Jay-Z owns the Big Apple. He knows it, Mayor Bloomberg knows it, and so does everyone within earshot of his latest album – The Blueprint 3. Songs from the album – ‘Run this Town’ and ’Empire State of Mind’ - are aimed squarely at propogating the myth of J Hova’s absolute dominance of all things New York. 

Jay-Z

If you’re not a New Yorker, you can buy your Jay-Z tickets for the BP3 Tour, same as everyone else. But not in the Big Apple - because Empire State of Mind is also a candidate to replace Sinatra’s New York, New York as the New York anthem song.

And Jay-Z is relentlessly hammering it home – with Alicia Keys to add some oomph, he performed the song at Madison Square Garden on Sept 11, as part of the ‘Answer the Call’ charity concert.

Next stop the MTV Video Music Awards. After that the Yankee Stadium, for Game 2 of the World Series, and then again at the Yankees Parade.

He was even introduced as the Mayor of New York by Bono at the U2 Berlin Wall concert streamed live on youtube.

Is playing BP3 on every available stereo going to change New York’s state of mind about Jay-Z and Empire State of Mind anymore than it already has? Maybe a connection between Empire State of Mind and pictures of the iconic landmarks mentioned in the song might help.

Read the lyrics, check out the video, and see the pictures below of the landmarks and icons mentioned. I’m loath to admit it, but once you make the connection, Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind is every bit as good as the New York of Frank Sinatra and Robert De Niro. 

 Yea I’m out that Brooklyn, now I’m down in TriBeCa
right next to Deniro, but I’ll be hood forever
I’m the new Sinatra, and… since I made it here
I can make it anywhere, yea, they love me everywhere   

Tribeca - Washington Market Park & Powell Building

Jay-Z, Frank Sinatra & Robert De Niro

 

Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade
Long live the Kingdome, I’m from the Empire St. that’s…

WTC Memorial & Statue of Liberty Flyby

Newww Yooorrrkkkk, I’m becomin’ where dreams are made of
There’s nothin’ you can’t do
out of Neww Yooorrrrkkk
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let’s hear it for New York, New York 

Times Square in the Rain

 
Jay-Z top photo by MjaMes1408; Jay-Z bottom photo by robertcastro; Statue of Liberty parade photo by golbal jet; WTC Memorial photo by Denise Gould (DOD – public domain); Robert de Niro photo by David Shankbone; Tribeca pics by Kmf164 ; Times Square photo by ChrisGampat