Jay-Z feat Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind Lyrics and Video
Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z feat Alicia Keys, Music Lyrics and Video
Empire State of Mind is the third single by hip hop rapper Jay-Z, from his eleventh studio album, The Blueprint 3. The song was produced by Shux and co-produced by Janet “Jnay” Sewell-Ulepic & Angela Hunte.
The record features the dynamic vocals of R&B-soul singer Alicia Keys, complimented with some choice words on life perspectives from Jay himself. Some of his best collaborative work to date with vocalists.
It’s the city’s image personified by Jay’s words, which manage to tap the core of those still wearing Timbs because, deep down, everyone wants to reach the level of opulence that Jay has… he just beat us there & seemingly left us behind. Yet, he reminds that he’s still connected to the city that never sleeps by going back & describing the life that lives there day and night.
Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performed the song live at MTV Video Awards 2009.
The music video was was directed by Hype Williams and was filmed on October 1, 2009, in Harlem, Times Square and around Ground Zero of New York City.
You can listen the song here, this is the official video.
Jay-Z - Empire State of Mind featuring Alicia Keys Lyrics
[Jay-Z]
Yeah,
Yeah, Imma up at Brooklyn,
now Im 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,
i used to cop in Harlem,
all of my dominicanos
right there up on Broadway,
brought me back to that McDonalds,
took it to my stash spot,
Five Sixty Stage street,
catch me in the kitchen like a simmons whipping pastry,
cruising down 8th street,
off white lexus,
driving so slow but BK is from Texas,
me I’m up at Bedsty,
home of that boy Biggie,
now i live on billboard,
and i brought my boys with me,
say wat up to Ty Ty, still sipping Malta
sitting courtside Knicks and Nets give me high fives,
N-gga i be spiked out, i can trip a referee,
tell by my attitude that I most definitely from…
[Alicia Keys]
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,
the lights will inspire you,
lets here it for New York, New York, New York
[Jay-Z]
I made you hot n-gga,
Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game,
sh-t i made the yankee hat more famous than a yankee can,
you should know I bleed Blue, but I ain’t a crip tho,
but i got a gang of n-ggas walking with my click though,
welcome to the melting pot,
corners where we selling rocks,
Afrika Bambaataa sh-t,
home of the hip hop,
yellow cap, gypsy cap, dollar cab, holla back,
for foreigners it ain’t fitted they forgot how to act,
8 million stories out there and their naked,
cities is a pity half of y’all won’t make it,
me i gotta plug Special Ed “i got it made,”
If Jesus payin LeBron, I’m paying Dwayne Wade,
3 dice Cee-lo
3 card Marley,
labor day parade, rest in peace Bob Marley,
Statue of Liberty, long live the World trade,
long live the king yo,
I’m from the empire state that’s
[Chorus]
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,
the lights will inspire you,
lets here it for New York, New York, New York
Welcome to the bright light..
[Jay-Z]
Lights is blinding,
girls need blinders
so they can step out of bounds quick,
the side lines is blind with casualties,
who sipping life casually, then gradually become worse,
don’t bite the apple Eve,
caught up in the in crowd,
now your in-style,
and in the winter gets cold en vogue with your skin out,
the city of sin is a pity on a whim,
good girls gone bad, the cities filled with them,
Mommy took a bus trip and now she got her bust out,
everybody ride her, just like a bus route,
Hail Mary to the city your a Virgin,
and Jesus can’t save you life starts when the church ends,
came here for school, graduated to the high life,
ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight,
MDMA got you feeling like a champion,
the city never sleeps better slip you a Ambien
[Chorus]
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,
the lights will inspire you,
lets here it for New York, New York, New York
[Alicia Keys]
One hand in the air for the big city,
Street lights, big dreams all looking pretty,
no place in the World that can compare,
Put your lighters in the air, everybody say yeah
come on, come,
yeah,
[Chorus]
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,
the lights will inspire you,
lets here it for New York, New York, New York
[End]
Song Information
Released September 8, 2009 (airplay)
Recorded 2009 (2009)
Genre Hip hop
Length 4:37
Label Roc Nation, Atlantic
Writers S. Carter, A. Shuckburgh, A. Keys, A. Hunte, J. Sewell-Ulepic
Producer Al Shux, Janet “Jnay” Sewell-Ulepic, Angela Hunte
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(+32 rating, 38 votes)
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October 6th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Jesus can’t save you life starts when the church ends,
came here for school, graduated to the high life,
ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight,
MDMA got you feeling like a champion,
well it sucks xD
October 16th, 2009 at 8:51 am
no man you suck this song is the shizzy
October 29th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
nice to see more NY songs about the gratest city anywhere hope to go
great song
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
i luv this song
November 4th, 2009 at 9:08 am
this song is best it rocks
November 4th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
this song is the bomb jay z rocks and alicia keys lookes fine in the video
November 7th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Its bad that a song with such a good beat is used to defame Christ. Jesus still saves!!! Christ’s love is whole and reaches down to the core of your soul when you see the light and no there isn’t any so bright. Sins are forgiven when you old ways you’ve forsaken. Embrace the life freely given by God, through Jesus our Lord
November 12th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
..people stop hate’n!!! the lyrics, the beat, hit the spot. u can tell a great song when u catch yourself singing it in the store out loud and everyone around you spits out the ending chorus!!!
November 17th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
s’an awesome song and wow that must’ve been awesome
November 17th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
this iz tha best song ive ever herd!!!!!!!!!!!
November 21st, 2009 at 10:56 am
this song souds like new york state of mind by nas,
November 21st, 2009 at 1:34 pm
“And Jesus can’t save you, life begins when the church ends”
Why is that lyric in this song? Why is Jay-z so anti-christ. LISTEN TO THE LYRICS.
WITH A “GOOD/CATCHY” BEAT COMES BAD LYRICS (specially which defame Christ e.g “run this town”).
Please don’t be fooled by the music industry, open your eyes, open your ears.
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:27 pm
It weird that the writer himself denies Jesus and the singer helping to publish this kind of thought! I do know that when pop starts or all kind of singers receive their AWARD, first cross their mind to thank is JESUS Lord, so what happened now? Is Jesus not good any more? Come on, I love the SONG BADLY, but the purposes got defied when you I heard Jesus is not the Savior. Question to JZ or AK, do you really that Anti-Jesus? I hope you guys are not; I do not want to be insulted. Probably I am religious, but there are millions out there thinking like me too. I really really Love yeh and cheers
November 25th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
“Let’s HEAR it for New York…” not ‘here’
November 27th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Lovely song. M in love with d song. This is another hit song
November 28th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
I thing someone needs to wash his mouth out with soap, vinegar, & peroxide!!!!!!!!
November 29th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
I think that if you can’t use Jesus’ name in a good term than you should not use it. Singing a song out loud does not mean the song is stating things that are offensive to others, it just goes to prove that listening or doing things over and over becomes a habit. Let a parrot listen to it a few times it will sing it out loud 2!!!
November 29th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
well maybe it’s not jay who’s denying Jesus but New York’s lifestyle overall? actually i’m pretty sure that’s what he means..
December 1st, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Her song is inspiring. After what new yorkers have been through we need a theme song! New York Rocks!
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:35 pm
THE SONG ROCKS- KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK-JAY-Z AND ALICIA KEYS. FROM A DIE-HARD FAN
December 7th, 2009 at 6:24 am
i think the part where “Jesus can’t save you” refers to the sinners in the city… but that’s just me. That’s how i understood the lyrics… “life starts when the church ends”, well i’ve my own interpretation too. that you get to start doing stuff after going to church. that you start acting on it, do the right things.. isn’t that LIFE? what you get to do? again, that’s just me ^^
December 7th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Great melody on the hook. but only melody and beat. that’w why you sing it in the mall. that why you have to be careful what you listen to. but Comin from “Hovah”, he would have to be against Christ seeing as he thinks he is God. think about it. if jesus paying lebron i’m Dwayne Wade. As if he could compete.
December 11th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Alicia Keys Rocks it. That woman can blow!!! Jay Z great collab. lyrics are right on.
December 11th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
they don’t need to be saying nothing bout jesus unless its giving him thanks.. luved the beat… the chorus.. the jesus part ruined it for me.. and Jesus can save cuz he saved me!!…
December 13th, 2009 at 2:19 am
Even middle aged white boys from LA love this song. “…these lights will inspire you…” REALLY!
December 16th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Why are Christians always the first to judge people? Its that kind of stuff that pushed me away from being a Christian and going to church. No one has the right to judge people for what they do or say except God, so leave it up to him.. I think it’s a great song!!
December 16th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
for the lyrics, it’s “State street” Not “stage street” I used to used that street as a short cut to get lunch, plus it’s sippin’ “mai tais” not “maltas”.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:17 am
I am hooked on this song!It is great
December 18th, 2009 at 11:02 am
First of all, I listen to the version with Alicia Keys alone, however, I know she has to know his lyrics as well. In saying that, I hope that she doesn’t think the way he does. I’ve read several comments on what they think Jay-Z means, but it is what it is. He’s saying exactly what he means. Leave Jesus out of it. Go back to some of his other songs and see if you can interpret those negative comments too about Jesus. The melody is beautiful, but let’s not get desensitized to what people are saying no matter WHO it is saying them.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Music to me is one of the things that keeps me going…. but when I hear a really good song with an awesome beat that bashes Jesus and his saving power, I am REALLY disappointed. I do believe that Jesus saves lives because I myself have witnessed and experienced his saving power. And no, Christians aren’t always the first to judge people. They are the first to take a STAND and don’t COMPROMISE!!! We all choose our paths…
December 18th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
cette chanson elle est génial !!! ya pas mieux !
December 21st, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Great hymn for New York, fits also for BERLIN.
December 27th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
GOD THIS IS THE SONG FOR THIS COUPLE….. YOU TAKE THE THE SKY WITH ONE HAND WITH IT GOD BLESS YOU ALICIA AND JAY Z …… COMO DIRIA EL VIEJO JUANES UNA CHIMBA PAPA…….
December 31st, 2009 at 6:34 am
nice beat, nice lyrics till the point JESUS the SAVIOUR of all is insulted. Can’t stand it!!!
January 8th, 2010 at 2:40 am
”I’M SO PROUD OF U ALICIA” JAY-z Ur the beeeeeeest one of the WORLD. GOOOOOOD JOB ALICIA&JAY Z!!##)))).
January 8th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
this song kills. je kiffe trop tout est quasi reussie dans le truc
January 8th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
This song is cool i jam with my friend mandy to it!
January 9th, 2010 at 8:12 am
One of the Hottest Beat I have heard in recent years and Thanks to JAY-Z and Alicia Key. This song is mind blowing and forget about the Jesus Line in the song, JAY-Z is not Anti-Jesus, I definitely believe he means something else than the initial interpretation.
January 9th, 2010 at 11:03 am
i used to love this song until i heard the Lyrics jesus cant save u
life starts when church ends! how could u insult jesus like jesus can save you cuz u r here and at the end of the day jz will have to give thnxs to the lord for this oppurtunity and look now he is a millionair and NO christians are NOT JUDGEMENTAL we just respect and love our lord
January 10th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
when he says “Jesus can’t save you life starts when the church ends” it doesnt mean there is no god or they dont believe in god. it means that everything that makes you feel good is against any religion. so its all about partying and going crazy in new york city and thats what it means. LOVE THE SONG!!!!!!
January 12th, 2010 at 5:10 am
let me state that Jay-Z [former favorite of mine] is a mason . they have a belife system based on the devil promise of knowlege and power he got it but at what cost. PEOPLE PLEASE LOOK ALL THIS UP DONT BELIVE ME OR ANYONE ELSE READ IT YOUR SELF [GOOGLE]. dont be taken in by stardom of anyone. A LINE MUST BE DRAWN. DONT YOU KNOW HIP HOP IS THE NEW ROCK……PLEASE PRAY!!!!!!!IN JESUS NAME I WRITE THESES WORDS
January 20th, 2010 at 4:42 am
‘And Anna Wintour gets cold, in Vogue with your skin out’ Talking about the girls who are selling out to wear fashion. Anna Wintour is the editor of Vogue Magazine and huge in NYC. This is what Jay-Z says
February 4th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
i love Alicia and Jay-Z my brother is from NYC
February 9th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
I’m a 56 year old white professional woman and I can’t get that song out of my head. I prefer the Alicia Keys solo.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:16 am
THIS IS MY SONG FOR 2010 - LUV-LUV THE LYRICS - THEY REALLY INSPIRE ME TO GREATNESS - NOT ONLY PERSONALLY BUT SPIRITUALLY AS WELL - HELPS ONE TO BE AWARE OF HOW THE LURE OF BIG CITY LIGHTS CAN INSPIRE YOU TO GREATNESS BUT IF YOU ARE NHOT GROUNDED IN YOUR BELIEFS AND VALUE SYSTEM THAT YOU WERE RAISED IN YOU CAN SOMETIMES SLIP AND FALL ……SOME RECOVER…..OTHERS DON’T ….A LOT OF FAMOUS PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO CAME FROM LIVES OF POVERTY WERE RAISED WITH STRONG SPIRITUAL BELIEFS AND VALUES - ALL IT’S SAYING IS THAT ALTHOUGH PEOPLE SOMETIMES MAKE IT IN THE BIG TIME THEY DO SO AT A PERSONAL COST……THE SONG ROCKS - U GOTTA BE ABLE TO INTERPRET POETRY TO FULLY UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THIS SONG!!!!
February 16th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
i love this song. i read all the comments and i think that all of the holy people should calm down. What i got out of the “Life starts, when church ends”, is that people have a tendency to forget about God and continue on with things outside of church. i dont think it was derogatory agains Christ. and the part that says “Jesus can’t save you”, i got from that, that alot of people feel hopeless like they can’t be saved. If you are not a person that has struggeled in Christ, you wouldnt understand. I believe that Christ is our savoir, but people tend to forget, I think that is a part of Life for some people. This song just points it out. Love the song
February 19th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
unas de mi favoritas canconies
one of my favorite songs
February 22nd, 2010 at 7:57 pm
first of all are you from ny.ican bet if your not you will never get this song.us newyorkers are a rare breed and i dare anyone to come f*CK with us ecuse my language. have you lost loved ones ?do you have loved ones who are silently dying from 911.jay z isnt putting the church down you are .this song is about living and the choices we make if you cant understand that than i feel sorry for you . we need to stick togather so please stop all the hating. my 7 year old son got the message of this song why cant you ?alicia and jay z i want to thank you for giving newyork what it needs .
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:32 pm
u guys r rocking here in uganda AFRICA just keep up n who wrote that lyrics,,,….
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:29 am
I initially heard this song sung by a great band in Las Vegas. I then heard again in Canada, not realizing who sang it. I was so intrigued by it that I searched and searched until I found out it was Jaz –Z/Alicia Keys. I must say I was happy to find it and play it several times. I also read that lyrics. I too take umbrage to the expression; “Jesus cannot save you, life starts when church ends”. I am not sure what that actually means to the person who wrote those words…writing them is one thing and singing them is another! I will continue to listen to this fantastic song and pray that Jay-Z does not not have that belief that Jesus cannot save you. Be careful, the Jesus who you claim can’t save you may take all that he has given to you away.. Good job on the beat and all of the lyrics…with the exception of that one phrase.
March 6th, 2010 at 5:58 am
i love jay-z
March 13th, 2010 at 8:42 am
I heard this song and i loved it instantly i think jay-z and alicia keys sound great in dis song