When Jay-Z was crafting his anthem "Empire State of Mind," his first choice to sing the iconic hook wasn’t Alicia Keys, but none other than Mary J. Blige. In a 2010 interview with the Miami Times, Jay-Z revealed that he was just "two seconds away" from calling Blige to request her vocal talents for the song’s chorus. Known as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Blige was his initial pick to help capture the essence of New York.
However, after giving it more thought, Jay-Z decided to go with Alicia Keys. Her signature sound, combined with her piano-playing prowess, struck a chord with him, and he realized that Keys was the right fit for the track. The collaboration between Jay-Z and Keys ultimately created one of the most defining anthems of New York, with "Empire State of Mind" becoming a massive hit.
Though Blige was passed over for the song, the choice of Alicia Keys proved to be a perfect match, blending her soulful voice with Jay-Z’s sharp lyricism to create a timeless ode to their hometown.
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