mind empire state mind song written jane produced american rapper jay-z featuring vocals sung american singer released single jay-z 11th studio album blueprint label october song written tribute artists hometown new_york_city features music sample love way street written performed moments following month submitted song jay-z nation reviews following incident describe took suggestion associate jay-z kept new_york singing hook changed verses recorded single single supposed feature song hook asked thought appropriate chorus suggested keys considered keys chosen jay-z heard song piano loop song viewed orchestral rap ballad pop rap musical styles contains references locations new_york famous residents describing city essence profanity present song usually included live performances omitted performance game world series critical success song included multiple critics list best songs including rolling_stone_magazine new_york_times song nominated grammy awards winning best rap sung collaboration empire state mind achieved commercial success worldwide track peaked countries including united_states united_kingdom canada australia france italy sweden single commercially successful united_states peaking number billboard hot consecutive weeks jay-z number single chart lead artist appeared year end charts italy australia song number hit 2000s june single sold million copies united_states song music video primarily black white jay-z keys shown performing song locations new_york mind performed jay-z keys multiple times including mtv_video_music_awards american music awards usually duo performs song overhead screen shows images places new_york keys recorded sequel entitled empire state mind broken featured fourth studio album element freedom version positively received critics commercially successful predecessor netherlands ireland said chose record version empire state mind wanted express personal feelings new_york background writing empire state mind originally created singer songwriter producer native brooklyn writing partner jane grew building rapper hip hop artist jay-z lived state street address mentioned song track creation inspired overseas trip london february feeling ill summer mother ill recalls said complain new_york busy streets crowds pushing subway system trade right left hotel night knew write song city wrote song simple way voice feelings hometown sent nation music label following month hope jay-z like record received negative reviews track convinced recorded summer year emi jon big jon heard track fell love believing perfect jay-z hesitant sent track consideration unsuccessful according notorious figure kept computer fell played track statue moved regardless loud music realized commented looked like send jay day sent jay-z loved recorded night recalls happy wanted honor work production female producers writers rapper song combination lot open minded couldn grateful originally composed song sung jay-z ended new verses inspired original lyrics leaving song hook asked thought appropriate chorus suggested soul artist said record vocal tone song sound close original nailed brought home great choice keys contributed writing empire state mind new bridge jay-z stated interview heard track piano loops sampled love way street moments immediately thought keys wanted featured song jay-z said initially considered keys empire state mind admitted seconds away asking appear record chorus second choice track vocals keys song safe said combination keys sound piano talent struck chord december reveal details said original version empire state mind day released adding original powerful matter time till hear line composition empire state mind features rap verses jay-z vocals song chorus keys rap hip hop song influences electropop orchestral pop track pop rap musical styles contains music sample chart topping single love way street moments sample piano component runs song song played moderate tempo beats minute written key major sequence chord progression single keys vocal range changes register nme described keys having established crashing piano chords verses track billboard magazine noted track simple piano pattern times described song orchestral rap ballad lyrically single opens lyrics referencing locations new_york checks notable neighborhoods captures city essence attending basketball games famous residents drug dealing references words profanity present song toronto star commented track lyrics new yeah love remarking argue noting living hip hop legend mtv_news felt keys track chorus line streets feel brand new bright lights inspire keys said recording song wanted sure got hook right explaining try couple times capturing kind grand feeling way sang time actually kind sick knew needed record like let added came revisited actually took couple times time energy high weekly felt singer sings song hook crucial role believing empire state mind smash concert attendees expect jay play wouldn work big clear voice sing hook november keys said vocals jay-z said wasn happy original keys said battling nasal congestion critical reception reviews empire state mind received acclaim contemporary music critics reviewers praising keys vocal performance allmusic listed song highlight blueprint commented song jay-z king new_york flag plenty landmark dropping turns great anthem help chorus los_angeles_times writer greg_kot commended jay-z ability perform cameos called song sound jay-z cruising pop hits nme described cameo popmatters called song chance jay-z respect new_york commented remains interesting thanks fantastic beat celebratory hook writing rolling_stone_magazine called new_york shout usa today perceived maturity jay-z song writing upper crust landmarks references far cry sights detailed expected self described new daily_telegraph described song sound club pop called keys chorus line called empire state mind album apex commending keys excellent display unusually strong vocals slant_magazine writer described keys soaring skyscraper level hook jay putting city ign music reviewer described keys having soaring vocals song new_york_post writer called empire state mind favorite song blueprint publication said empire state mind soulful song album called song inducing times writer called track heartfelt love letter new_york_city jay-z playing hip hop keys chorus guardian alexis_petridis described chorus incredible breezy pop publication felt track terrific homage new_york listed song good tracks blueprint pitchfork_media stated hooks run town empire state mind content way rankings honors empire state mind included multiple music critics list best songs single ranked 8th best song mtv second best song rolling_stone_magazine voted best single village_voice 37th annual critics poll list song number songs ranked new_york_times placed empire state mind number list songs pitchfork_media ranked number tracks list entertainment_weekly placed number list best singles empire state mind placed number nme albums tracks year list placed number popmatters list best singles number list songs song appears number rap list best songs jay-z long time fan new_york_yankees said songs empire state mind run town played different yankee player batting home games world series commenting incredible explanation hear music played yankee games new_york mayor commented empire state mind newest anthems yankees new_york_daily_news included number list best songs new_york 53rd grammy awards ceremony track won best rap sung collaboration nominees record year february billboard placed song number list biggest time september song placed number vh1 list greatest songs october nme placed number list best tracks past years additionally summer advertisement economic comeback features piano loop song key voice singing new_york complex placed song number list best jay songs number list best noting song replaced new_york new_york city anthem remains keys greatest contributions pop culture july popmatters placed song number list jay songs date remarking voice city night offers typical wit case new_york authenticity making song unofficial anthem celebrated city world poll published official_charts_company empire state mind ranked biggest selling single 21st century united_kingdom mind ranked number pitchfork media song year reader poll chart performance empire state mind achieved commercial success worldwide united_states track peaked number billboard hot consecutive weeks november december replacing owl city position giving jay-z number single chart lead artist fourteen year career song artists fourth number entry chart billboard hot number single reference new_york title included billboard year end music charts number number single 2000s decade according billboard magazine song 15th biggest hit recording artists time single sold digital copies opening week highest week sale december empire state mind peaked number billboard component chart sales legal digital downloads october topping billboard component chart singles radio airplay country consecutive weeks november january track peaked position hip hop songs chart consecutive weeks topping chart consecutive weeks months release mind certified times platinum recording_industry_association_of_america riaa shipment units august single reached sales mark june song sold copies united_kingdom track debuted number succeeding weeks single peaked number having held position break heart empire state mind peaked number canadian hot listed digital december song peaked number australia certified gold australian_recording_industry_association aria shipment units country empire state mind included australia year end music chart number new_zealand song peaked number furthermore single certified gold recording_industry_association_of_new_zealand rianz shipment units new_zealand single debuted number eighteen france eventually peaking number following weeks peaked number belgium flemish french charts song peaked positions music charts denmark ireland italy finland netherlands sweden italy empire state mind certified multi platinum empire state mind commercially successful charting territories austria brazil spain peaking number thirteen seventeen seven respectively music video original video music video empire state mind directed video filmed location features black white images new_york_city intercut color shots jay-z keys performing times square mind music video began filming september ground zero released october keys praised music video said video key elements homage hometown music video opens black white images locations new_york shown form intercut black white clip jay-z wearing yankees cap vest performing song street apartment buildings video begins rotate images new_york shown briefly clips jay-z singing empire state mind locations different outfits images shown include monument street signs leading subway stations black white clips keys wearing large high heels black shirt pants playing piano image statue liberty singing verse song street night cars drive keys performance intercut aerial views clips yankee stadium clips cars people ones walking new_york wearing yankee faces shown blurred keys jay-z wearing sunglasses night shown performing song video continues intercut clips performing empire state mind individually images new_york video ends color vision duo performing night red glass steps forming roof pavilion times square interspersed clips keys playing piano views new_york skyline alternate video jay-z lifestyle blog came alternative video features lip song locations manhattan video directed wrote video sure exactly video promoting caliber cast sheer impressive blogger commented models better job modeling clothes concluded video doubt greatest lip dub committed video live performances empire state mind performed jay-z answer benefit concert madison square garden september opening song ticket proceeds went fire song performed live mtv_video_music_awards september closed awards performance time jay-z keys performed song mtv_news commented performance set elegant hood time powerful moment new_york_post wrote voice jay-z stage presence audio adrenaline placed performance list performances mtv performance jay-z wore signature yankees cap keys wore black playing piano mtv performance images locations new_york shown overhead screen jay-z keys end performance rapper mama got stage posed jay-z keys finishing final verse track mama said mean performer song emotions running high adding moment came onstage celebrate icons singing keys responded incident saying appreciate overwhelmed inspired appreciated seat jay-z added lot planning went performance disrupt line entertainment weekly said duo brought genuine street heat tongue twisting empire state mind added keys piano soaring chorus brought feminine strength soul jay-z perform empire state mind keys opening game baseball world series early october weather duo perform ultimately performed song live yankee stadium game world series mid october musicians performed song custom stage adorned yankees flags images new_york_city large screens stadium rodriguez mtv_news wrote performance yankees looking change tune heading game world series couldn picked better musical guests live performances track lyrics containing profanity included song omitted world series set november jay-z keys sung empire state mind berlin germany performing new_york jocelyn_vena mtv_news noted jay-z took hometown pride seriously performance jay-z performed song yankees world series victory ceremonies november keys attendance performance singer recording artist filled verse song sung yankee members got seats shower jay-z single performed jay-z keys november began performance empire state mind rendition new_york new_york keys played piano stage blue lights backdrop tall buildings words new_york screens stage end song keys sung jay-z stage holding love sign los_angeles_times felt song worn welcome gave performance letter grade access hollywood positive feeling performance describing great live blog award ceremony empire state mind performed jay-z brit awards february guardian wrote jay-z rendition empire state mind daily_mail commented performance rare highlight according metro jay-z blew place away performance jay given welcome cultural hero keys soul powerful voice stopped tracks nation opined pair delivered powerful rendition song march jay-z joined keys onstage freedom tours new_york concerts perform empire state mind images new_york shown concert arena jay-z performed empire state mind singles california music festival april jay-z performed song live episode saturday night live jay-z performed song medley singles including jay-z wore white shirt black leather vest performing song stage light blue lights musicians playing instruments far san_diego nbc felt jay-z brought house performances melodies rodriguez mtv_news said sang keys turned heads outfit wearing boss rhyme sequel following release empire state mind january keys stated planning release second version song single following month featuring vocals track entitled empire state mind broken appeared keys fourth studio album element freedom released december original version entitled empire state mind included keys vocals new rap verse jay-z final product include record keys claimed acts strength vulnerability commenting music strong drums aggressive voice vulnerable delicate empire state mind broken generally received contemporary music critics reviews element freedom washington_post noted track pop ballad replaced empire state mind sports team references controversial string highlighting keys version lyrics track commercially successful empire state mind peaking number united_kingdom number canadian hot number sweden debuted charts number seventy seven peaked number billboard hot official release reaction covers comedy website parodied song video titled empire state mind writes lyrics follow events star wars films perspective video viewed nearly million times youtube music video newport state mind parodies song replacing references empire state new_york smaller newport welsh language means empire newport state mind directed british filmmaker featured london based actors rapping singing respectively days release said hope jay-z video long publishing people don force tongue cheek participants invited appear national television news work reported national newspapers work received wales invited reopening achieved viral video status reached nearly million hits days august nearly million people watched youtube july warren met music publishers discuss releasing track single proceeds going mental health charity seven writers empire state mind refused permission newport single situation led video removed youtube august empire state mind covered cast television series glee second season premiere episode audition september episode fictional glee club learning nationals held new_york decide perform empire state mind school courtyard hopes interest mtv felt choreography empire state mind compensated delivery writing publication thought cast performance lacking original version reported keys deemed glee cover amazing washington_post found song performance maybe trying hard music critic entertainment_weekly positive assessment glee episode stating wardrobe choreography spectacular gave letter grade wrote little male cast members way verse glee cover version released single debuted number billboard hot taking title biggest jump week charted number australia american alternative dance band played empire state mind concert performing verse song duet keyboardist cannes film festival british singer songwriter performed piano medley new_york new_york empire state mind honour february british singer soulful acoustic rendition song later sang duet ball viewing party december april british glam rock band sweet released updated version hello hit single incorporated chorus empire state mind chorus song parodied simpsons episode food wife food blog sung track listings formats credits personnel vocals jay jay carter alexander producer hart assistant jason audio mixing assistant jordan swivel young mastering tony editor young guru samples love way street moments charts certifications
Empire State of Mind