Empire State of Mind
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Intro: JAY-Z
YeahVerse 1: JAY-Z & Alicia Keys
Yeah, I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in TribecaRight next to De Niro, but I'll be hood foreverI'm the new Sinatra, and since I made it hereI can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me everywhereI used to cop in Harlem, hola, my Dominicanos (Dímelo)Right there up on Broadway, brought me back to that McDonald'sTook it to my stash spot, 560 State StreetCatch me in the kitchen, like a Simmons whippin' pastryCruisin' down 8th Street, off-white LexusDrivin' so slow, but BK is from TexasMe? I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy BiggieNow I live on Billboard and I brought my boys with meSay "What up?" to Ty Ty, still sippin' Mai TaisSittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high fivesNigga, I be spiked out (Come on), I could trip a referee (Come on)Tell by my attitude (Come on) that I'm most definitely fromChorus: Alicia Keys & JAY-Z
In New York (Ayy, uh, yeah; aha)Concrete jungle (Yeah) where dreams are made ofThere's nothin' you can't do (Yeah, okay)Now you're in New York (Aha, aha, aha; 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 welcome, OG; uh)New York (Yeah), New York (Uh, I made you hot, nigga)Verse 2: JAY-Z & Alicia Keys
Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee gameShit, I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee canYou should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip thoughBut I got a gang of niggas walkin' with my clique thoughWelcome to the meltin' pot, corners where we sellin' rockAfrika Bambaataa shit, home of the hip-hopYellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla backFor foreigners, it ain't fair, they act like they forgot how to addEight million stories out there in the nakedCity, it's a pity half of y'all won't make itMe? I gotta plug Special Ed, "I Got It Made"If Jeezy's payin' LeBron, I'm payin' Dwyane WadeThree dice, Cee-lo, Three Card MonteLabor Day Parade, rest in peace, Bob MarleyStatue of Liberty, long live the World Trade (Come on, come on)Long live the king, yo (Come on), I'm from the Empire State, that'sChorus: Alicia Keys & JAY-Z
In New York (Ayy; uh, yeah)Concrete jungle where dreams are made ofThere'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-newBig lights will inspire you (Okay)Let's hear it for New York (Uh)New York (Yeah), New York (Uh)Verse 3: JAY-Z & Alicia Keys
Lights is blinding, girls need blindersOr they could step out of bounds quick, the side lines isLined with casualties who sip the life casuallyThen gradually become worse, don't bite the apple, EveCaught up in the in-crowd, now you're in-styleInto the winter gets cold, en vogue with your skin outCity of sin is a pity on a whimGood girls gone bad, the city's filled with themMami took a bus trip, now she got her bust outEverybody ride her, just like a bus route"Hail Mary" to the city, you're a virginAnd Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church endCame here for school, graduated to the high lifeBall players, rap stars, addicted to the limelightMDMA (Come on) got you feelin' like a champion (Come on)The city never sleeps (Come on), better slip you a AmbienChorus: Alicia Keys & JAY-Z
In New York (Ayy, ow, uh, yeah)Concrete jungle where dreams are made ofThere's nothin' you can't do (Okay)Now you're in New York (Uh, yeah)These streets will make you feel brand-newBig lights will inspire you (Okay)Let's hear it for New York (Uh)New York (Yeah), New York (Uh)Bridge: Alicia Keys
One hand in the air for the big city (Oh)Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty (Oh)No place in the world that could compare (Nah)Put your lighters in the air, everybody say"Yeah, yeah" (Come on, come on)"Yeah, yeah" (Come on)Chorus: Alicia Keys
In New York (Uh, yeah, oh)Concrete jungle where dreams are made ofThere's nothin' you can't do (Okay)Now you're in New York (Uh, yeah, yeah)These streets will make you feel brand-newBig lights will inspire you (Okay)Let's hear it for New York (Uh)New York (Yeah), New York (Uh)What the song means
JAY-Z celebrates New York City as a place of endless opportunity and transformation. He chronicles his rise from Brooklyn streets to wealth and fame, describing NYC's neighborhoods, culture, and allure. The song portrays the city as both inspiring and dangerous, where dreams are achievable but the lifestyle can be destructive.
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Tribeca — A wealthy neighborhood in lower Manhattan
JAY-Z mentions moving from Brooklyn to this upscale area
