A 2009 hip-hop single by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys, celebrating New York City with a piano hook built around Keys's chorus.
Composition
Empire State of Mind samples “Love on a Two-Way Street” by the Moments and pairs Jay-Z verses about life in New York with a chorus sung by Alicia Keys. The song was written and produced by a credited group including Al Shux and Janet Sewell-Ulepic.
Reception
The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 2009 and stayed there for five weeks, becoming Jay-Z’s first number-one single as a lead artist. It won two Grammy Awards at the 2011 ceremony.
Legacy
The song became a staple at New York sporting events, including New York Yankees games during their 2009 World Series run. Alicia Keys also released a piano-led solo version titled “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down.”
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Empire State of Mind starts with E and ends with D. Browse other songs along the same letter.
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