Empire State of Mind

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys turned a demo written by two friends from Brooklyn into one of the most recognizable New York anthems ever recorded. The track began as a heartfelt tribute by Angela Hunte and Janet Sewell-Ulepic, who grew up in Brooklyn's Crown Heights and Flatbush. When Jay-Z heard it, he immediately connected with the piano loop (sampled from The Moments' "Love on a Two-Way Street") and rewrote the verses to reflect his own experiences grinding in the city. Keys recorded her vocal in a single take, and the song was finished in two days.

Released as the fourth single from The Blueprint 3, it became Jay-Z's first solo number one on the Billboard Hot 100, spending five consecutive weeks at the top. The song also topped charts in the UK, Canada, Ireland, and Switzerland. Its music video, directed by Hype Williams, features sweeping shots of Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty, with Jay-Z and Keys performing in front of iconic backdrops. As of 2026, the official video has surpassed 1.1 billion views on YouTube.

Beyond the charts, the song became woven into New York's civic fabric. The Yankees play it after home wins, the Knicks use it as their unofficial theme, and it was performed at the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. Keys later called it "one of the most magical moments of my career." The song won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song at the 2011 Grammys, and was nominated for Record of the Year.[edit]