Arguably the 2 biggest rap songs about the city of New York. Nas flows about growing up in the streets of New York over a simple beat while Jay-Z flows about New York Style living while Alicia Keys croons in the chorus. They are two different undertones and two different concepts, which is better?
Stright out the jungles of rap, where ****** never make it back" 8 million stories out there in the naked
City, it's a pity half of y’all won’t make it
Both actually.
Its a take from two completely different parts of the city; NY State of mind paints a real life pic of growing up around drugs and gang violence (which took his best friend, and almost took his brother) in the projects. Your next day isnt guaranteed, but staying armed is your best chance.
Empire state of mind takes on the city from perspective of Jay's 45th floor corner office window; he sees the landmarks, the working men and women trying to survive, the severely religious parying to god for an answer. Alicia Keys needs to stfu on the hook though.
