It was included in multiple critics' top 10 list for the best songs of 2009; including Rolling Stone magazine and the New York Times. The song was also nominated for three Grammy Awards, winning Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. "Empire State of Mind" achieved commercial success worldwide. The track peaked within the top 10 in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Italy and Sweden. The single was commercially successful in the United States, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks, becoming Jay-Z's first number-one single on the chart as a lead artist. It appeared in 2009 year-end charts in Italy, Australia and the US. The song is also the last number one hit of the 2000s. As of June 2014, the single has sold over 5.5 million copies in the United States
Empire State of Mind
Alicia Keys/Jay-Z Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
Right next to De Niro, 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, hola, my Dominicanos (dímelo)
Right there up on Broadway, brought me back to that McDonald's
Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons whippin' pastry
Cruisin' down 8th St, off-white Lexus
Drivin' so slow, but BK is from Texas
Me, I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
Now I live on Billboard and I brought my boys with me
Say what up to Ty-Ty, still sippin' Mai Tais
Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
Nigga, I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee (come on, come on, come on)
Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from
In New York (ayy, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (yeah) (okay)
Now you're in New York (ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
These streets will make you feel brand new (new)
Big lights will inspire you (come on) (okay)
Let's hear it for New York (you're welcome, OG) (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh) (I made you hot, nigga)
Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can
You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
But I got a gang of niggas walkin' with my clique though
Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
Afrika Bambataa shit, home of the hip-hop
Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
For foreigners it ain't fair, they act like they forgot how to act
Eight million stories, out there in the naked
City is a pity, half of y'all won't make it
Me, I got a plug, Special Ed, "I Got It Made"
If Jeezy's payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwyane Wade
Three dice Cee-lo, three-card Monte
Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade (come on, come on, come on)
Long live the king, yo, I'm from the Empire State that's
In New York (ayy) (uh, yeah)
Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (that boy good) (okay)
Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
(Welcome to the bright lights, baby)
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you (okay)
Let's hear it for New York (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh)
Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
So they can step out of bounds quick, the sidelines is
Lined with casualties, who sip the life casually
Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple, Eve
Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in style
Into the winter gets cold, en vogue, with your skin out
City of sin, it's a pity on a whim
Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out
Everybody ride her, just like a bus route
"Hail Mary" to the city, you're a virgin
And Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church end
Came here for school, graduated to the high life
Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight
MDMA got you feelin' like a champion (come on, come on, come on)
The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien
In New York (ayy, oh) (uh, yeah)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (okay)
Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you (okay)
Let's hear it for New York (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh)
One hand in the air for the big city (uh)
Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty (uh)
No place in the world that could compare (nah)
Put your lighters in the air everybody say
"Yeah, yeah" (come on, come on, come on)
"Yeah, yeah" (I'm from New York)
In New York (uh, yeah) (ohh)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (okay)
Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you (okay)
Let's hear it for New York (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh)
The lyrics of Alicia Keys and Jay-Z's song Empire State of Mind are about their love for New York City. Jay-Z opens the song, stating that even though he has moved out of Brooklyn and now resides in Tribeca, he will always remain connected to his roots. He likens himself to Frank Sinatra, saying that he’s made it to the top now and can achieve anything. The second verse talks about the struggle in Harlem, where he used to buy drugs, and how he has now moved to the top. In the chorus, Alicia Keys sings about the beauty of the city, the welcoming nature of its people, and how the city inspires her. The third verse is about the glamour of New York City- where celebrities, basketball players, and rap stars rule the scene. The final verse talks about the dark side of the city, where dreams fade away, and good girls go bad.
The lyrics of Empire State of Mind paint a vivid picture of New York City- both its glamourous and gritty aspects. New York City is often referred to as “the city that never sleeps." Jay-Z's and Alicia Keys' song pays homage to a city that will always be with them, even if they move away. It is a song that captures the soul of a city that has been instrumental in defining American culture over the past few decades. The Empire State of Mind is not just an ode to a city but also a celebration of the American dream, which is played out every day on the streets of New York City.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
Expressing agreement or confirmation.
Yeah I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
I used to live in Brooklyn, but now I live in the wealthy neighborhood - Tribeca.
Right next to DeNiro, but I'll be hood forever
I'm wealthy and live near Robert DeNiro, but I will always have roots in the lower-class neighborhood.
I'm the new Sinatra, and, since I made it here
I'm like a modern-day Frank Sinatra and now that I've become successful in NYC, I know I can thrive anywhere.
I can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me everywhere
I know I can make it anywhere because of my success in NYC.
I used to cop in Harlem, all of my Dominicanos
I used to buy drugs in Harlem and had good relationships with the Dominicans who sold them.
Right there up on Broadway, pull me back to that McDonald's
On Broadway, I always remember that McDonald's which always drives me to push to be successful.
Took it to my stashbox, 560 State St
I took my drugs back to my apartment on 560 State St.
Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons wippin' pastry's
I'm always in the kitchen making food like Russell Simmons baking pastries.
Cruisin' down 8th St, off white Lexus
I'm driving on 8th Street in my off-white Lexus, taking a relaxing mood.
Drivin' so slow, but BK is from Texas
I'm driving really slowly because my hood of BK is chilling like they're from Texas.
Me, I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
I'm from Bed-Stuy which is the hometown of famous rapper Notorious B.I.G.
Now I live on Billboard and I brought my boys with me
My face is on a Billboard now because of my success and I brought my friends with me.
Say what up to Ty-Ty, still sippin' Mai Tais
Say hello to my friend, Ty-Ty who is still drinking Mai Tais.
Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
I'm sitting courtside at a basketball game and the players are giving me high fives because I'm wealthy and successful.
Nigga I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee (come on, come on, come on)
I'm wearing a lot of jewelry (Spike'd out) and could even cause a referee to trip.
Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from
My attitude clearly shows where I'm from.
In New York (ayy, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
I'm in New York City.
Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
New York City is like a concrete jungle where people come to make their dreams come true.
There's nothin' you can't do (yeah) (okay)
In New York, anything is possible.
Now you're in New York (ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
Since you're here in New York, you have the opportunity to realize your dreams.
These streets will make you feel brand new (new)
The streets of New York can give you a new, positive outlook on life.
Big lights will inspire you (come on) (okay)
The bright lights of the city can be inspiring.
Let's hear it for New York (you're welcome, OG) (come on)
Let's give a shoutout to New York City!
New York (yeah), New York (uh) (I made you hot)
New York City is a great place and I generated positive attention to it.
Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
You can find me at Yankee Stadium with my friend OG.
Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous then a Yankee can
My fame has made the Yankee hat more popular than the actual Yankee player.
You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
I support the New York Yankees (who wear blue) but I'm not a Crip gang member.
But I got a gang of niggas walkin' with my clique though
I have lots of friends with me.
Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
New York City is a melting pot of different cultures and neighborhoods where drugs are sold on the street corners.
Afrika Bambataa shit, home of the hip-hop
New York City, specifically the Bronx, is where the hip-hop movement began with Afrika Bambataa.
Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
Different kinds of taxis can be found in New York City. Call out your desired cab.
For foreigners it ain't fair, they act like they forgot how to act
For people who are not familiar with the city or the customs, New York City can be overwhelming, making them forget how to act accordingly.
Eight million stories, out there in the naked
New York City has diverse people and crazy stories on every street.
City is a pity, half of y'all won't make it
The city can be a hard place to make it in. Not everyone will find success.
Me, I got a plug, Special Ed "I Got It Made"
I have a special connection for the things I need (called a 'plug') like Special Ed's song 'I Got It Made.'
If Jesus payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwyane Wade
Even if Jesus Christ himself paid Lebron James, I still would have enough money to pay Dwyane Wade.
Three dice cee-lo, three card Monte
I'm playing gambling games on the street like cee-lo and three card Monte.
Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
During the Labor Day Parade (in Brooklyn), we celebrate and remember Bob Marley.
Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade (come on, come on, come on)
Long live the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center.
Long live the King yo, I'm from the Empire State that's
I'm from New York, also known as the Empire State.
There's nothin' you can't do (that boy good) (okay)
In New York, you have the ability to do anything you want.
Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
If you're in New York, there's no telling what can happen.
(Welcome to the bright lights, baby)
Welcome to the big city.
These streets will make you feel brand new
The energy of the city can give you a sense of a fresh start.
Big lights will inspire you (okay)
The bright lights of the city can inspire anyone.
Let's hear it for New York (come on)
Let's show our appreciation for the great city of New York.
New York (yeah), New York (uh)
Welcome to the city that never sleeps!
Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
The bright lights of the city can be blinding and girls should wear blinders.
So they can step out of bounds quick, the sidelines is
This will help them avoid stepping out of bounds as the sidelines can be dangerous.
Lined with casualties, who sip the life casually
The people on the sidelines can be risky and there are often casualties who enjoy life recklessly.
Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple, Eve
People on the sidelines will gradually get worse and Eve shouldn't give in to temptation.
Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in style
When you're part of the popular crowd, you're in fashion.
End of the winter gets cold, en vogue, with your skin out
At the end of winter, people will dress fashionably and show a little more skin.
City of sin, it's a pity on the whim
New York City has a lot of sinful activity and it's sad that people can act recklessly sometimes.
Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
Even good girls can fall into bad habits in the city.
Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out
My mother took a trip and now she's flaunting her newfound wealth.
Everybody ride her, just like a bus route
Everyone wants to be associated with my mother.
"Hail Mary" to the city, you're a virgin
Treat New York City well and take care of it like a virgin woman.
And Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church end
Even faith in Jesus Christ can't protect you in the dangerous reality of New York City.
Came here for school, graduated to the high life
I came to New York City for school but now I live a very wealthy lifestyle.
Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight
The celebrities of New York City like ball players and rap stars just love the attention.
MDMA got you feelin' like a champion (come on, come on, come on)
Taking MDMA will make you feel like a champion.
The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien
New York City never stops so you might need to take a sleeping pill like Ambien.
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
New York City can be tough like a jungle but it's where people's dreams can come true.
There's nothin' you can't do (okay)
There really is nothing you can't do in New York City.
One hand in the air for the big city
Raise one hand in the air in honor of New York City.
Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty
The city lights, dreams, and people are all very attractive.
No place in the world that could compare
There really is no city like New York City.
Put your lighters in the air
Raise your lighters in the air in honor of New York City.
Everybody say
Let's hear it!
"Yeah, yeah" (come on, come on, come on)
Say it with me!
In New York (uh, yeah)
We're in the city!
Big lights will inspire you
The bright lights of New York will motivate and inspire you.
New York (yeah), New York (uh)
We love New York City!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Alexander William Shuckburgh, Alicia J Augello-Cook, Shawn C Carter, Angela Hunte, Bert Keyes, Sylvia Robinson, Janette Sewell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@theharshtruthoutthere
@@susanarsoniadou To every soul OUT THERE:
All prayers from Righteous SOULS aka Born again Christians, have power. Sinners prayers GOD hears not. Unless we REPENT and born again and LIVE HOLY, GOD hears none of our prayers. Prayers have power, but these must come from Changed hearts.
Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
Psalms 119:155 “Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.”
(Many souls(unsaved souls), believe falsely and pray in vain).
Mankind is filled with UNSAVED SOULS (WICKED SINNERS).
That`s why there`s a calling to REPENTANCE and to BORN AGAIN:
Luke 5:32
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
John 3:7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
@kingbeef396
This song makes me feel like anything is possible.
@lyr1c180
In New York☝️
@sheepdavis
It's not
@nicholedoten6506
Less chance of 86n in the land of opportunity
@extrm161
https://youtu.be/o1D2q_YAxwQ
Only for real hip hop head's 👆
@nievescamacholara2549
@@palabrasb otsrwei nuevo yo ok
@wx_av3937
Whos listening in 2024 ?? 😂🗣️
@Your_fav_vr_guy
Me
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heyyy
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Me