Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind” has achieved diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Released in 2009, the iconic anthem has sold over 10 million units. Alicia Keys celebrated on social media, tweeting, “Empire is diamond!!!!!!!!”
This milestone marks Alicia Keys’ first diamond single and Jay-Z’s third. His other diamond hits include “N***as In Paris” with Kanye West and Rihanna’s “Umbrella.”
The track recently surpassed one billion streams. The duo reunited to perform it at the 2024 Tony Awards, where Alicia teased fans, saying, “1 Dream. 1 Song. 1 Billion streams. Thank you! We love you. What’s next….”
Despite its current status, “Empire State of Mind” faced initial doubts. Alicia Keys recalled, “When we first finished ‘Empire,’ we all wondered if it would be too ‘New York.’ We wondered if everyone would be able to understand it. Little did we know EVERYONE would understand it because it’s not just about New York, it’s about the HOPE that New York represents; the possibility. The chance to follow your dreams no matter who you are or where you come from.”
The track topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks in 2009 and dominated other charts, including Rhythmic Airplay, Hot Rap Songs, and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Jay-Z And Alicia Keys Almost Missed The Opportunity
Alicia Keys revealed on Drink Champs in 2021 that the collaboration almost didn’t happen. “In this particular case, [JAY-Z] had the record. He was reaching out to me to do the record for a minute. And for whatever reason, the people that represented me did not tell me about the record,” she said. Reflecting on her initial recording attempts, she added, “The first time I recorded it in L.A., the s**t just didn’t work. I thought it sounded good but [JAY-Z] called me and was like, ‘You think you can do them vocals again?’ I was like, what? What’s wrong with my vocals? My vocals are fresh. But to be honest and to be fair, I was sick. And you could kind of hear it. I went back in, I did it in New York, the energy was right. You can’t do a New York record in L.A. That’s just wrong.”