: Her powerful delivery became the song's heartbeat, leading her to later release "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down," a solo, piano-driven version. A Cultural Phenomenon
: Hunte, who grew up in the same building as Jay-Z (560 State Street), sang the original demo vocals.
When Alicia Keys was brought in for the chorus, the process wasn't instant magic.
: 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.
: She had to record the hook multiple times to capture the soaring, anthemic feel he wanted.
: Her powerful delivery became the song's heartbeat, leading her to later release "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down," a solo, piano-driven version. A Cultural Phenomenon
: Hunte, who grew up in the same building as Jay-Z (560 State Street), sang the original demo vocals.
When Alicia Keys was brought in for the chorus, the process wasn't instant magic.
: 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.
: She had to record the hook multiple times to capture the soaring, anthemic feel he wanted.
