Empire State Of Mind
[DnB] Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys Lyrics

Yeah
Expressing agreement or affirmation

Yeah I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
I have moved from Brooklyn to Tribeca

Right next to DeNiro, but I'll be hood forever
Living close to DeNiro, but my roots in the neighborhood will stay strong

I'm the new Sinatra, and, since I made it here
I am the modern-day equivalent of Frank Sinatra, and because I achieved success in New York

I can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me everywhere
I can succeed in any place, as people love and admire me no matter where I go

I used to cop in Harlem, all of my Dominicanos
In the past, I used to buy drugs in Harlem from my Dominican friends

Right there up on Broadway, pull me back to that McDonald's
On Broadway, there's a McDonald's that brings back memories

Took it to my stashbox, 560 State St
I kept the drugs in my secret hiding spot at 560 State St

Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons wippin' pastry's
You can find me in the kitchen, cooking like a professional chef

Cruisin' down 8th St, off white Lexus
Driving slowly along 8th St in a white Lexus

Drivin' so slow, but BK is from Texas
Even though I drive slowly, my origins are from Brooklyn, not Texas

Me, I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
I am from Bedford-Stuyvesant, the hometown of the late rapper, Notorious B.I.G

Now I live on Billboard and I brought my boys with me
I have now achieved great success and even made it on the Billboard charts, and I have brought my friends along with me

Say what up to Ty-Ty, still sippin' Mai Tais
Greeting my friend Ty-Ty while enjoying Mai Tais

Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
Sitting in the front row at basketball games, receiving high fives from players of both the Knicks and Nets teams

Nigga I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee (come on, come on, come on)
I am dressed in Spike Lee's signature style, and my presence is so influential that I could make a referee stumble

Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from
You can tell from my demeanor and behavior that I am without a doubt from

In New York (ayy, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
Referring to being in the city of New York

Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
Describing New York City as a place where dreams can be fulfilled

There's nothin' you can't do (yeah) (okay)
In New York City, there are no limitations on what you can achieve

Now you're in New York (ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
Acknowledging that the listener is now in New York City

These streets will make you feel brand new (new)
The experiences and opportunities in the city will make you feel refreshed and rejuvenated

Big lights will inspire you (come on) (okay)
The bright lights and grandeur of the city will motivate and stimulate you

Let's hear it for New York (you're welcome, OG) (come on)
Showing enthusiasm and support for New York City

New York (yeah), New York (uh) (I made you hot)
Emphasizing the importance and impact of New York City

Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
You can find me with OG at a Yankees baseball game at the X stadium

Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous then a Yankee can
I have made the Yankee hat so popular that it surpasses the fame of the Yankees themselves

You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
I am a loyal supporter of the Yankees baseball team, but I am not affiliated with any gang

But I got a gang of niggas walkin' with my clique though
However, I have a large group of friends who always accompany me

Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
Welcome to a diverse city where drug dealing takes place on street corners

Afrika Bambataa shit, home of the hip-hop
Referencing Afrika Bambaataa, a pioneer of hip-hop, and highlighting New York City as the birthplace of the genre

Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
Different types of taxis in New York City, including the traditional yellow cabs, gypsy cabs, and dollar cabs

For foreigners it ain't fair, they act like they forgot how to act
Foreigners sometimes behave inappropriately or forget proper etiquette in the city

Eight million stories, out there in the naked
There are countless stories and experiences happening in the city all at once

City is a pity, half of y'all won't make it
The city can be unforgiving, and most people won't be able to succeed or achieve their dreams

Me, I got a plug, Special Ed "I Got It Made"
I have connections and resources, just like Special Ed's song "I Got It Made"

If Jesus payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwyane Wade
If someone as significant as Jesus were to pay LeBron James, then I would pay Dwyane Wade

Three dice cee-lo, three card Monte
Referring to gambling games played with three dice and a card game called Three Card Monte

Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Remembering Bob Marley at the Labor Day Parade, a celebration of his music and legacy

Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade (come on, come on, come on)
Paying tribute to the Statue of Liberty and commemorating the World Trade Center

Long live the King yo, I'm from the Empire State that's
Extending wishes for the long life of the King in reference to himself, representing the Empire State of New York

Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
The bright lights of the city can be overwhelming, and women may need to shield their eyes

So they can step out of bounds quick, the sidelines is
So they can quickly and boldly move away from the norm or societal boundaries

Lined with casualties, who sip the life casually
The sidelines are filled with people who casually indulge in the extravagant and luxurious lifestyle

Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple, Eve
Slowly, these people deteriorate or fall into negative habits, reminiscent of Eve biting the forbidden apple in the biblical story

Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in style
Being captivated by the trendy and popular crowd, now you're considered fashionable

End of the winter gets cold, en vogue, with your skin out
When the winter ends and the temperature drops, it becomes fashionable to wear revealing clothes despite the cold

City of sin, it's a pity on the whim
Describing the city as a place known for sinful behavior, and it's unfortunate how easily people fall into it

Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
Referring to how even well-behaved girls can be influenced by the city's temptations and turn towards a deviant lifestyle

Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out
A mother took a spontaneous bus trip, and now she's feeling confident and liberated

Everybody ride her, just like a bus route
Everyone is taking advantage of her, just like they would with a common bus route

"Hail Mary" to the city, you're a virgin
Comparing the city to a virgin receiving a religious blessing, indicating a metaphorical rebirth or innocent experience

And Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church end
Even with faith in Jesus, he cannot protect you from the harsh realities of life, and true life experiences only begin when you leave the safety of the church

Came here for school, graduated to the high life
Initially coming to the city for education, but eventually ascending to a luxurious and extravagant lifestyle

Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight
Referring to the celebrities in the city, including professional athletes and famous rappers, who are obsessed with fame and attention

MDMA got you feelin' like a champion (come on, come on, come on)
MDMA, a party drug, makes you feel invincible and victorious

The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien
The city is always active and alive, so you may need to take a sleep aid like Ambien to relax

One hand in the air for the big city
Raising one hand to celebrate or salute the grandness of the city

Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty
The city's street lights create a picturesque view, and everyone has big aspirations and dreams

No place in the world that could compare
There's no other location that can rival the city's uniqueness and qualities

Put your lighters in the air everybody say
Holding up lighters as a tribute or celebration, while everyone collectively says

"Yeah, yeah" (come on, come on, come on)
Expressing agreement or affirmation with enthusiasm

In New York (uh, yeah)
Referring to being in the city of New York

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
Describing New York City as a place where dreams can be fulfilled

There's nothin' you can't do (okay)
In New York City, there are no limitations on what you can achieve

Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
Acknowledging that the listener is now in New York City

These streets will make you feel brand new
The experiences and opportunities in the city will make you feel refreshed and rejuvenated

Big lights will inspire you
The bright lights and grandeur of the city will motivate and stimulate you

Let's hear it for New York (come on)
Showing enthusiasm and support for New York City

New York (yeah), New York (uh)
Emphasizing the importance and impact of New York City