Jay Z State Of Mind
Jay Z State Of Mind === https://urlca.com/2t7kSt
Originally written to be sung,[3] the track's verses were rewritten by Jay-Z, inspired by the original lyrics, leaving Hunte on the song's hook. However, when Hunte and Sewell-Ulepic were asked if they thought someone else would be more appropriate for the chorus, Hunte suggested R&B and soul artist Alicia Keys.[2] Hunte said, "She's never done a record with him and she also has my same vocal tone. She made the song sound so close to the original, She just nailed it and brought it home. It was a great choice."[2] Keys also wrote "Empire State of Mind"'s new bridge.[3]Jay-Z stated in an interview that after he first heard the track's piano loops, he immediately thought of Keys and wanted her to be featured on the song. Jay-Z said that Mary J. Blige was initially considered for Keys' part on "Empire State of Mind", and he was "two seconds away" from asking Blige to appear on the record's chorus, which would have been a safe move. However, the combination of Keys' sound and piano talent had struck a chord with Jay-Z.[4][5] Keys said of featuring on the song:
IGN music reviewer Chris Carle described Keys as having "soaring vocals" in the song.[25] New York Post writer Ryan Brockington called "Empire State of Mind" his favorite song from The Blueprint 3,[26] and Tyler Gray from the same publication said "Empire State of Mind" was the "most soulful" song on the album.[27] Francois Marchand of the Vancouver Sun called the song "shiver-inducing".[28] The Times writer Stephen Dalton called the track a "heartfelt love letter to New York City", with Jay-Z playing the "hip-hop Sinatra" over Keys' "luscious" chorus,[8] and The Guardian's Alexis Petridis described its chorus as "incredible, breezy pop".[29] Killan Fox of the same publication felt that the track was a "terrific homage" to New York and listed the song as being one of the "really good tracks" on The Blueprint 3.[30] Writing in Rolling Stone, Jody Rosen called it a "pallid New York shout-out".[31] Pitchfork's Ian Cohen stated that "the piledriver hooks of "Run This Town" and "Empire State of Mind" are content to annoy their way to ubiquity".[32]
Following the release of "Empire State of Mind" in January 2010, Keys stated that she was planning to release a second version of the song as a single the following month, featuring only her vocals.[107] The track, entitled "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down", appeared on Keys' fourth studio album The Element of Freedom which was released in December 2009. The original version, entitled "Empire State of Mind Part 2", included both Keys' vocals and a new rap verse from Jay-Z,[108] but the final product did not include Jay-Z.[109] Discussing the record, Keys said that it acts as a dichotomy of strength and vulnerability, commenting that "The music is really strong, and the drums are really aggressive, but my voice is vulnerable and delicate".[107]
Rappers often pay homage to their hometowns, but Jay-Z dropped the name of his actual former address in the 2009 song Empire State of Mind: 560 State Street. The superstar (and husband to Beyoncé) is proud of his Brooklyn roots, and now you can own an apartment in the same building for $1.4 million, reports StreetEasy. The 1,205-square-foot Boerum Hill duplex features locally sourced wood and slate countertops from New York state. There are two bedrooms and 1.5 baths as well as south-facing windows that overlook a large courtyard. Other highlights include ten-foot ceilings and bright red cabinetry in the kitchen, where, as the song goes, you might catch Jay-Z whipping pastries. 2b1af7f3a8