“Jay-Z and Alicia Keys perform ‘Empire State of Mind’ at the Tony Awards in 2024”
Jay-Z and Alicia Keys delivered a lively performance of their hit song “Empire State of Mind” at the 2024 Tony Awards. The performance was part of a vibrant number showcasing Keys’ acclaimed musical Hell’s Kitchen.
Keys, playing the piano on stage, started off singing the song before trading verses with Maleah Joi Moon, a Tony nominee from the musical inspired by Keys’ New York upbringing. Keys pumped up the crowd, raising her fist in the air before passing the mic to Jay-Z.
“Had to do something crazy, it’s my hometown,” exclaimed Keys.
Jay-Z then appeared on a video screen, rapping his part of the song while standing on a set of stairs in the theater’s lobby, with Keys eventually joining in. Instead of being on stage with the cast, Jay-Z’s performance was displayed on a screen above them.
Jay-Z and Keys have shared the stage multiple times performing “Empire State of Mind” since its release in 2009.
The song was part of a medley at the Tony Awards, along with performances from other nominees and hits from the musical Hell’s Kitchen. The 2024 Tony Awards took place at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York.
Hell’s Kitchen received 13 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, tying with Stereophonic for the most nominations. Keys, a producer on the musical, crafted the score with a mix of existing hits and new songs.
She worked closely with book writer Kristoffer Diaz, director Michael Greif, and choreographer Camille A. Brown in shaping the show and collaborating with the cast members.
“I know what it’s supposed to feel like. I know what it’s supposed to sound like. I know what it’s supposed to look like. I know how the people are supposed to react. I know this piece. I know it intimately. And so that’s why it’s so important that it rings true,” Keys shared with The Hollywood Reporter in April.