Empire State of Mind
Jay-Z ft Alicia Keys & Frank Sinatra 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)
In "Empire State of Mind," Jay-Z raps about his rise to fame from his early days of drug dealing to his current status as the "King of New York." He represents his hometown and takes pride in his achievements. Jay-Z mentions his location in Tribeca, right next to Robert De Niro, but insists he remains loyal to his Brooklyn roots. He compares himself to Frank Sinatra, saying that he can make it anywhere, and acknowledges his love from fans globally. He mentions cruising in his luxury car and being greeted by fellow celebs like Spike Lee. Additionally, Alicia Keys' powerful vocals further emphasize the focus of the song.
One interesting fact about this song is that Jay-Z has mentioned the influence of the film "Scarface" on the lyrics, especially the impact it had on him as a young hustler. Another trivia is that Alicia Keys was initially hesitant about writing and singing the chorus to this song. However, after some persuasion from Jay-Z, she agreed to do it. The music video features famous landmarks across New York, including the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and Yankee Stadium. It also includes a cameo from rapper Nas. Jay-Z has performed this song live with Alicia Keys multiple times, including at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards and during the halftime show of Super Bowl XLIV in 2010.
The chords for "Empire State of Mind" are as follows:
[Intro]
(F#m) (D) (A) (E) x4
[Verse 1]
(F#m) (D) (A) (E) x4
[Chorus]
(D) (A) (E) (A) x4
[Interlude]
(D) (A) (Bm) (F#m) x2
[Verse 2]
(F#m) (D) (A) (E) x4
[Chorus]
(D) (A) (E) (A) x4
[Verse 3]
(Bm) (D) (A) (E) x4
[Chorus]
(D) (A) (E) (A) x4
[Outro]
(D) (A) (E) (A)
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
Expressing affirmation 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 De Niro, but I'll be hood forever
I'm living in close proximity to De Niro, but I will always represent and stay true to my roots
I'm the new Sinatra, and since I made it here
I am like the modern-day Sinatra, and because I achieved success in New York City
I can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me everywhere
I have the ability to succeed anywhere, and I am loved and respected in various places
I used to cop in Harlem, hola, my Dominicanos (dímelo)
I used to buy drugs in Harlem and greet my Dominican friends
Right there up on Broadway, brought me back to that McDonald's
Being on Broadway reminded me of my humble beginnings at McDonald's
Took it to my stashbox, 560 State Street
I kept my drugs hidden in my secret location at 560 State Street
Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons whippin' pastry
You can find me in the kitchen, like Russell Simmons, preparing drugs
Cruisin' down 8th St, off-white Lexus
Driving down 8th Street in my off-white Lexus
Drivin' so slow, but BK is from Texas
Driving slowly, but I still represent Brooklyn even though I'm in Texas
Me, I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
I am from Bedford-Stuyvesant, the same neighborhood as Biggie Smalls
Now I live on Billboard and I brought my boys with me
Now I have achieved success and have my crew 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 close to the court at basketball games, receiving high fives from players of both the Knicks and the Nets
Nigga, I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee (come on, come on, come on)
I'm dressed in Spike Lee's clothing line, and I even have the power to influence and argue with referees
Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from
You can tell by my demeanor that I am undeniably from
Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
New York City, a place where dreams can come true
There's nothin' you can't do (yeah) (okay)
There is nothing that is impossible to achieve
Now you're in New York (ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
Now that you are in New York City
These streets will make you feel brand new (new)
Walking these city streets will give you a renewed sense of self
Big lights will inspire you (come on) (okay)
The bright city lights will ignite inspiration within you
Let's hear it for New York (you're welcome, OG) (uh)
Let's show appreciation for New York City
New York (yeah), New York (uh) (I made you hot, nigga)
New York City, a place I helped make popular
Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
You can find me with OG (original gangster) at a Yankees baseball game
Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can
I made the Yankees baseball cap more popular than the team itself
You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
I am a true fan of the Yankees, 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 large group of people who support and follow me
Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
Welcome to New York City, a diverse place where drugs are sold on street corners
Afrika Bambataa shit, home of the hip-hop
Like Afrika Bambataa, New York City is the birthplace of hip-hop
Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
Yellow taxis, unlicensed taxis, and cheap taxis are all available, just call them back
For foreigners it ain't fair, they act like they forgot how to act
Foreigners may not understand how things work here and may behave improperly
Eight million stories, out there in the naked
There are countless stories and experiences to be found in this city filled with opportunities
City is a pity, half of y'all won't make it
The city can be harsh; many people won't succeed here
Me, I got a plug, Special Ed, "I Got It Made"
I have a connection to obtain drugs easily, just like Special Ed's song "I Got It Made"
If Jeezy's payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwyane Wade
If Jeezy is spending money on LeBron James, I am spending money on Dwyane Wade
Three dice Cee-lo, three-card Monte
Playing a dice game called Cee-lo and a card game called three-card Monte
Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Attending the Labor Day Parade in honor of Bob Marley who has passed away
Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade (come on, come on, come on)
Paying tribute to the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center, both symbols of freedom
Long live the king, yo, I'm from the Empire State that's
Long live the king, I am from the Empire State, which is
Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
New York City, a place where dreams can come true
There's nothin' you can't do (that boy good) (okay)
There is nothing that is impossible to achieve
Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
Now that you are in New York City
(Welcome to the bright lights, baby)
Welcome to the vibrant and bustling atmosphere of the city
These streets will make you feel brand new
Walking these city streets will give you a renewed sense of self
Big lights will inspire you (okay)
The bright city lights will ignite inspiration within you
Let's hear it for New York (uh)
Let's show appreciation for New York City
New York (yeah), New York (uh)
New York City
Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
The city lights are so bright that girls need blinders to shield their eyes
So they can step out of bounds quick, the sidelines is
To avoid getting caught up in the fast-paced city life and making mistakes
Lined with casualties, who sip the life casually
Filled with people who casually indulge in the harmful aspects of this lifestyle
Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple, Eve
Then slowly deteriorating, referring to the biblical story of Eve biting the forbidden apple
Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in style
Getting caught up in the popular crowd, now you're fashionable
Into the winter gets cold, en vogue, with your skin out
When winter arrives and it gets cold, dressing in the latest fashion with your skin exposed
City of sin, it's a pity on a whim
The city is known for its sinful ways and it's a shame to indulge in its temptations on a whim
Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
Innocent girls turning into rebels, the city is full of them
Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out
A mother took a bus trip and now she has found success
Everybody ride her, just like a bus route
Everyone is taking advantage of her, just as they would a crowded bus route
"Hail Mary" to the city, you're a virgin
A reference to the prayer 'Hail Mary,' implying that the city can save and purify you
And Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church end
Even Jesus cannot save you here; life starts after the church service
Came here for school, graduated to the high life
I came here for education, but ended up living a lavish lifestyle
Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight
Basketball players and rappers are obsessed with the attention and fame
MDMA got you feelin' like a champion (come on, come on, come on)
The drug MDMA gives you a feeling of invincibility and success
The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien
The city is always active and alive, you may need to take a sleeping pill to rest
One hand in the air for the big city (uh)
Raising one hand in the air to show appreciation for the big city
Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty (uh)
The city streets illuminated by the streetlights, filled with big dreams and a beautiful sight
No place in the world that could compare (nah)
There is no other place in the world that can compare to this
Put your lighters in the air everybody say
Hold your lighters up in the air and everyone say
"Yeah, yeah" (come on, come on, come on)
"Yeah, yeah" (expressing agreement or excitement)
"Yeah, yeah" (I'm from New York)
"Yeah, yeah" (I am from 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
@brizahn1833
When I heard this for the first time my jaw was ON THE FLOOR and I had to stop driving to pull over and vibe😂😂
@trentphillips4079
I just heard it on tik tok and immediately came to YouTube to find the full version and when I saw it was 6 minutes long I got so happy. Been vibing to it for 20 minutes now
@BL-xx5ui
SAME 😂😂😂
@lukebossey979
That’s weird
@jbplaylistcollector8339
@@trentphillips4079 me too
@toneytorado5520
It's that good 🔥
@trevorwester
cleanest change in a song ever. pure chills, and it’s enough to make a man emotional
@caminantesdecielos
The transition was smooth AF, Tho I wish he could have added Sinatra again during the rest of the song.
@DWEonyt
That transition to New York to the alica keys was cold 🥶
@armanious2567
This exact remix was blasted in our prom it was amazing fire and sparks went off at exactly the moment when she says in newwww york it was amazing truly the best moment i have ever witnessed the sound was also so loud our bodies were shaking from the strong vibration and i will never forget when they also shot the golden confetti truly the best remix