Empire State of Mind

"Empire State of Mind"
Single by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys
from the album The Blueprint 3
Released	October 20, 2009 (2009-10-20)
Recorded	2009
Studio	Roc the Mic Studios Oven Studios (New York City, New York)
Genre	Hip hop pop rap
Length	4:36
Label	Roc Nation Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Shawn Carter Alexander Shuckburgh Janet Sewell-Ulepic Angela Hunte Alicia Keys Sylvia Robinson Bert Keyes
Producer(s)	Al Shux Janet Sewell-Ulepic Angela Hunte
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)
Music video
"Empire State of Mind" on YouTube

"Empire State of Mind" is a song performed by American rapper Jay-Z featuring American singer Alicia Keys from the former's eleventh studio album, The Blueprint 3 (2009). It was released by his then-newfound record label Roc Nation and Atlantic Records on October 20, 2009. Produced by Al Shux, the song features a music sample of "Love on a Two-Way Street" performed by The Moments. Angela Hunte and Janet Sewell-Ulepic originally wrote it as a tribute to their hometown, New York City. The following month, they submitted it to Roc Nation, whose reviews were discouraging. They later took the suggestion of an EMI Music Publishing associate and resubmitted it to Jay-Z, who kept the "New York" singing part on the hook, changed the verses, and recorded it. The song's title, similar to "New York State of Mind" by Billy Joel and "N.Y. State of Mind" by Nas, is a play on and tribute to New York's nickname "Empire State".

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. Mary J. Blige was also considered, but 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 various locations in New York and its famous residents, while describing the city's essence.

"Empire State of Mind" was included in multiple critics' top 10 list of the best songs of 2009, including Rolling Stone magazine and The New York Times. It was also nominated for three Grammy Awards, winning Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. The song achieved commercial success worldwide. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the US for five consecutive weeks, becoming Jay-Z's first number-one single on the chart as a lead artist. It also peaked within the top 10 in other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Italy and Sweden. It appeared in 2009 year-end charts in Italy, Australia and the US, where it was also the last number one hit of the 2000s. As of July 2024, the single has sold over 10 million units in the United States.^[1]

In the 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" was released as the third single from The Blueprint 3 in October 2009. It has been performed by Jay-Z and Keys multiple times, including during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards and the American Music Awards of 2009. Usually, when the duo performs the song, an overhead screen shows images of places in New York. Keys 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). Her version was positively received by critics, reached the Top 10 in the UK, the Netherlands and Ireland charts, and peaked at number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 without an official release. Keys said that she chose to record her own version of "Empire State of Mind" to express her personal feelings about New York.