Jay-Z Surprises Fans With “Empire State Of Mind” Remix Ft. Gil Scott-Heron
Jay-Z debuted the remix of “Empire State Of Mind” during his performance in Paris this weekend.
music inspired by his recent performance at Foundation Louis Vuitton. The rapper came through with a remix of his 2009 hit with Alicia Keys, “Empire State Of Mind.” The rework, titled “New York (Concept De Paris),” sheds the big, radio-friendly vibe of the song’s original version for a gritty and bluesy rendition. The mash-up between “Empire State Of Mind” and Gill Scott Heron’s “New York Is Killing Me” brings a beautiful pairing between two of the city’s greatest poets of all time.
The song’s release came shortly after Jay-Z appeared in Paris for a rare performance at Basquiat x Warhol. Painting Four Hands exhibition. Foundation Louis Vuitton hosted the incredibly rare and intimate performance in front of a smaller crowd. Hov went through the catalog and delivered an exceptional set including songs like “Can’t Knock The Hustle,” “Can I Live,” “U Don’t Know,” “N***as In Paris,” and “Heart Of The City (Ain’t No Love).” He also debuted “New York (Concept De Paris)” when he performed “Empire State Of Mind.”
Jay-Z Takes On Paris
Jay-Z’s performance in Paris led fans to hope that, perhaps, he might be returning with new music soon. The Brooklyn-born rapper has hardly delivered new solo music in recent times. For the most part, he’ll pop out with a guest verse, such as his show-stopping performance alongside Rick Ross and Lil Wayne on DJ Khaled’s “God Did.” He released 4:44 in 2017 before teaming up with Beyonce on Everything Is Love as The Carters and then, linked up with Jay Electronica on A Written Testament.
During an interview with Kevin Hart in 2022, Jay-Z addressed the possibilities of retirement. He seemingly ruled it out, largely because he has a consistent urge to remain creative. However, he’s not necessarily focusing on releasing a new album. “I don’t know what happens next,” he said. “I’m not actively making music or making an album or have plans to make an album, but I never want to say that I’m retired. It’s a gift, so who am I to shut it off. And it may have a different form or interpretation. Maybe it’s not an album, maybe it is. I have no idea, but I’m just going to leave it open.” We’ll keep you posted on any more updates on Jay-Z.
