The Times writer Stephen Dalton called the track a "heartfelt love letter to New York City," with Jay-Z playing the "hip-hop Sinatra" over Keys' "luscious" chorus, and The Guardian 's Alexis Petridis described its chorus as "incredible, breezy pop". Killan Fox of the same publication felt that the track was a "terrific homage" to New York and listed the song as being one of the "really good tracks" on The Blueprint 3. New York Post writer Ryan Brockington called "Empire State of Mind" his favorite song from The Blueprint 3 and Tyler Gray from the same publication said "Empire State of Mind" was the "most soulful" song on the album. Francois Marchand of the Vancouver Sun called the song "shiver-inducing". IGN music reviewer Chris Carle described Keys as having "soaring vocals" in the song. It was a great choice." Keys also contributed to writing "Empire State of Mind" 's new bridge. She made the song sound so close to the original, She just nailed it and brought it home. However, when Hunte and Sewell-Ulepic were asked if they thought someone else would be more appropriate for the chorus, Hunte suggested R&B and soul artist Alicia Keys. Hunte said, "She's never done a record with him and she also has my same vocal tone. For him to be so open-minded about it, we just couldn't be any more grateful and thankful." Originally composed as a song to be sung, Jay-Z ended up rewriting new verses inspired from the original lyrics and leaving Hunte on the song's hook. Two female producers/writers, and for him as a rapper to take our song-that's not a combination you see a lot. The next day Platt sent it to Jay-Z and he "loved it and recorded it that night". Hunte recalls, "We were just so happy he wanted to honor our work and our production. According to Hunte, when a Notorious B.I.G. figure she kept by the computer fell over as they played the track for Platt-a statue that had never moved before regardless of how loud they've blasted music-she realized it was an omen. She commented, "We all just looked at each other like, 'if Biggie approves, then, send it to Jay'".
Hunte and Sewell-Ulepic were hesitant though, as they had sent the track for consideration already and been unsuccessful. When they received negative reviews about the track they were convinced it would never be recorded. However, in the summer of the same year, EMI Music Publishing's (EMI) Jon "Big Jon" Platt heard the track at a barbecue and fell in love with it, believing that "it would be perfect for Jay-Z". Hunte recalls, "We said to ourselves, 'we complain so much about New York-about the busy streets, about the crowds and the pushing, about the subway system-but I would trade that for anything right now.' Before we left the hotel that night, we knew we would write a song about our city." Although they wrote the song as a simple way to voice their feelings for their hometown, they sent it to the Roc Nation music label the following month in hope that Jay-Z would like it and record it.
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Hunte grew up in the same building where rapper and hip hop artist Jay-Z lived-560 State Street, an address which is mentioned in the song. The track's creation was inspired during an overseas trip Hunte and Sewell-Ulepic made to London in February 2009 when they were both feeling homesick. Hunte was ill during that summer, while Sewell-Ulepic's mother was ill.
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"Empire State of Mind" was created by singer-songwriter-producer Angela Hunte, a native of Brooklyn, along with writing partner Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic.