Jay-Z & Alicia Keys’ World Series performance of Empire State Of Mind has generated a hefty buzz this week. Get the story here, along with photos and video.
The duo opened Game 2 of the Phillies v. Yankees series at Yankee stadium with a fitting live rendition of Empire State Of Mind. The booming hook sung by Alicia Keys speaks of The City’s ability to inspire, while Jay’s smooth verses touch on what it means to be a New Yorker. Supported by a live band, the song echoed through the packed stadium as shots of the cityscape graced the big screens.
It was a moment that transcended baseball. Jay-Z had his humble beginnings in the Marcy Projects of Brooklyn and ground his way up to greatness and out of the hood—which gives him ample authority to speak on the American dream.
The performance was a solid one aside from the expected loss of sound quality that comes from playing a stadium. I also give them the utmost respect for playing with a live band—a trend that seems to have finally caught on in mainstream hip-hop.
One of my favorite parts of the video is when Derek Jeter smiles bashfully after realizing he was caught bobbing his head on the big screen.
About Jay-Z, Jeter said:
“I think it almost seems like it’s the anthem for New York right now…I got an opportunity to get to know Jay-Z throughout the years and he’s very, very talented doing a lot of things…he knows what he’s doing, so I think New York has kind of embraced that song.”
Jay-Z, who can almost always been seen wearing a Yankees ball cap, seemed humbled by the opportunity, saying:
“As a die-hard Yankees fan, I’m honored to perform a song that celebrates the greatness of New York in one of our city’s most important landmarks, Yankee Stadium.”
Check out some photos, and with Jay-Z & Alicia Keys’ World Series performance video below.
Photos: www.wenn.com/Matt Kent/Mr Blue