: She had to record the hook multiple times to capture the soaring, anthemic feel he wanted.
: It joined the ranks of Frank Sinatra’s "New York, New York" and Billy Joel’s "New York State of Mind" as a definitive tribute to the city.
When Alicia Keys was brought in for the chorus, the process wasn't instant magic. jay_z_empire_state_of_mind_ft_alicia_keys
: Initially, Jay-Z wasn't interested, but after the track was reworked with a sample of Isaac Hayes' "Love on a Two-Way Street," he saw its potential. Perfecting the Hook
: Jay-Z reportedly felt Keys' first vocal takes didn't have the right "energy" for the track. : She had to record the hook multiple
: Both songwriters were feeling deeply homesick for New York.
The song didn't actually start in a New York studio. It was written in London during February 2009 by Angela Hunte and Jane't "Janyce" Sewell-Ulepic. : Initially, Jay-Z wasn't interested, but after the
: The song is famously associated with the New York Yankees; Jay-Z performed it at the 2009 World Series, which many fans believe helped propel the team to victory.