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“Empire State of Mind” is a song by American rapper and hip hop artist Jay-Z, featuring vocals from R&B and soul singer Alicia Keys. It was released as the third single from Jay-Z’s 11th studio album The Blueprint 3 (2009), from his Roc Nation label in October 2009. The song is an anthemic ode to both artists’ native New York, and features a music sample of “Love on a Two-Way Street” (1970) by The Moments. The track was originally written after Brooklyn natives Angela Hunte and Jane’t “Jnay” Sewell-Ulepic were feeling homesick while on an overseas trip in February 2009. The following month they sent the song in for consideration at Roc Nation, but the song received negative reviews. Initially discouraged, the duo sent the song to Jay-Z after being suggested to by an... Read on...