AboutThe Blueprint 3’s third single is a love song to Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' home city of New York, which is also known as “the Empire State.” The title alludes to the Billy Joel ballad, “New York State of Mind,” and Nas‘ “ State of Mind.” “Empire State of Mind” stands as one of Hov’s most successful singles. It was the first Jay-Z-lead single to ever top the Billboard “Hot 100,” sitting at #1 for five consecutive weeks (also being the last number #1 in the 2000s). It has been certified 5x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA for sales of over million in the United States. The track was nominated for three Grammy Awards, winning “Best Rap Song” and “Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.”Ask us a question about this songWhat has Jay said about the track?What sticks out to me about the record is the aspiration and hope—that there’s a place where you can become something. But you have to be aware that there’s a downside to living in New York, or any major city. You can get sidetracked and swallowed up, which is why the third verse is the way it is. I’ve seen it happen so many times. But if you can overcome the trappings, you can be successful. Hit records resonate with the broadcast audience. The inspiration in that record connected—all over the did Hov choose Alicia Keys to appear on the track with him?Jay stated in an interview that after he first heard the track’s piano loops (which are sampled from “Love on a Two-Way Street” by The Moments), he immediately thought of Keys and wanted her to be featured on the song. He has also said that his friend Mary J. Blige was initially considered for Keys' part, admitting that he was “two seconds away” from asking Blige to appear on the record’s chorus. He decided that using Blige on the song would have been a safe move, but that the combination of Keys' sound and piano talent had struck a chord with has Alicia Keys said about the song?Does the track have an accompanying music video?What did Hov have to say about his Jeezy shout-out?How did this song perform on the charts?CreditsRecorded AtRoc The Mic NY/Oven Studios NYRelease DateOctober 20, 2009Empire State of Mind SamplesSongs That Sample Empire State of MindCleveland State Of Mind [Single Version] by Machine Gun Kelly (Ft. Ashley Simpson & Johnny Bravo (Rapper)), History of Rap 1 by Jimmy Fallon (Ft. Justin Timberlake), Oh No by Girl Talk, Kill You by JJ, New Work by JJ, One Step Ahead (Empire State Riddim) by Aretha Franklin (Ft. Donnis), Шахмат (Shahmat) by дима бамберг (dima bamberg) (Ft. Жанеля (Janelya)), New York by Thegiornalisti, 20 Questions For Jay-Z by John Paul Davis, THA (DA) WINDY CITY by Boys Had a Broken Heart (Ft. Alec Guthrie & Isak Wall), Gotham by Rodan, 2000-2019 mashup | 200 songs from the last 20 years by YamiNoBahamut, Decade of Pop: The 2000s by DJ Earworm & Scrapped FLP Files by HanahataView Empire State of Mind samplesTags