In the 2009 smash hit song Empire State of Mind that memorializes Jay Z’s rise from the Brooklyn projects to international superstardom, the rap-meister promises he’ll “be hood forever.”
Well, maybe. But there’s no way Jay Z’s buying a unit in the same building where he famously name checked his former stash spot: 560 State Street.
Jay Z is associated with a 2-bedroom duplex, or unit 10C. That unit sold for $930K in 2014. Now another duplex in the same line as Jay Z’s former hangout has come up for sale — apartment 4C at 560 State Street, which is listed for $1.395 million.
Apartment 4C in 560 State Street
The duplex is decked out with some locally sourced wood and NY state slate countertops. The main floor is a nice open living room, kitchen and half bath. Upstairs contains 2 bedrooms and a full bath. The 10-foot ceilings and large windows and hardwoods make the place bright and light.
Apartment 10B at 560 State Street
The specifics of which unit Jay (born Shawn Carter and raised in Brooklyn’s Marcy public housing unit) actually inhabited had been the subject of some debate. For some time, it was believed to have been Unit 10B (photo above). However, after a Jay Z visit to the building some years ago, it has since become more likely that 10C is where the street hustler-turned-rap-star hung his hat, among other more nefarious activities.
Apartment 10C at 560 State Street, which is most likely where Jay Z lived.
Jay Z’s apartment at 10C at 560 State Street
The 1900-era apartment building underwent a rehab in 2005. Jay Z’s 10C unit first sold that year for $598,014. The 1,000-square-foot unit was back on the market in 2014 with a list price of $870,000. (It sold for more.)
A few years back, a resident at 560 State Street wrote on a music website about Jay Z’s visit to his old apartment building:
“While we waited, (Jay Z) spoke about how much 560 State had changed over the years — “these trees weren’t here,” he said. None of this was. He pointed to the impressive Viking grills that now lined the back wall of the courtyard, and joked about the makeshift grills he and his boys used to set up for cookouts. He thanked a young lady for coming to his show and told her she had a beautiful energy about her. He wrapped his arm around a couple and their toddler, thanking them for allowing him into their home. He spoke gently to a precocious little boy on a scooter, telling the boy he had an old soul and intelligence about him.”
560 State Street courtyard where there are now trees.
Given all this background, it’s not wonder that the listing notes for Unit 4C give a shout-out to how 560 State Street was part of Jay Z’s 2011 Grammy-winning hit.
So, yeah. Jay may have had a fleeting relationship with the building, but hell. It’s like Jay and Bey going to come back and pop some Armand de Bringnac champagne any dang day now!
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