: Hunte, who grew up in the same building as Jay-Z (560 State Street), sang the original demo vocals.
: Initially, Jay-Z wasn't interested, but after the track was reworked with a sample of Isaac Hayes' "Love on a Two-Way Street," he saw its potential. Perfecting the Hook jay_z_empire_state_of_mind_ft_alicia_keys
Experience the iconic music video that captures the spirit of the city: JAŸ-Z - Empire State Of Mind ft. Alicia Keys YouTube• Dec 4, 2021 The Origin: Homesickness in London : Hunte, who grew up in the same
: 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 Alicia Keys YouTube• Dec 4, 2021 The Origin:
The song didn't actually start in a New York studio. It was written in London during February 2009 by Angela Hunte and Jane't "Janyce" Sewell-Ulepic.
When Alicia Keys was brought in for the chorus, the process wasn't instant magic.
: She had to record the hook multiple times to capture the soaring, anthemic feel he wanted.