JAY-Z & ALICIA KEYS TO PERFORM FOR WORLD SERIES

AFter blasting Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" during their playoff run, the NY Yankees is having the rap king perform the song live to kick off Game 1 of the World Series. Jay-Z and fellow New Yorker Alicia Keys are set to perform on Wednesday, as the Yankees take on defending World Series champs, the Philadelphia Phillies.

"Thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee," the Brooklyn native said in an interview Monday.

He calls the opportunity a "once in a lifetime experience" and says though the jam has become an unofficial New York anthem, he's not pushing for it to be the city's theme song.

"I'm not pitching it for anything, it's just a song I made for New York City," he said.

"Really it's about inspiration, it's about hope — I think that's what connects with people. The song connects outside of New York. Every night I play it, there's a monster response, no matter if we're in Providence or whenever."