Avg Rating: 
4.1 ( 45 total votes )
Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind Pt. 2 (Broken Down)
Artist: Alicia Keys
Producer: Kerry "Krucial" Brothers & Alicia Keys
Album: The Element of Freedom
Label: RCA
When we featured Empire State of Mind back in September, Booth readers seemed to agree that, though Hova turned in a star performance on the mic, hookwoman Alicia Keys’ guest vocals were the true, um key (I’m not even going to dignify that by calling it a pun) to the track’s success. If that was your take, Empire State of Mind Pt. 2 (Broken Down), an all-Alicia reinterpretation of the hit single set to appear on the singer’s fourth studio album, should be right up your alley. Over her and Kerry “Krucial” Brothers’ pared-down, piano-led instrumental, Keys paints a vivid, warts-and-all portrait of her famed hometown: “Such a melting pot, on the corner selling rock, preachers pray to God…” Needless to say, that killer chorus hits home as hard as ever – particularly when the drums kick in for the record’s climax. How does Keys’ take stack up against the original? As always, I’ll let Booth readers have the final say. ESoM2 isn’t slated for promotion as an official single, but it will be available for purchase from online retailers prior to the December 14 release of Keys’ latest full-length, The Element of Freedom.
This song first appeared on the
R&B / Pop Chart
on November 30, 2009
Listen to More: Alicia Keys Written by richard
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Member Reviews and Ratings
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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Tastemaker |
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Alicia Keys has such a great voice. She sounded great with the piano and like richard said it was sweet when the drums kicked in, though it took a while. Solid remake of this song.
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 391 |
was it recorded in a hall or church? is that an echo or just my speakers? somthing sound really crisp and (well i cant explaining) strange about her vocals... someone help me out???
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Crew |
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Man, do I even HAVE to say how much pure AWESOMENESS this is? The original was excellent (that's why it became Jay's first Hot 100 #1 as a lead artist), and the "simply AK" version strikes a perfect balance for those not quite in love with hip-hop, but enjoy a great story and tribute to NYC! In a way, this is kinda like Nas' "New York State of Mind" which Nathan wrote about earlier (rumor has it Nas will be on a remix to the Jay-Z version).
One more word: Brett's first post-Packers stop was with the Jets (before the Vikings, but I digress), CC won a World Series ring with the Yankees (after leading my Brewers to their first playoff spot in my lifetime), and Archbishop Dolan of New York previously led the archdiocese of Milwaukee-I guess that's where all of Wisconsin's best are destined to end up! |
| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 20 |
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@*#$! Jay-Z their isn't one good rhyme in the original song. The blueprint 3 was garbage. Alicia is the only reason the song sits at number one on the billboard hot 100. If the drums kicked in a bit sooner this would have been a total classic.
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 736 |
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i love this, im glad she used the part 1 hook. this is the ish
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 475 |
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Don't get me wrong, this track sounds excellent but I really wish that the chorus was tweaked. It's hard for me to get past not having Jay-Z on the track. Right when the chorus ends on this, I'm instinctively waiting on a Jigga verse and, when I don't get one, it sounds awkward. By giving this track and all new chorus, or even just tweaking the old one, it could have been a classic but the chorus just seems very latched on and out of place on this type of production. I'll put it in rotation.
P.S. I might have given this a 4 had it come out before the Jay-Z version. Part I is far better though. |
| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 433 |
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Just as cool and smooth as the first one. This would be great back to back.
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1642 |
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the production is just a lil too simple for me. i LOVE alicia and her singin is nice but im not totally diggin this.
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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I with that1kid, too simple. Usually when you make a part II, it would be better than part one, this isn't the case. By no means is it bad, its just not as good as the original.
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 2476 |
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Damn, and just when I thought I couldn't fall in love with Alicia anymore. This obviously doesn't have the celebratory feel of the original, but it's absolutely beautiful. If Jay's version was a new NY anthem this is a new NY love song.
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Crew Total Ratings: 2476 |
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Wait, random side note. Does Alicia have spikes in her knees in the pic above? What's up with that? Is she an Oakland Raiders fan now?
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2130 |
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2 Syllables - Flawless
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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Alicia!!!
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 4267 |
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Unexplainable is the beauty of her.
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11651 |
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I know I will get hated on for saying this, but I was bored to tears here. Maybe its because I heard Jay's version first - maybe. Not to take anything away from Keys or the production work, but I couldn't get into this solo effort.
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 432 |
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I'm not sure if simplistic is the word, but this song is definitely lacking the emotional connection that is envoked by most alicia keys songs. Lets all pray that the picture above is not an indication that alicia is following in rihanna's shoes and trying the rebel or something like that. Wait, it's ok...it looks better on alicia anyways,LOL MARRY ME!
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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Tastemaker |
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Liked the original, this just a slowed down version.
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 31 |
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I cannot wait for her album.. This is the by far the best version of this song
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1189 |
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my opinion is exactly the same as phantoms
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| Posted on Nov 27, 2009 |
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this is worse than the jay-z version i hate both versions!!! hate me if u want!
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| Posted on Nov 27, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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First version was whack as hell; props to Alicia for turning into something great.
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| Posted on Nov 27, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 247 |
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damn alicia is so bada$$ sexc yo..girl got skillz,this track that heat..new york baby,ya'll know what it is
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| Posted on Nov 27, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Crew |
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$MDB$, your comment "hate me if you want!" falls into the "double-reverse hating" category...Refer to a certain RefinedHype blog post for Nathan's take on that.
P.S. Can we take anybody seriously whose profile quote is "YEE!" |
| Posted on Nov 27, 2009 |
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| Posted on Nov 28, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 7 |
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Better than the original...
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| Posted on Nov 29, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 3210 |
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I'm glad she used the first part's hook...I love it and makes us understand it's a part 2, there's a sort of continuity between the two! I like this version better, she sounds amazing and the production is soulful! The verses are the parts which annoy me most in the first part...this is perfect!
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| Posted on Nov 29, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 21 |
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Alicia is pretty much one (if not only) of the many artist who can just record a song with just her and the piano and it just be this engaging and just pure good. the thing about a broken down/stripped song is it's recorded without adjustments to the vocals so that the pitchs are perfect thus we get the raw echo sounding sounds but this is def better than the original
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| Posted on Nov 30, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 70 |
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This young lady is just MONEY!
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| Posted on Nov 30, 2009 |
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| Posted on Dec 01, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Yes she's graduated to the top of her class. Come on no dancing jumping around pure song writing. She is and always has been the truth.
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| Posted on Dec 02, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 3 |
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It is such a bittersweet harmony that can almost make anyone wish that they too were reppin NY got to give it up
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| Posted on Dec 02, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 487 |
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Ms Keys break'n it down. I love this version, Alicia sounds great. She totally carries the song, part 1 & 2. AMAZING!!!
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| Posted on Dec 03, 2009 |
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this is a good song
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| Posted on Dec 04, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 861 |
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this is nice
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| Posted on Dec 07, 2009 |
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eh. we both kno u r capable of more.
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| Posted on Dec 08, 2009 |
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i like dis song
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| Posted on Dec 08, 2009 |
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| Posted on Dec 09, 2009 |
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This is a really good song, not her best but still very good
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| Posted on Dec 10, 2009 |
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love it alicia! great job performing this on 106 the other day too!
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| Posted on Dec 18, 2009 |
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This is the kind of continuation that should really only be sung live in order to feel the impact. As it sits as a single coming through speakers it's lacking, it's still beautiful (yes I used beautiful...) but it's not an anthem and it's sort of blah.
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| Posted on Dec 19, 2009 |
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This version is very soulful & great!!! love it
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| Posted on Jan 09, 2010 |
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That my song it reminds me of McAllen Texas with me and my friends in my green car driven around and having a good time. I love this song. I always what it to go to New York City one day thats my dream.
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| Posted on Apr 29, 2010 |
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Its smooth.... its the real street music of N.Y.C i think. Ive been in N.Y.C what she just sang was probally what u would hear in clubs its amazing.
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| Posted on May 04, 2010 |
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| Posted on Jun 08, 2010 |
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| Posted on Dec 14, 2012 |
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