Empire State Of Mind
Jay-z ft Alicia Keys (Chrome.Yum.Yum.Easy.Edit) 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

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
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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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