Avg Rating: 
4.6 ( 118 total votes )
Jay-Z - Empire State of Mind
Artist: Jay-Z
Featuring: Alicia Keys
Producer: Shux (Co-Prod by Janet Sewell-Ulepic & Angela Hunte)
Album: Blueprint 3
Label: Roc Nation/Universal Music Group
Even those critics who expressed disappointment in Jay-Z‘s Blueprint 3 singled out hometown anthem Empire State of Mind as a standout track. With the immense buzz the record’s created, from its use in CBS’ coverage of the US Open to its epic performance at the VMAs, it was a no-brainer that it would be chosen to follow D.O.A. and Run This Town as the LP’s third official single. As classic and quotable as Hova’s verses are, one could argue that Alicia Keys does on the hook and bridge what Eminem did on the original Blueprint‘s Renegade. Topped off with Shux’ awe-inspiring production (more than just a “beat”), featuring a sample from The Moments’ Love on a Two Way Street, this track may well replace Frank Sinatra’s similarly-titled classic as the Big Apple’s unofficial anthem! And why not? Thanks to Blueprint 3‘s tremendous first-week sales numbers, Jay-Z has broken the record formerly held by Elvis to become music’s all-time solo leader in #1 albums!
This song first appeared on the
Rap Chart
on September 21, 2009
Listen to More: Jay-Z , Alicia Keys Written by Burmy
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Member Reviews and Ratings
Showing 50 of 118 Ratings. See All Ratings
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 63 |
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This track has "classic" status written all over it. Not much else to say about this one, except for that I also really enjoyed the rest of the album....
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11639 |
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My favorite song on BP3 and by far one of Jay's best in recent memory. Nothing else needs to be said. Just enjoy this one... on repeat.
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Tastemaker |
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 This a great track, but Jay-z's beats and rhymes have never got me excited a lot. nothin is different here, this track def has all the elements of a classic, but i jus dont enjoy his music/style as much as everyone else.
btw, Keys killed on here (cant forget bout her). |
| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Tastemaker |
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This is the defintion of an anthem. Jay comes hard on this beat. Some of his verses were slacking on the album but he brought it here. Alicia Keys really takes this song to another level, though. She is perfect for it. 4.5 but I will round up, this songs been in rotation all week for me.
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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yea i agree with joshL, jay z is lyrically getting worse and worse, and like u said none of his rhymes have never really just been outstanding to me, Alicia Keys does so much, so much, for this song, chorus is flat out amazing, jay z's voice is just annoying to me
Jay Z - 2.5 Alicia - 5 alicia made this song, just like every single other song on BP3, all of them were made by the hooks/features... 3.75->4 |
| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can.
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1642 |
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when i first heard this song. i didnt like it.
and now. i do. i dont know why ive changed. but i like it! |
| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Tastemaker |
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best song on the album to me
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 544 |
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My favorite song of TB3 too! I'm not from New York but hearing this I wish I was. Alicia Keys's hook is great and I agree with GStan 10, she really elivated the song.
I don't think lyrically he's getting worse, just a different approach that we haven't heard. On this album it's gonna take a while for people to get used to, just 'cause he really experimented with it. |
| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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this song is a classic... jayz been in the game since early 90s and hes still able to come up with a classic track like this
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Yes. Classic.
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1337 |
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Classic
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 606 |
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Great song, beat goes hard! Best song on Blueprint 3
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2281 |
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This song is Classic music right here. Timeless Anthem to the Empire state! NY be proud!
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 4267 |
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Production is ‘creme de la creme’ as Jay delivers an ‘ode to his city and takes you around the 5 boroughs and the 8 million stories that rest among them with braggadocious boastings only Hova can pull off "I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can". This is that feel good music. Then Miss Alicia Keys blesses the song with the Hook of the Year .... 4.5
For anybody who is still saying that Jay-Z fell off lyrically, Jay summed all of that up in his lyrics song after song. Go listen! “hov on that new shit, niggas like how come, niggas want my old shit, buy my old album” “I don’t be in the project hallway Talkin’ bout how I be in the project all day” 15 tracks no skits + Many Featuring artists each adding to their respective tracks in a unique way to make them better + Top Notch Production + Incredibly current topics based lyricism + Relevant Content + trendsetting catch-phrases = The Modern Day Blueprint for any 2009/2010 Album. |
| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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To me I think that Jay-Z is great with his deliver on the verses and Alicia has an amazing hook and bridge. To me I think that it is at that classic Jay-Z level and the producing from Shux is classic all the way to.
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 53 |
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Damn this song make me want to be from the NY like HoamBoy stated. Classic Anthem music. Jay-z ripped it and Ms. Keys killed it also. Best song on the BP3.
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 177 |
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classic. ive bn boppin this & already home constantly.
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 2476 |
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I half expected to hear Lil' Mama jump in on the track at the end.
Absolutely amazing track - goddamn I love me some Alicia Keys.
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1189 |
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One of the best tracks on a incredibly over-rated album (yes i went there). Jay sounded alright on this, though I think Keys & the production over shadow him.
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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lol at nathan s , its a pity cuz she kinda ruined jays and alicias finale at the vma :[
neways, amazing song, im not the biggest fan of jay z, his lyrics were alrite, but yeh alicia brought this song to whole new level, she was amazing and the production was perfect aswell. |
| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2130 |
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I've been on Blueprint 3 all day...as a matter fact, all week.
This is one of the dopest ishes ever. (Yeah, I said "ishes". Who knows what that means. I'll just blame it on Lil Mama and said she made the word up). Classic. My wife Alicia Keys is flawless. That track IS so dope, if I was at the VMAs, I might have been compelled to hop up there too and just pretend I was Sean Kingston. |
| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 213 |
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This is an amazing song and one of my favorites from BP3. The production is great, Jay's lyrics are on point, but the real star of the show here was Alicia Keys! She killed this song! Overall one of my favorie tracks from jay-z. EVER.
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 434 |
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WASNT QUITE FEELIN THIS SONG AT 1ST BUT ITS GROWN ON ME NOW..
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 303 |
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This track right here is something. Alicia Keys completely brought it on the hook. Jay's verses weren't the best but he did deliver pretty well. I also liked Shux's production. Overall it's a banger to me.
Wow! Did you all read Burmy's contribution at the top? Jay's just made history yet again. He's topped Elvis as the artist with the most #1 albums. BP3 didn't even have to be Jigga's best album to have some high sells. |
| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Jay-Z never was retired we all know he cant leave tha game. This album will be forever played all around tha world.. Its a classic
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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I'm from NY and this is one of the better Ode's to the Empire state it's by far the most relevant @tm. Alicia Keys' talent almost seems wasted as a hook singer but she definitely took this song to classic status. I'll be honest hearing Jay-z back in 98' I didn't think he'd last or even be a thought in 2k9 but Hard Knock life was dat ish. Now we have 2k9 Jay-Z and we can see the maturity but I still miss some of those outstanding punchlines at least this has a few.
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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classic song on one of the best albums this year.
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Yes I love this song N' not bcuz Jay-Z is my fav. rapper.
I have to agree with Hoamboy this song make me wish I was from New York. U can bang this over n over this song is going on the ipod as soon as i get his cd. |
| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Definitely the best song on the CD.
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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| Posted on Sep 17, 2009 |
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Is it just me or does Jay-Z's flow/rhyme scheme sound like Asher Roth?
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| Posted on Sep 18, 2009 |
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| Posted on Sep 18, 2009 |
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ok well its hov and a great alicia keys hook need i say more. blueprint 3 basically 500k first week...jay is hip hop love him or hate him he always brings it!
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| Posted on Sep 18, 2009 |
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@ Lazynes: I thought the scheme sounded familiar; and now after listening a couple times I completely agree. Of course the lyrics are more relevant and the braggadocio is on a level that Asher just can't bring as well as Jay-Z's tone.
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| Posted on Sep 18, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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This song is awesome. There is nothing coming out right now that is this good.
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| Posted on Sep 18, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 74 |
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wow, my only regret is hearing this track so late in the year. Wish I had of had this early in the summer, easily one of my favorites for this year.
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| Posted on Sep 18, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 736 |
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this is probably the best song from BP3, i m loving this, Alicia is great here
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| Posted on Sep 19, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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How did he get beyonce... keys raised my 2 stars to 3
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| Posted on Sep 19, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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my favorite song right now! DOPE!
clearly a classic! |
| Posted on Sep 19, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Simply A Classic...
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| Posted on Sep 19, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Classic.
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| Posted on Sep 19, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
cd not that great in my opinion but this is easily the best song on the album. such an easy song to listen to with a laid back feel.
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| Posted on Sep 19, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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This song is amazing. I heard this the other day during the MTV Video Awards (Lol Kanye) and...wow. I am surprised he didn't bring another rapper from NY on this one. Once this song gets big I expect a remix with a few other people. 5 stars.
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| Posted on Sep 19, 2009 |
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| Posted on Sep 19, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 868 |
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this is solid gold right here. this track is gonna produce like a thousand remixes. alicia killed the chorus. usually not a camelface fan but i gotta give dude his props good job.
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| Posted on Sep 19, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 52 |
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One of my favorite songs of the year- don't forget to get this album on .flac because it's worth it.
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| Posted on Sep 20, 2009 |
Showing 50 of 118 Ratings. See All Ratings
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