empire state of mind
Jay-Z Feat. Alicia Keys Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah

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
Took it to my stashbox, 560 State Street
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)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind" describe the rapper's love affair with the New York city. Beginning in Brooklyn, Jay-Z refers to himself as the "new Sinatra," stating his belief that "since I made it here, I can make it anywhere." He boasts about his past experiences in Harlem, driving down 8th St., and living in Bed-Stuy, the birthplace of fellow rapper Notorious B.I.G.


The song also touches on the mix of cultures that exists in New York, with Jay-Z referencing the melting pot of people from all walks of life who call the city home, noting that "Eight million stories, out there in the naked, city is a pity, half of y'all won't make it." At its core, "Empire State of Mind" is a love letter to New York City, describing its vibrancy, energy, and culture.


Overall, the lyrics to "Empire State of Mind" capture the essence of New York's hustle and bustle, its diverse population, and the idea that anyone can make it in the city if they work hard enough.


Line by Line Meaning

Yeah
Introduces the song.


Yeah I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
Leaves Brooklyn for a more affluent neighborhood.


Right next to DeNiro, but I'll be hood forever
Despite his proximity to DeNiro, he will always remain true to his upbringing.


I'm the new Sinatra, and, since I made it here
Compares himself to Sinatra and because he has made it in New York he can make it anywhere.


I can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me everywhere
Since he made it in New York, he can make it anywhere, and everywhere he goes now they love him.


I used to cop in Harlem, all of my Dominicanos
He used to buy drugs in Harlem from Dominicans.


Right there up on Broadway, pull me back to that McDonald's
He pulls up at a McDonald's on Broadway.


Took it to my stashbox, 560 State St
He took the drugs to his stash house at 560 State St.


Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons wippin' pastry's
He is in the kitchen whipping up drugs like pastry.


Cruisin' down 8th St, off white Lexus
He drives his off-white Lexus down 8th street.


Drivin' so slow, but BK is from Texas
He is from Brooklyn, but drives slow like he is from Texas.


Me, I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
He is from the neighborhood of Bed-Stuy, which is also where Biggie Smalls is from.


Now I live on Billboard and I brought my boys with me
He now has a billboard, and his boys are with him.


Say what up to Ty-Ty, still sippin' Mai Tais
He greets his friend Ty-Ty, who is still drinking Mai Tais.


Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
He sits courtside at Knicks and Nets games and receives high fives from the players.


Nigga I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee (come on, come on, come on)
He is wearing a lot of gold chains like filmmaker Spike Lee, and he could trip a referee if he wanted to.


Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from
His attitude clearly indicates that he is from New York.


Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
New York is a city where people go to pursue their dreams.


There's nothin' you can't do
In New York, anything is possible.


Now you're in New York
Acknowledges the listener's arrival in New York City.


These streets will make you feel brand new
The energy of the New York streets makes you feel renewed.


Big lights will inspire you (come on)
The bright lights of New York inspire and motivate you.


Let's hear it for New York (you're welcome, OG) (come on)
He salutes New York and its culture.


Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
He goes to Yankee games with his friend OG.


Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous then a Yankee can
He made the Yankee hat more popular than the Yankees themselves.


You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
He supports the New York Yankees, but he is not associated with the Crips gang.


But I got a gang of niggas walkin' with my clique though
He has a group of friends walking with him.


Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
New York is a melting pot of cultures, and drugs are sold on some street corners.


Afrika Bambataa shit, home of the hip-hop
New York is the birthplace of Hip-Hop, which was invented by Afrika Bambaataa.


Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
Different types of cabs are available and hailing one should be quick.


For foreigners it ain't fair, they act like they forgot how to act
Foreigners may not be familiar with how to hail taxis in New York.


Eight million stories, out there in the naked
There are millions of stories to be told in the open and honest city.


City is a pity, half of y'all won't make it
Half of the people who come to the city to pursue their dreams will not succeed.


Me, I got a plug, Special Ed 'I Got It Made'
He has a connection like Special Ed does in his song 'I Got It Made'.


If Jesus payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwyane Wade
If Jesus endorsed LeBron James, he endorses Dwyane Wade.


Three dice cee-lo, three card Monte
Gangs and hustlers play these games in the city.


Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Bob Marley is remembered fondly at the Labor Day parade.


Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade (come on, come on, come on)
He pays tribute to the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center.


Long live the King yo, I'm from the Empire State that's
He declares that he is from the Empire State, and salutes the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson.


One hand in the air for the big city
He salutes the big city with one hand in the air.


Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty
The city streets, and big dreams, look beautiful.


No place in the world that could compare
New York is the best place in the world.


Put your lighters in the air everybody say
He urges everyone listening to hold up their lighters.


'Yeah, yeah' (come on, come on, come on)
He encourages the crowd to chant along with him.


In New York
Reiterates the setting of the song.


Big lights will inspire you
Repeats that the bright lights of New York inspire and motivate you.


Let's hear it for New York
Concludes the song with a cheer for New York.




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
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@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.



@apollo2276

Jay Z..

After seeing this information from a freemason himself, I think everyone will soon realise everything is much bigger than what we are led to believe.
YouTube deleted a link I put on over 20 times??

Disgusting they think they have a right to do so????

All part of a secret society who are controlling everything we do. And Jay Z all a part of it. You know what to look for it's in plain site.
Look up Will Jova channel. The video is called - worlds secret religion by Altiyan Childs.

Every single human being that sees this will cry...
Your life and what you think you know about people like Jay Z is a complete lie...
The information will answer all your questions as to what's really going on in the world currently and why. At the same time rip your heart out once you know the truth. But people NEED to know the truth.

Hence why YouTube deleted the link as they are all a part of it. Everyone you have ever looked up to famous wise, is all a part of it.
Fooled?? People have only so far seen the tip of the iceberg unfortunately I can assure you.

Watch the video please people it will change your life.
The world is NOT what you see.



All comments from YouTube:

@chicken

This song honestly is a forever classic and it still sounds fresh today.💖

@EmmanuelBenChaim

True

@Yeetasaurus9-yv4eo

Ugh daddy😂

@SJR-ol4kq

Did you know that, the music was remastered?

@INOTNAOMI

True

@canadiansoviet

Yuh dawg

29 More Replies...

@chicken

Its March 2024, let's see how many legends are listening to this incredible song💖

@Ichibe_goat

Wsg bro me

@tumelomsimango7257

still listening 🎶

@jagathprasantha2527

still

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