Author: Rehmat Sakrani

Song: “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys

Link: https://youtu.be/GPeOkzadr5g

Released in 2009, this hip-hop song became a phenomenon for the Big Apple. Featuring Alicia Keys, it is a track on Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3 album. The reason I chose this song is because anytime I think of New York City, the chorus of the song in Alicia Keys’ voice comes to my head. It’s message is clear: if you want to make something of yourself, New York City is the place to do it. Jay-Z being the main artist on the song, takes the audience on a trip through New York and guides us through the streets telling us the significance that each area has or what each person he mentions, has done. He talks about monuments like the World Trade Center and how it will always live with us, as well as the Knicks, and people like Frank Sinatra. This map to greatness is something that I’ve rarely experienced in any other song. Looking at some of the lyrics we can see the certain landmarks that Jay-Z is trying to represent.

In the first verse itself, he moves from Brooklyn to Tribeca and name drops DeNiro and Sinatra, to emphasize that if he can make it in New York, he can make it anywhere.

Yeah, I’m up at Brooklyn, now I’m down in Tribeca

Right next to DeNiro, but I’ll be hood forever

I’m the new Sinatra and since I made it here

I can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me everywhere

The chorus is what people mainly remember about the song actually. It’s lyrics are inspiring and really connect with the world of NYC and what it has to offer.

In New York

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of

There’s nothing you can’t do

Now you’re in New York

These streets will make you feel brand new

Big lights will inspire you

Let’s hear it for New York, New York, New York

I think the reason this song became such an iconic sound is because of these well-known lyrics. Although Jay-Z does a great job of specifically describing exactly what the city entails, it is Alicia’s part that captures the essence of what the city is really about. NYC helps give people a fresh start and it inspires people to chase after their dreams. NYC is the one city where your dreams will not be limited. Alicia made sure to capture that in the chorus of the song. It did so well, she even made a Part 2!