Alicia Keys
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

After so successfully collaborating with Jay-Z on "Empire State of Mind," it looks like Alicia Keys may have worked with another rapper on her own album. Producer Kerry "Krucial" Brothers, who has worked closely with the singer on all four of Keys' previous albums, recently spilled the beans about a track with Drake that may be featured on the singer's forthcoming studio album, The Element of Freedom (due out December 15).

"If you have something to say... U should say it right now," the producer tweeted on Sunday. "Wow this new AK and Drake is fire! I love my job."

In a recent interview with Billboard.com, Keys spoke about her reluctance to team up with other artists. "Honestly, there's not a lot of collaborations because I like it like that," she told the site. "I prefer it to be really just the journey of music and you can really get inside what I'm talking about and saying and that kind of thing."

While the singer likes the focus to be solely on her own message, she did hint at two exceptions to the rule.

"But, there are two collaborations that are coming because now I have a bit more time," Keys told Billboard. "Sadly, I'm unable to say what it would be right now, but it will be two of the most exciting collaborations of my career yet. It's going to be fly."

In a recent interview with MTV News, Keys talked about the sound fans can expect from her latest effort. "You can expect to really be into a zone," she said. "I think you can expect the unexpected, 'cause there's going to be things that you're going to be like, 'Wow, is that her? Is that her?' And I love that about it. You can definitely expect to see major growth, but you're going to fall in love with this album."

Earlier this month, a rep for the singer confirmed that Jay-Z and Keys had recorded "Empire State of Mind Part 2," which will be featured on The Element of Freedom. A video for the singer's second single, "Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart." premiered Monday on BET's "106 & Park." The clip finds Keys playing an "X-Men"-esque superhero whose powers leave her unable to touch the man she loves.

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Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
Photo: Jim McIsaac/ Getty Images

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys couldn't contain their enthusiasm for New York to one song, so the pair have decided to team up again for a sequel to their hometown anthem. Keys will include "Empire State of Mind Part 2" on December's The Element of Freedom. The sequel will feature a new verse from Jay, a rep for Keys confirmed to MTV News.

The first version of the song was featured on Jay's Blueprint 3 album, and the duo performed the track at the Video Music Awards and before game two of the World Series.

Keys said she felt honored that Jay asked her to be on the track. "Obviously, I'm very grateful to him for reaching out to me and for that type of ability to represent my hometown, like, that was crazy," she told MTV News. "So we went to the studio. I went to the studio, and ... I fell in love from the jump."

The Hype Williams-directed video for "Empire State of Mind" debuted last week, and Keys described it as a masterpiece. "The way it's put together, it is so New York. You totally get it and understand it. It's artistic. It's hard. It's beautiful. It's, like, everything," she said. "And definitely getting to be in the middle of Times Square on my piano [with] Jay, representing our home city, is a triumph. It was unbelievable."

• Jay-Z, Alicia Keys Bring "Empire State Of Mind" To World Series

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Alicia Keys
Photo: MTV News

Alicia Keys and Jay-Z show off their "Empire State of Mind" with a tour of New York City in the Hype Williams-directed video that premiered on Friday. The video features black-and-white images of the city intercut with full-color shots of Jay and Keys performing in Times Square.

"It is a masterpiece video," Keys told MTV News. "The way it's put together, it is so New York. You totally get it and understand it. It's artistic. It's hard. It's beautiful. It's like everything. And definitely getting to be in the middle of Times Square on my piano [with] Jay, representing our home city is a triumph. It was unbelievable."

To Keys, the video has all the key elements of an homage to her hometown: "You have to have the skyline — it's not New York without the skyline. You have to have the Empire State Building — it's not New York without the Empire State Building. You have to also have variety. That's what New York is about. There's diversity here and so you see that. It's really beautiful."

The video was shot on location in some of the busiest areas of the city that never sleeps, which always provides interesting challenges for the crew. "I think that's the exciting part about it," said Keys, who performed the song with Jay-Z at Yankee Stadium for game two of the World Series last week. "That's why you feel the energy that is New York. And you'll see different parts of New York, and different parts of New York have different energy, so you see that a lot. I understand from Hype and Jay they, like, bogarted parts of New York, and they went in and you feel that and it's all love."

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Jay-Z and Alicia Keys at Yankee Stadium Thursday
Photo: Jim McIsaac/ Getty Images

NEW YORK — If the Yankees were looking to change their tune heading into game two of the World Series, they couldn't have picked better musical guests. Jay-Z and Alicia Keys rocked the sell-out crowd at Yankee Stadium with a raucous performance of the Big Apple anthem "Empire State of Mind."

Decked out in his trademark Yankee fitted hat and matching jacket, Jay was looking to rally his team after a loss Wednesday. From the sound of things, he certainly did. The stadium thundered its approval after the duo's performance.

"I made the Yankees hat more famous than a Yankee can," he rapped from a stage placed in the outfield.

Swizz Beatz and Bruce Willis were among the many famous New Yorkers in attendance who swayed to the rapper's lyrics.

"New Yoooorrrrk," Keys sang from behind her piano before joining Jay-Z out front.

Images of the city flashed across several giant screens throughout the stadium.

The Yanks and the legendary MC already have a working relationship with each other. Derek Jeter uses "Empire State of Mind" as his at-bat music, and slugger Alex Rodriguez steps up to the batter's box to the Roc Nation head honcho's "Already Home."

Jay-Z seemed to sense the moment and, as usual, rose to the occasion like Jeter would. "Let's go," he said afterward as he walked into the bowels of the stadium and climbed into the Maybach waiting for him.

After Thursday's (October 29) game, the series shifts to Philadelphia, where the champs will host games three, four and (if necessary) five at Citizens Bank Ballpark.

• Jay-Z, Alicia Keys Bring "Empire State Of Mind" To World Series

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Alicia Keys
Photo: MTV News

Alicia Keys and Jay-Z are set to heat up the World Series on Thursday night (October 29) when they perform the New York ode "Empire State of Mind" at the new Yankees Stadium before game two against the Phillies. It's a song Keys knew she had to be a part of as soon as she got the call from Jay himself.

"There was a first phone call, and Jay hit me up like, 'I feel like I have this record that's going to be the anthem of New York,' " she told MTV News, adding that she was onboard immediately. "He's like, 'The piano, the way the style [is], the whole flow, and it couldn't be the anthem of New York without you.' "

That was more than enough coaxing to get Keys on the track, which the duo also performed at the Video Music Awards back in September. "Obviously, I'm very grateful to him for reaching out to me and for that type of ability to represent my hometown, like, that was crazy," she said. "So we went to the studio. I went to the studio, and ... I fell in love from the jump."

Keys wanted to make sure she got the hook right. "I did try it a couple of times, but it was more about capturing the kind of grand feeling of it," she explained. "With the way I sang it the first time, I was actually kind of sick, and I knew that he needed the record, so I was like, 'Let me get to it.' "

And she finally got it right. "I came back and revisited it so that it could be what it is now," she said. "So it actually took a couple of times, but every time, the energy was just so high."

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Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

Fans will have to wait an extra day to catch Jay-Z and Alicia Keys teaming up for a performance of their Big Apple anthem, "Empire State of Mind," at the World Series. It was announced on Tuesday (October 27) that the duo will now be performing their ode to NYC before the game's first pitch on Thursday instead of Wednesday, as originally planned, when the Yankees play the Phillies in the Series.

"The performance was changed due to the forecast for inclement weather for Wednesday, October 28," a joint statement from Jay-Z and Major League Baseball reads. "Staging for the performance could adversely impact the field if it is wet, creating damaged and unsafe playing conditions.

While there was no comment from Jay in the statement, we expect he'll be just as pumped to perform on Thursday. "First of all, the new [Yankee] Stadium — it's the Yankees and it's game one of the World Series," Jay, an avid Yankee fan, told MTV News on Monday. "I'm beyond excited about it, and on top of that, it's a New York record. It's a record that pays homage to New York [and which was also performed at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards]. The timing of that couldn't be better."

Jay had expected to perform at the World Series for some time, he just had to be sure that his hometown team was definitely going to the Series.

"The whole time we knew we had the performance," Jay joked. "We knew we had the performance last week. I think it was 3-1 [in favor of the Yankees] at the time. [The Yankees] lost that game to make it 3-2. I was like, 'Man!' I had to come in [the stadium] with the stage and all that. I was like, 'Man, these guys gotta come on.' It was almost selfish."

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Alicia Keys
Photo: MTV News

Alicia Keys said she has been undeniably influenced by Michael Jackson. In the wake of his death in June, the pop icon has been remembered by everyone from Ne-Yo to Akon. When fans go to see the concert film "Michael Jackson's This Is It," in theaters Wednesday, they, like Keys, will once again be reminded of his greatness.

"I have to say that I am absolutely a fan of Michael Jackson. He will always be an icon to the world. And I feel like I have always celebrated his genius and his beautiful heart," Keys told MTV News about Jackson's legacy. "And I'm excited to see ['This Is It'], because I love to see his songs and I love to see him shining."

She said she was excited to learn that his last performances were captured on film for everyone to experience. "Obviously, that's unbelievable," she said. "It's kind of strange that it's all, like, mapped out like that."

The film should remind fans and critics what Keys knew all along about the singer: He was "incredible," as Keys says. She hopes the people who may have forgotten that in the last years of his life will remember. "I think it's going to be a mixture [of emotions]," Keys said. "I think there is going to be some sadness there, because I think we all felt like we lost him too soon.

"He was obviously celebrated and obviously appreciated," she continued. "But I wish that in the last, later years, he was even more celebrated and appreciated. But regardless of the fact, there's no denying he's incredible. It will hopefully show his triumph."

Don't miss the "Michael Jackson's This Is It" premiere special, airing on MTV and VH1 tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET! "Michael Jackson's This Is It" opens in a limited engagement on October 27 and wide on October 28.

Check out everything we've got on "Michael Jackson's This Is It."

• 'Michael Jackson's This Is It' Recalls Lasting Influence
• 'Michael Jackson's This Is It' Rehearsal Clips

• Fans Line Up To Buy 'Michael Jacksons's This Is It' Tickets

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Alicia Keys
Photo: MTV News

When Alicia Keys releases her fourth studio album on December 15, fans will see what the title, The Element of Freedom, means to her as a musician.

"I definitely found a freedom within the music that totally comes out for me," the singer — who will perform "Empire State of Mind" with Jay-Z at the opening game of the World Series on Wednesday — told MTV News last week about the forthcoming album. "I just want to break my own mold. I want to break my own rules. I want to break my own box. So, if you think of me a certain way, I want to move outside of that."

The singer wants her fans to know that she's still the singer they know and love, but she's hoping to step up her sound a bit. She explained, "I never want to do what I already did. I want to stay true to who I am and push and push it farther than I ever did before."

Keys also wants her music to push fans to experience her music in new ways with this album. "You can expect, like, to be moved," she said. "You can expect to really be into a zone. I think you can expect the unexpected cause there's going to be things that you're going to be like, 'Wow, is that her? Is that her?' And I love that about it. You can definitely expect to see major growth, but you're going to fall in love with this album."

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Jay-Z at the "DJ Hero" event in New York on Monday
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/ Getty Images

Jay-Z loves to take hip-hop where it has never gone before — well, how about the World Series? Hov and Alicia Keys will be performing the Big Apple anthem "Empire State of Mind" on Wednesday at the new Yankee Stadium before game one's first pitch is thrown, Jay confirmed to MTV News on Monday (October 26).

"First of all, the new [Yankee] Stadium — it's the Yankees and it's game one of the World Series," Jay said while promoting his "DJ Hero: Renegade Edition" video game, which sees him teamed up with Eminem. The Yanks happen to be Hov's favorite baseball team.

"I'm beyond excited about it, and on top of that, it's a New York record. It's a record that pays homage to New York [and which was also performed at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards]. The timing of that couldn't be better," Hov enthused.

Jay said his spot at game one has been in place for several days — all he needed was for the Yankees to wrap things up against the Los Angeles Angels.

"The whole time we knew we had the performance," Jay laughed. "We knew we had the performance last week. I think it was 3-1 [in favor of the Yankees] at the time. [The Yankees] lost that game to make it 3-2. I was like, 'Man!' I had to come in [the stadium] with the stage and all that. I was like, 'Man, these guys gotta come on.' It was almost selfish."

Well, the Yankees sent the Angels home last night with a 5-2 American League pennant-winning victory at the stadium.

All through the playoffs, the Yankees have been showing love to Jay and his Blueprint 3. Derek Jeter has "Empire State of Mind" play during his at-bats, while Alex Rodriguez's theme songs have been "Already Home" and "Reminder." Meanwhile, Robinson Canó's at-bat are themed by "Run This Town."

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Alicia Keys at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU on Wednesday
Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — Filled to capacity with aspiring songwriters, the students at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU were on their feet to welcome Alicia Keys. The event, moderated by MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway, was an opportunity for the school to showcase Keys' humanitarian and philanthropic efforts and also a chance for the songstress to share details about her creative process. The New York City native talked how she came up with a new approach to writing for her forthcoming album, The Element of Freedom.

"The only thing I really understood was [working] to the point of exhaustion," Keys said. "All I really understood was just submersing myself in it to a point of just possibly drowning. Not in a bad way, but in a sense of that was all I did all the time every second.

"Finally, [with] this record I really learned to have a balance to it," she continued. "I actually learned there's more creativity to be found when you balance the actual productivity of doing it with going places, seeing people that you love, taking a drive, taking a walk ... seeing a beautiful image in a museum. ... Inspiration comes from anywhere at all times, and so I just found that balance helped me to become more creative and enjoy the process more."

Keys also discussed how the creative process differed when she teams up with other artists. When asked to name one of her favorite collaborators, Alicia immediately named Linda Perry, adding, "She's writes these songs that really grab at your heart."

Continuing to reflect on her past recording methods, Keys explained the difference when working with another woman. "When I was first-first starting, I was working with a lot of guy producers and the minute that I would walk into the room they would be like [sarcastic tone], 'So she plays the piano,' and immediately they doubted me ... so I always came in there extra-prepared. So by the time I was working with Linda, I was letting things flow a little more, which is scary." Alicia noted that some of her best music came from her sessions with Linda Perry.

Sway then let the audience have their chance at picking Keys' brain as she fielded questions. One of the highlights was when one aspiring songwriter asked, "How do you write a hit song?" Keys replied with a line from a much-quoted country song: "All you need is three chords and the truth."

When the inquisition ended, the furniture was removed from the stage and the curtains were back. Keys then appeared behind a piano framed by spotlights and smoke machines. The crowd immediately got out of their seats and surged forward as she opened with the anthemic hook from "Empire State of Mind" as a prelude to "You Don't Know My Name."

Delivering to the crowd, Keys performed her breakthrough hit "Fallin' " to a different arrangement, this time with help from two powerful background vocalists and muted plucking from a rhythm guitarist.

Moving from the behind the piano to the front of the stage, the audience gave an exceptionally warm welcome while she performed her uplifting new single, "Doesn't Mean Anything."

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Jay-Z, Alicia Keys Bring "Empire State Of Mind" To World Series

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