Empire State of Mind
Kevin McHale Mark Salling Cory Monteith Amber Riley & Naya Rivera Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
Right next to Deniro, 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, all of my Dominicano's
Right there up on Broadway, pull me back to that McDonald's
Took it to my stash box, five sixty State Street
Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons with them pastries
Cruisin' down eighth Street, off white Lexus
Drivin' so slow, but B.K. 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 whatup to Ty-Ty, still sippin' mai tai's
Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
Jigga I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee
Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from

New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in New York (New York!)
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York

Catch me at the X with O.G. at a Yankee game
Dude I made the Yankee hat more famous then a Yankee can
You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
But I got a gang of brothers walkin' with my clique though
Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
Africa Bambata home of the hip-hop
Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
For foreigners it ain't for they act like they forgot how to act
Eight million stories, out there in it 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 Jesus payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwayne Wade
Three dice Cee-lo, three card molly
Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade
Long live the Kingdom, I'm from the Empire State that's

New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York

Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
So they can step out of bounds quick
The sidelines is, lined with casualties, who sip to life casually
Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple leaf
Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in style
End of the winter gets cold, en vogue, with your skin out
City of sin, it's a pity on the wind
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
M.D.M.A. got you feelin' like a champion
The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien

New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York,
New York

One hand in the air for the big city
Streetlights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty
No place in the world that could compare
Put your lighters in the air
Everybody say "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah"

New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new




Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Empire State of Mind are a celebration of New York City and its iconic landmarks, as well as a tribute to the city's resilience and the dreams it inspires. Jay-Z, who grew up in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, reflects on his journey from the streets of New York to the top of the music industry, comparing himself to Frank Sinatra and proclaiming his love for the city that shaped him.


The first verse of the song sets the scene, with Jay-Z boasting about his new digs in Tribeca alongside legendary actor Robert De Niro. He then reflects on his roots in Harlem and Bed-Stuy, name-checking Biggie Smalls, before launching into the chorus, which celebrates the city's energy and vitality. The following verses touch on everything from Yankee games and labor day parades to the darker side of the city's nightlife and the struggles of those trying to make it in the city that never sleeps.


What emerges is a portrait of a city that is both inspiring and challenging, where anything is possible but not without hard work and sacrifice. The song has become a cultural touchstone, embraced by New Yorkers and visitors alike as an anthem of the city's enduring spirit.


Line by Line Meaning

Yeah I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
I left my old life in Brooklyn and now I'm living in the wealthy and trendy neighborhood of Tribeca.


Right next to Deniro, but I'll be hood forever
Even though I'm rubbing shoulders with famous people like Robert De Niro, I'll always remain true to my roots.


I'm the new Sinatra, and since I made it here
I'm like Frank Sinatra, a true icon of New York, and now that I've succeeded here, I can succeed anywhere.


I can make it anywhere, yeah they love me everywhere
My success in New York has made me a beloved figure who can achieve success anywhere in the world.


I used to cop in Harlem, all of my Dominicano's
I used to buy drugs in the Harlem neighborhood from people of Dominican descent.


Right there up on Broadway, pull me back to that McDonald's
That McDonald's on Broadway was a spot I frequented during rough times.


Took it to my stash box, five sixty State Street
I took my drugs to a secure location at the address of 560 State Street.


Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons with them pastries
Just like the celebrity chef Russell Simmons, you could find me cooking up something sweet in the kitchen.


Cruisin' down eighth Street, off white Lexus
I was driving down 8th Street in my luxury off-white Lexus.


Drivin' so slow, but B.K. is from Texas
I may be driving slowly, but I'm still representing Brooklyn, even though I'm originally from Texas.


Me, I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
I'm from the neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, the same place that The Notorious B.I.G. called home.


Now I live on billboard and I brought my boys with me
I'm now a successful artist with a hit song on the Billboard charts, and I brought my friends along for the ride.


Say whatup to Ty-Ty, still sippin' mai tai's
Give a shout-out to my friend Ty-Ty who's still enjoying his tropical mai tais.


Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
I have the privilege of sitting in the best seats in the house for basketball games, with players giving me a high five.


Jigga I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee
Like filmmaker Spike Lee, I'm decked out in my finest attire and could cause a scene on the basketball court.


Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from
My attitude and behavior give away that I'm definitely from


New York
New York City, the place I call home.


Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
New York City, which can be both beautiful and brutal.


There's nothin' you can't do
In New York, the possibilities are endless.


Now you're in New York (New York!)
Now that you're here in New York City, you can understand.


These streets will make you feel brand new
The energy of New York City can inspire a sense of personal renewal.


Big lights will inspire you
The dazzling lights of the city can stimulate your creativity.


Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York
Let's give a cheer for the incredible city of New York!


Catch me at the X with O.G. at a Yankee game
You might find me at Yankee Stadium with my OG (original gangster) friends.


Dude I made the Yankee hat more famous then a Yankee can
My fame has even eclipsed that of the New York Yankees baseball team.


You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
I'm a fan of the New York Giants football team, whose color is blue, but I'm not a member of the gang called the Crips.


But I got a gang of brothers walkin' with my clique though
I may not be in a gang, but I roll with a tight-knit group of friends.


Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
New York City is a place where many cultures blend together, but it's also a place where drugs are sold on the street corners.


Africa Bambata home of the hip-hop
The Bronx neighborhood of Africa Bambata is considered one of the founding locations of hip-hop culture.


Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
There are taxis of all different types and prices in New York City - just call out and hail the one you want.


For foreigners it ain't for they act like they forgot how to act
Some tourists seem to forget their manners when visiting New York City.


Eight million stories, out there in it naked
In New York City, there are millions of people with unique life stories, living out in the open.


City is a pity, half of y'all won't make it
New York City can be a cruel place, and not everyone will be able to handle it.


Me, I got a plug, Special Ed "I Got It Made"
I have some connections that help me get what I want, just like the rapper Special Ed's hit song.


If Jesus payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwayne Wade
If Jesus Christ himself were to get involved in the NBA and pay LeBron James, then I would pay Dwayne Wade.


Three dice Cee-lo, three card molly
Some popular street games in New York City include dice game Cee-lo and card game three-card monte.


Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
The Labor Day Parade in Brooklyn, a Caribbean celebration, includes tribute to the legendary reggae musician Bob Marley.


Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade
Two iconic symbols of New York City are the Statue of Liberty and the former location of the World Trade Center.


Long live the Kingdom, I'm from the Empire State that's
I'm proud to call myself a resident of the Empire State of New York.


New York
New York City, a symbol of culture, diversity, and ambition.


Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
An image that represents the beauty and danger of New York City.


There's nothin' you can't do
An inspiring message that motivates people to achieve their goals in the city.


Now you're in New York
An assertion that, once you're in New York City, you're part of something special.


These streets will make you feel brand new
An acknowledgement of the energy and excitement of the city.


Big lights will inspire you
A reflection on how the city's bright lights can spark creativity and ambition.


Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York
A celebratory cheer for the amazing city of New York.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
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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