EMPIRE STATE OF MIND - Alicia Keys & Jay Z
Rap (?), Empire State of Mind by Alicia Keys & Jay Z – from February 2009.
Lyrics: http://www.metrolyrics.com/empire-state-of-mind-lyrics-alicia-keys.html
First reaction: Big contrast between the rap and the chorus – the rap sort of portraits the tough life in NYC, while the chorus tells the story of big dreams and fame; a city where you can be anything you want to à “there’s nothing you can’t do”. Jay Z raps about the backside to New York – the drugs, The Cribs and so on. The bridge that leads to the chorus underlines the contrast in the song because of its gloominess.
There’s nothing that can compare with New York. (“If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere” ß but it’s really tough to make it here.)
The chorus is in focus – easy to understand, easy to hear.
Contrast between the places Jay Z raps about – the good parts of New York vs. the bad parts. He moved from Bronx to upper New York.
Title: Connected with Empire State – a nickname for New York. Jay Z mentions in the song, that he is from the Empire state – in opposition the original song by Alicia Keys (“New York”) - this song is called Empire State of Mind and brings the focus upon Jay Z’s rap.
Settings: The song tells concretely about the present New York – how it is both on the plus side and backside.
Speaker/character: Jay Z tells about New York from his own point of view – he is very direct and has experienced the tough life in New York, whereas Alicia Keys tells about the positive sides of New York. They create the contrast in the picture of New York, which is portrait throughout the song.
Composition:
Gloomy Vers: 4 stanzas x 4
Praising Chorus, 4 stanzas x1
Gloomy Vers: 4 stanzas x 4
Praising Chorus, 4 stanzas x 1
Gloomy Vers: 4 stanzas x4
Praising Chorus 4 stanzas x 1
Praising Singing part 4 stanzas x 1
Praising Chorus 4 stanzas x 1
Language: Easy language but with a lot of slang-expressions which can make it difficult, if you are not a part of that exact environment. (OG, BK, to cop, Bed-stuy etc)
Where the stressed syllables lies:
Yeah, I'm ma up at Brooklyn,
Now I'm down in Tribe ca,
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,
Yeah they love me everywhere,
I used to cop in Harlem,
All of my Dominicanos
Right there up on Broadway,
Brought me back to that McDonald's,
The stressed syllables lies upon the important words in the rap – places such as Brooklyn, Tribeca and other things you connect with New York are all stressed.
Rhymes:
Slant rhymes: Dominicanos/McDonalds – Tribeca/hood forever
End rhymes: anywhere, everywhere, made it here.
The rap, as a classic rap does, mostly uses end rhymes. This fits with the fact that all of the stressed syllables lies in the end of the stanzas.
In the rap there are many words that create images for the listener – no use of direct metaphors or imagery. Use of words the listener connects to a certain place, feeling etc. (McDonalds, off white Lexus, stash but, hood etc)
Themes and messages:
We believe that the title indirect states the message – it brings focus upon Jay Z’s rap. The message is developed through the contrast between Jay Z’s rap and Alicia Keys’ chorus. The message is the diversity of New York – it is not all good. This is portrayed through the immediate focus upon the chorus – but behind the chorus there’s the text with a focus on all of the bad sides.
Glossary:
Ambien: Sovemiddel
X & MDMA: Ecstasy
Limelight: Rampelys
Dominicanos: Immigrants – Hispanic
Cop: At stjæle
OG: Original Gangster
Gypsy Cab: En ulovlig taxa, der kører uden licens
Stash But: Et hemmeligt sted, hvor du gemmer stoffer, for at politiet ikke finder dem.
Cee-lo: Terningespil
Russel Simmons: Den tredje rigeste person i hiphop historien.
Lexus: Lækkert bilmærke.
BK: Burger King
Blinders: Store solbriller
En Vogue: R&B sanggruppe der var populær I 90’erne
Biggie: Kælenavn for en kendt rapper.
Bed-stuy: Bedford-Stuyvesant – område I Brooklyn.
Lyrics: http://www.metrolyrics.com/empire-state-of-mind-lyrics-alicia-keys.html
First reaction: Big contrast between the rap and the chorus – the rap sort of portraits the tough life in NYC, while the chorus tells the story of big dreams and fame; a city where you can be anything you want to à “there’s nothing you can’t do”. Jay Z raps about the backside to New York – the drugs, The Cribs and so on. The bridge that leads to the chorus underlines the contrast in the song because of its gloominess.
There’s nothing that can compare with New York. (“If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere” ß but it’s really tough to make it here.)
The chorus is in focus – easy to understand, easy to hear.
Contrast between the places Jay Z raps about – the good parts of New York vs. the bad parts. He moved from Bronx to upper New York.
Title: Connected with Empire State – a nickname for New York. Jay Z mentions in the song, that he is from the Empire state – in opposition the original song by Alicia Keys (“New York”) - this song is called Empire State of Mind and brings the focus upon Jay Z’s rap.
Settings: The song tells concretely about the present New York – how it is both on the plus side and backside.
Speaker/character: Jay Z tells about New York from his own point of view – he is very direct and has experienced the tough life in New York, whereas Alicia Keys tells about the positive sides of New York. They create the contrast in the picture of New York, which is portrait throughout the song.
Composition:
Gloomy Vers: 4 stanzas x 4
Praising Chorus, 4 stanzas x1
Gloomy Vers: 4 stanzas x 4
Praising Chorus, 4 stanzas x 1
Gloomy Vers: 4 stanzas x4
Praising Chorus 4 stanzas x 1
Praising Singing part 4 stanzas x 1
Praising Chorus 4 stanzas x 1
Language: Easy language but with a lot of slang-expressions which can make it difficult, if you are not a part of that exact environment. (OG, BK, to cop, Bed-stuy etc)
Where the stressed syllables lies:
Yeah, I'm ma up at Brooklyn,
Now I'm down in Tribe ca,
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,
Yeah they love me everywhere,
I used to cop in Harlem,
All of my Dominicanos
Right there up on Broadway,
Brought me back to that McDonald's,
The stressed syllables lies upon the important words in the rap – places such as Brooklyn, Tribeca and other things you connect with New York are all stressed.
Rhymes:
Slant rhymes: Dominicanos/McDonalds – Tribeca/hood forever
End rhymes: anywhere, everywhere, made it here.
The rap, as a classic rap does, mostly uses end rhymes. This fits with the fact that all of the stressed syllables lies in the end of the stanzas.
In the rap there are many words that create images for the listener – no use of direct metaphors or imagery. Use of words the listener connects to a certain place, feeling etc. (McDonalds, off white Lexus, stash but, hood etc)
Themes and messages:
We believe that the title indirect states the message – it brings focus upon Jay Z’s rap. The message is developed through the contrast between Jay Z’s rap and Alicia Keys’ chorus. The message is the diversity of New York – it is not all good. This is portrayed through the immediate focus upon the chorus – but behind the chorus there’s the text with a focus on all of the bad sides.
Glossary:
Ambien: Sovemiddel
X & MDMA: Ecstasy
Limelight: Rampelys
Dominicanos: Immigrants – Hispanic
Cop: At stjæle
OG: Original Gangster
Gypsy Cab: En ulovlig taxa, der kører uden licens
Stash But: Et hemmeligt sted, hvor du gemmer stoffer, for at politiet ikke finder dem.
Cee-lo: Terningespil
Russel Simmons: Den tredje rigeste person i hiphop historien.
Lexus: Lækkert bilmærke.
BK: Burger King
Blinders: Store solbriller
En Vogue: R&B sanggruppe der var populær I 90’erne
Biggie: Kælenavn for en kendt rapper.
Bed-stuy: Bedford-Stuyvesant – område I Brooklyn.