>\n