◇ image via WikipediaEmpire State of Mind
Empire State of Mind is a Hip hop act. Their sound grew out of The Moments, Billy Joel, Nas and Frank Sinatra. Those roots explain a lot about how Empire State of Mind arrange songs and choose their tones. They run in the same orbit as Firework, Fast Car, Crazy in Love and Take Me to Church, sharing audiences, venues and reference points rather than a straight line of influence. Their influence carried into Alicia Keys, where the same ideas turn up rearranged for a later generation. Altogether the chart holds 9 connections around Empire State of Mind, reaching back through The Moments and forward to Alicia Keys. Follow any of those threads to keep travelling the influence between bands and genres on Starverb.
Background
"Empire State of Mind" is a song recorded by American rapper Jay-Z and American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, for the former's eleventh studio album The Blueprint 3 (2009). Produced by Al Shux, the song features a music sample of "Love on a Two-Way Street" performed by the Moments. Angela Hunte and Janet Sewell-Ulepic originally wrote it as a tribute to their hometown, New York City. The following month, they submitted it to Roc Nation, whose reviews were discouraging. They later took the suggestion of an EMI Music Publishing associate and resubmitted it to Jay-Z, who kept the "New York" singing part on the hook, changed the verses, and recorded it. The song's title, similar to "New York State of Mind" by Billy Joel and "N.Y. State of Mind" by Nas, is a play on and tribute to New York State's nickname "Empire State". "Empire State of Mind" was released as the third single from The Blueprint 3 on September 1, 2009, by Roc Nation and Atlantic Records.
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Empire State of Mind connections
Empire State of Mind grew out of The Moments, Billy Joel, Nas and Frank Sinatra, shares an orbit with Firework, Fast Car, Crazy in Love and Take Me to Church, went on to shape Alicia Keys. 9 connections mapped across roots, kindred and legacy.
Who influenced Empire State of Mind
Sounds and acts that shaped Empire State of Mind.
Artists similar to Empire State of Mind
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Bands Empire State of Mind shaped
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