New York has been on the brain lately, with plenty of discourse surrounding the kingship. Jay-Z is no stranger to the throne; in our recent poll, forty-two percent of users concluded that Hov continues to reign as monarch of the Empire State. With a blend of shrewd business acumen and a legendary discography (four classics is nothing to scoff at), Jay has set the bar to some seriously ridiculous heights. And while Blueprint 3 may not have been Jay's best effort, "Empire State Of Mind" has emerged as one of his definitive records for casual fans and dedicated followers alike.
Over a triumphant instrumental, Jay pens a thoughtful ode to his city, cut from the same cloth as Frank Sinatra's "New York New York." With a stadium-ready chorus from the lovely and talented Alicia Keys, "Empire State Of Mind" has become a modern day anthem.
Quotable Lyrics
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, hola, my Dominicanos
Right there up on Broadway
Brought me back to that McDonalds
