During Sunday night’s (6.16) 2024 Tony Awards, Alicia Keys and Jay-Z stunned the audience when they performed “Empire State of Mind” featured in the 13x Tony-nominated musical Hell’s Kitchen.
As she descended the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center stage during her performance, Keys said “We at the Tony Awards tonight.” “Had to do something crazy. It’s my hometown,” followed by Jay-Z appearing on the stage backdrop while he rapped from the lobby outside of the venue.
The song is featured in the Tony-nominated Hell’s Kitchen; the musical that’s loosely based on Keys’ early life growing up in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen that included a mix of Alicia’s hits and several new songs written specifically for the musical that tied for the most nominations this year with Stereophonic, which loosely draws on the story of Fleetwood Mac.
Released in 2009 the Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys collaborative “Empire State of Mind” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks and subsequently won two of three Grammys for which it was nominated — Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
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Author: Al Denté
Photo: Danielle Dalledonne