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Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down

"Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down"
Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down.jpg
Single by Alicia Keys
from the album The Element of Freedom
B-side "We're Almost There"
Released February 22, 2010
(see release history)
Format Digital download
Recorded 2009
Genre R&B, soul
Length 3:36
Label RCA, J
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Keys
  • Shuckburgh
Alicia Keys singles chronology
"Put It in a Love Song"
(2009)
"Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down"
(2010)
"Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)"
(2010)

"Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" is a song performed by American recording artist Alicia Keys. It is an answer song to the Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z, on which Keys is featured. It was only officially released in the United Kingdom as the second single from her 2009 album The Element of Freedom although it gained international airplay and download sales.

Before the official release date of "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down", it climbed as high as number four on the UK Singles Chart on downloads alone. The success of the song from a high volume of album downloads, led to the song being announced as the second single from The Element of Freedom in the UK. The single was released on February 22, 2010. It also appears on the soundtrack for Sex and the City 2. Keys and "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" are featured on new HP Beats Commercial.

Following the release of "Empire State of Mind" in January 2010, Keys stated that she was planning to release a second version of the song featuring only her vocals, as a single the following month. The original takes of Keys' version, entitled "Empire State of Mind Part 2", included both Keys' vocals and a new rap verse from Jay-Z, but the final product did not include Jay-Z. Discussing the record, Keys claimed that it acts as a dichotomy of strength and vulnerability, commenting that "The music is really strong, and the drums are really aggressive, but my voice is vulnerable and delicate".

"Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" was generally well received by contemporary music critics in their reviews for The Element of Freedom. Allison Stewart of The Washington Post noted that the track, which is a pop ballad, had replaced "Empire State of Mind" sports team references and ruminations with "even milder and less controversial string of generalities", highlighting Keys' version's lyrics "If I could make it here/I could make it anywhere".Greg Kot of Hartford Courant wrote that Keys' version "retains the soaring vocal hook" but the track "loses its swagger" without Jay-Z.


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