Location: Home » MP3 Downloads » Empire State Of Mind [Jay-Z + Alicia Keys] (Explicit)

Empire State Of Mind [Jay-Z + Alicia Keys] (Explicit)

Artist: Jay-Z
Label: Roc Nation
Category: Digital Music Track

Buy New: $0.99
as of 7/30/2010 08:43 CDT details

Seller: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

7 reviews
Sales Rank: 68

Genre: rap-hip-hop-music
Media: MP3 Download
Running Time: 276 Minutes

ASIN: B002OGS0SW

Publication Date: September 1, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

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Customer Reviews:

Showing reviews 1-5 of 7

1 2 Next »

Original and Great Lyrics, "Borrowed" Music January 19, 2010
nagaxen (Seattle, WA, USA)
While I have been a fan of both Jay-Z and Alicia Keys since their respective initial albums and I honestly loved this song the first time I heard it, I was somewhat annoyed by the fact that the overall theme of the song (message, rhythm, harmony, and to some extent even the melody) seems to have been borrowed from another song that came out nearly 2 years before this did:

Malbec - The Visit

If you listen to Malbec's song and then listen to Jay-Z's song, you can notice a few similarities:
* The initial beat is the exact same.
* The repetitions of "New York" in both choruses have the same rhythm (Jay-Z's is slowed down by about half iirc but the ratio is nearly 100% identical) and the actual melody is astonishingly similar.
* Both are shout outs to New York.

Both songs have a great amount of musical energy and the harmonies/melodies leave one with a sense of inspiration but because Jay-Z's came out 2 years later, it feels as though his and Alicia Keys' song is nothing more than a simple hip-hop version with some musical rearrangement and new lyrics of an already good song.

If I had never known about the Malbec song, I would have given this 5 stars without a doubt... However, sadly, I'm a little disappointed in two of my favorite artists (especially Alicia Keys) for all of these similarities without even a tip of the hat to Malbec.

I know it's difficult to come up with any music that's actually "original" these days but it doesn't even seem like they were trying this time and these songs are far too similar for this to be a coincidence. It pains me to give this song only 2 stars but I feel it's the best it deserves given the above issues.

5 out of 5 stars

Surprise, surprise. December 3, 2009
Your neighbor (South Florida)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

As a lover of rock, blues, jazz, classical and more, I would never listen to rap let alone buy a song.
When I first heard "Empire State of Mind" with Alicia Keys on the awards show I was deeply moved by the words about New York and Ms. Keys whole hearted, gigantic contribution with her voice to lift Jay Zs text to heights I never imagined existed. "Concrete jungle that's where dreams are made of, there's nothing you can do now you're in New York. These streets will make you feel brand new, these lights will inspire you. Let's hear it for New York" YES. Congratulations to you both from another born and raised Bronxite.

5 out of 5 stars

Even more PROUD to be a 'New Yorker' November 12, 2009
Jack A. Brown (Alexandria, VA)
I am NOT a big fan of 'rap', but this one, by Jay-Z caught my ear the first time I heard it. The beat and the chorus gets you going and being a Native New Yorker, I relate to all the 'shout-out's'. Playing this jam, makes me feel GOOD and PROUD! Another masterpiece, from the Master....Jay-Z!

5 out of 5 stars

Nice November 8, 2009
J. H. Boyer (Houston, TX)
Very good song. I wouldn't mind the hook being turned into its own song, very catchy and Jay-Z is consistently good on this track.

5 out of 5 stars

No Need for a Review you can already tell this song is Sick. October 12, 2009
TATWA&B (Cali4nah)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

Just buy it man its only 99 cents and its prob one of the better songs off blueprint 3

Showing reviews 1-5 of 7

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alicia keys hip hop jay z new york city pop rap

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