Empire State Of Mind
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys [2156]PL Lyrics

Yeah
Expressing enthusiasm or agreement

Yeah I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
I used to live in Brooklyn, but now I reside in Tribeca

Right next to DeNiro, but I'll be hood forever
I have a place near DeNiro, but I will always stay true to my roots

I'm the new Sinatra, and, since I made it here
I am like a modern-day 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 appreciate and admire me everywhere

I used to cop in Harlem, all of my Dominicanos
I used to buy drugs in Harlem from my Dominican contacts

Right there up on Broadway, pull me back to that McDonald's
Right on Broadway, near McDonald's, a place that reminds me of my past struggles

Took it to my stashbox, 560 State St
Took the drugs to my hiding place at 560 State St

Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons wippin' pastry's
You can find me in the kitchen, just like someone named Simmons, cooking pastries

Cruisin' down 8th St, off white Lexus
Driving slowly down 8th St in my off-white Lexus

Drivin' so slow, but BK is from Texas
I may drive slowly, but I represent Brooklyn, even though it's in New York and not Texas

Me, I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
Personally, I am from Bed-Stuy, the hometown of the famous rapper Biggie

Now I live on Billboard and I brought my boys with me
Now I am successful and recognized on the Billboard, and I have my friends with me

Say what up to Ty-Ty, still sippin' Mai Tais
I greet Ty-Ty, while still enjoying my Mai Tais (cocktail)

Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
I have the privilege of sitting courtside at basketball games and receiving high fives from both the Knicks and Nets

Nigga I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee (come on, come on, come on)
I wear Spike Lee's signature style and I could agitate a referee easily

Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from
My attitude clearly indicates that I am without a doubt from

In New York (ayy, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
Referring to the fact that I am in the city of New York

Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
Acknowledging that New York is like a concrete jungle where dreams can come true

There's nothin' you can't do (yeah) (okay)
There is nothing that you cannot achieve in this city

Now you're in New York (ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha)
Now that you are here in New York

These streets will make you feel brand new (new)
The streets of New York have the power to make you feel rejuvenated and refreshed

Big lights will inspire you (come on) (okay)
The grand lights of the city will motivate and ignite your passion

Let's hear it for New York (you're welcome, OG) (come on)
Let's give a cheer for New York, as it deserves to be praised

New York (yeah), New York (uh) (I made you hot)
Referring to the city of New York, acknowledging my contribution in making it popular

Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
You can find me at the X (Stadium) with OG (other gang members) watching a Yankees game

Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous then a Yankee can
I made the Yankee hat so renowned that it surpasses the popularity of the team itself

You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
I am devoted to the Yankees (who wear blue), but I am not affiliated with the Crips gang

But I got a gang of niggas walkin' with my clique though
However, I have a group of people who are loyal to me and accompany me

Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
Welcome to the diverse city where we sell drugs on street corners

Afrika Bambataa shit, home of the hip-hop
Referring to the influence of hip-hop artist Afrika Bambataa and recognizing New York as the birthplace of hip-hop

Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
Different types of taxis available in the city, with the request to call them back

For foreigners it ain't fair, they act like they forgot how to act
It isn't fair for non-locals, as they sometimes act inappropriately or forget proper behavior

Eight million stories, out there in the naked
There are countless stories of people living in the city, out in the open

City is a pity, half of y'all won't make it
The city can be unforgiving, and half of you won't succeed here

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

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

Three dice cee-lo, three card Monte
Playing the gambling game cee-lo with three dice, or the con game three card Monte

Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Referencing the Labor Day Parade and paying tribute to the late Bob Marley

Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade (come on, come on, come on)
Praising the Statue of Liberty and wishing for the long life of the World Trade Center

Long live the King yo, I'm from the Empire State that's
Showing respect to the King and proudly stating that I am from the Empire State

In New York (ayy, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
Recognizing that I am in the city of New York

Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
Acknowledging that New York is a city full of opportunities and where dreams can come true

There's nothin' you can't do (that boy good) (okay)
There is nothing that you cannot achieve here, expressing confidence in one's abilities

Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
Now that you are here in New York

(Welcome to the bright lights, baby)
Welcoming and embracing the vibrant atmosphere of New York

These streets will make you feel brand new
The city streets will give you a sense of renewal and rejuvenation

Big lights will inspire you (okay)
The grand lights of the city will motivate and ignite your passion

Let's hear it for New York (come on)
Let's show our appreciation and admiration for New York

New York (yeah), New York (uh)
Paying homage to the city of New York

Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
The bright lights of the city can be overwhelming for some, and girls may need blinders to stay focused

So they can step out of bounds quick, the sidelines is
To avoid getting caught up in distractions, so they can quickly move away from the boundaries of their comfort zone

Lined with casualties, who sip the life casually
Filled with people who casually indulge in a lifestyle that leads to their downfall

Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple, Eve
Then gradually decline, warning against making destructive choices like how Eve bit the forbidden apple

Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in style
Becoming entangled in the popular group and now being fashionable

End of the winter gets cold, en vogue, with your skin out
As winter ends and it gets colder, people start wearing fashionable outfits that expose more skin

City of sin, it's a pity on the whim
Referring to New York as a city associated with sin and expressing disappointment in impulsive actions

Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
Even good girls can be influenced and led astray in this city that is filled with their kind

Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out
A mother who went on a bus trip and now displays her physical assets prominently

Everybody ride her, just like a bus route
Everyone wants to be involved with her, just like how people ride a bus along its designated route

"Hail Mary" to the city, you're a virgin
A reference to the prayer "Hail Mary" and comparing the city to a virgin

And Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church end
Even Jesus cannot protect you in this city, and life truly begins when you leave the confines of the church

Came here for school, graduated to the high life
Arrived in the city for education and then moved on to living a luxurious and successful lifestyle

Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight
Referring to the obsession of basketball players and rap artists with fame and attention

MDMA got you feelin' like a champion (come on, come on, come on)
The drug MDMA can make you feel invincible, encouraging others to join in

The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien
The city is always awake, so you may need a sedative like Ambien to fall asleep

One hand in the air for the big city
Raising one hand to show appreciation for the grandness of the city

Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty
Street lights illuminate the path to big dreams, making everything look beautiful

No place in the world that could compare
There is no other place in the world that can match its uniqueness

Put your lighters in the air everybody say
Hold your lighters up in the air, and everyone should say

"Yeah, yeah" (come on, come on, come on)
"Yeah, yeah" in an encouraging manner

"Yeah, yeah"
"Yeah, yeah"

In New York (uh, yeah)
Referring to the fact that I am in the city of New York

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
Describing New York as a place where dreams can come true, despite its tough environment

There's nothin' you can't do (okay)
There are no limits to what you can achieve here

Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
Now that you are here in New York

These streets will make you feel brand new
The city streets will give you a sense of renewal and rejuvenation

Big lights will inspire you
The grand lights of the city will motivate and ignite your passion

Let's hear it for New York (come on)
Let's show our appreciation and admiration for New York

New York (yeah), New York (uh)
Paying homage to the city of New York