Alicia Keys, exclusively interviewed for Billboard on October 30, 2009 about her new album “The Element of Freedom” and performing “Empire State of Mind” with Jay-Z a day prior at the opening of Game 2 of the 2009 World Series with the New York Yankees vs Philadelphia Phillies at Yankee Stadium.

Alicia and Jay were scheduled to perform the opening game of the World Series in early October, but, due to wet weather the duo did not perform as they would be outside on the field. They ultimately performed the hit live at Yankee Stadium before Game 2 of the World Series in late October, on a custom-made stage adorned with Yankees flags while images of New York City flashed across several large screens throughout the stadium.

“Being apart of the World Series yesterday- it was really unbelievable,” Alicia says to Billboard. “Being able to do that record [‘Empire State of Mind’] with Jay is so, so incredible because I’ve been a fan of his for a long time and some of my first memories of even before I was signed, before I even had the opportunity to do music, was me listening to ‘Reasonable Doubt.’ I always figured at some point we’d be able to do some type of collaboration,”

She continues: “Being able to walk out on that field with all those people rooting for New York, […] We both felt like big kids a little bit because it was like a dream come true in a way.”

The Yankees beat Philly (3-1).