Jay-Z, Alicia Keys To Get World Series In "Empire State Of Mind"
BY STEPHANIE BARISH and ANDREW RAMOS wpix.com

4:31 p.m. EDT, October 26, 2009
NEW YORK (WPIX)—
Some are calling Jay-Z's latest tune featuring Alicia Keys "Empire State Of Mind" the modern-day "New York, New York" recorded by the late Frank Sinatra. So it came as no surprise when the New York Yankees asked the hip-hop superstar to perform it live on Game 1 of the World Series Wednesday.

The Brooklyn born musician, who proclaims in his latest hit that he "made the Yankee hat more famous than the Yankees can," said he's excited to take the stage with Alicia Keys as the Bronx Bombers take on the Philadelphia Phillies.

The 39-year-old rapper, whose real name is Sean Carter, said while that while the song has sort of evolved into an unofficial New York anthem, he's not pushing it to be the Big Apple's theme song.

The news of Jay-Z's World Series performance, came on the day the hip-hop artist was in Manhattan promoting the new " DJ Hero" video game, which is slated to hit store shelves Tuesday.

A special edition of the game, "DJ Hero Renegade Edition," includes a turntable controller and two CD's - one from Jay-Z and another from Eminem.

In addition, Jay-Z is scheduled to the stage in the Broadway production of "Fela," an Afrobeat musical about the life of Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. The play is set to open Monday, Nov. 23 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.