It's Brooklyn in the house
Yeah
[Verse 1: Jay-Z]
Yeah, I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
Right next to De Niro, 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 McDonald's
Took it to my stash spot, 560 State Street
Catch me in the kitchen, like a Simmons whippin' pastry
Cruisin' down 8th street, off-white Lexus
Drivin' so slow, but BK 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 what up to Ty Ty, still sippin' Mai Tais
Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high fives
Nigga, I be spiked out, I could trip a referee
Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely
[Chorus: Alicia Keys & Jay-Z]
In New York yes
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of Yeah
There's nothin' you can't do Sing with me tonight!
Now you're in New York That's right!
These streets will make you feel brand-new new
Big lights will inspire you You!
Let's hear it for New York
New York, New York
[Verse 2: Jay-Z]
Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can
You should know I bleed Blue, but I ain't a Crip, though
But I got a gang of nation walkin' with my clique though
Welcome to the meltin' pot, corners where we sellin' rocks
Afrika Bambaataa shit, home of the hip-hop
Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
For foreigners it ain't fair, they act like they forgot how to add
Eight million stories out there in the naked
City, it's a pity half of y'all won't make it
Me? I gotta plug Special Ed "I Got It Made"
If Jeezy's payin' LeBron, (I'm payin' Dwyane Wade)
Three dice Cee Lo, three card Monte
Labor Day Parade – rest in peace, Bob Marley
Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade
Long live the king, yo – I'm from the Empire State...
[Chorus: Alicia Keys & Jay-Z]
In New York Sing now!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made ofYeah!
There's nothin' you can't doYeah!
Now you're in New York Feel so special tonight!
These streets will make you feel brand-new New!
Big lights will inspire you You!
Let's hear it for New York
New York, New York
[Verse 3: Jay-Z]
Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
So they can step out of bounds quick, the side lines is
Lined with casualties who sip the life casually
Then gradually become worse – don't bite the apple, Eve!
Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in-style
And when winter gets cold, en vogue with your skin out
The city of sin is a pity on a whim
Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
Mami 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 ends
Came here for school, graduated to the high life
Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight
MDMA got you feelin' like a champion
The city never sleeps, better slip you a Ambien
[Chorus: Alicia Keys & Jay-Z]
In New York Yes!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made ofYeah!
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in New York That's right!
These streets will make you feel brand-new New!
Big lights will inspire you You!
Let's hear it for New York
New York , New York Hands up!
[Bridge: Alicia Keys & JAY-Z ]
One hand in the air for the big city
Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' prettyYeah!
No place in the world that could compareYeah!
Put your lighters in the air, everybody say, "Yeah", Yeah Say what!
[Chorus: Alicia Keys]
In New York uh
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of Sing!
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand-newnew!
Big lights will inspire you you!
Let's hear it for New York
New York , New York
Empire State of Mind (Live) was written by Sylvia Robinson & Keyes & BobbyB & Alicia Keys & Al Shuckburgh & Al Shuckburgh Global Talent Publishing & JAY-Z.
Empire State of Mind (Live) was produced by Al Shux.