When the New York Knicks finally clinched an NBA title this month—ending a 53-year drought—the city poured into the streets and a 2009 anthem resurfaced as an unofficial victory chorus. The renewed chorus around Times Square and beyond has put Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind” back at the center of the city’s soundtrack, and one of its creators, British producer Al Shux, says the moment still surprises him.
Al Shux says he wasn’t a die‑hard basketball follower, but the Knicks’ run made the song’s comeback impossible to miss. After the final buzzer he began seeing videos of jubilant crowds singing the track in the streets, a wave of public recognition that felt, he says, almost surreal. For many New Yorkers the song has long been a marker of the city; this month it reappeared as a shared, celebratory anthem.
A few key points about the record
- Year released: 2009
- Artists: Jay‑Z and Alicia Keys
- Producer: Al Shux (British)
- Songwriters: Angela Hunte, Janet Sewell‑Ulepic and others
- Sample: “Love on a Two‑Way Street” by The Moments
How the track came together
The instrumental that became the backbone of the hit was built in London, Shux says. The chorus was shaped with the help of New York writers who were visiting the city; their collaboration bridged two continents. He remembers the initial sessions as modest—home studio gear and a do‑it‑yourself approach rather than a high‑end production suite.
When Jay‑Z decided to record the song, the process accelerated. Shux recalls a flurry of missed calls and messages after stepping out of a movie; he quickly sent the stems, expecting more time to tweak the track. Instead, the recording moved forward almost immediately. He now thinks the rougher edges of the early version might have contributed to its appeal.
Reception, reputation and a second life
Not everyone in New York embraced the song at first—some locals grew weary of hearing it repeatedly in the years after its release. Shux acknowledges that tastes differ and that even he recognizes the fatigue that comes from overexposure. Still, he welcomes the recent outpouring of affection, particularly from younger listeners who didn’t experience the record when it first debuted.
For Shux personally, the record changed the trajectory of his career. He says it opened doors—more studio opportunities, tours and travel—that would likely have taken much longer to materialize otherwise. The enduring presence of the song, resurfacing now amid a historic sports moment, continues to surprise him.
Perspective: why this matters now
The Knicks’ title gave the song a fresh, civic dimension: it’s no longer just a pop single but part of a public ritual marking a major local event. That transformation matters because it shows how songs can be recontextualized by events—finding new audiences and meanings years after release.
As celebrations cool, Shux’s takeaway is quietly straightforward: gratitude. He says it’s humbling to watch a piece of music he helped create become part of people’s communal memory, and to see a new generation claim it as their own.
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Hello, I’m Atlas. I explore the latest musical releases for you and guide you to your next sonic favorites.