Jay-Z's "Empire State Of Mind" Co-Writer Revealed, "I Come From The Same Building Where He Lived"

The co-writer behind Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" smash hit has come forward to discuss her reaction to the song's success.

Singer/Songwriter Angela Hunte said she could still not believe how big the record has been.

"I come from the same building where he lived, and we knew each other from BK, but we never worked together. Not in a million years did I think I'd make this hit for him," says Hunte, who actually grew up at "560 State Street," the street address Jay-Z mentions on the track. "I still have no words even for the World Series performance. You get your hopes up with artists but then things happen and the record doesn't make it for whatever reason. But Jay loved the song, it made the album and it sounds crazy...[Alicia Keys] made the song sound so close to the original," says Hunte. "She just nailed it and brought it home. It was a great choice...The original is so powerful it's only a matter of time till you hear it down the line." (Billboard)