A historic Knicks comeback sparked a massive streaming surge for New York’s unofficial anthem.

Sports and music have always gone hand in hand, but every now and then a moment arrives that perfectly captures an entire city’s spirit. Last night was one of those moments.

The Knicks completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, storming back from 29 points down and leaving fans across New York in disbelief. Celebrities packed the arena, social media exploded, and the city instantly found itself in celebration mode.

Then came the soundtrack.

Following the victory, JAŸ-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State Of Mind” experienced a massive 1,245% increase in Spotify streams. The song has long served as the unofficial soundtrack to New York pride, and last night only reinforced that status.

Released in 2009 on The Blueprint 3, the record became one of the biggest hits of both artists’ careers. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and collected multiple Grammy Awards while evolving into a cultural staple that extends far beyond hip-hop.

The song’s staying power is remarkable. More than fifteen years later, people still turn to it whenever New York has a moment worth celebrating.

The surge also says something else: everybody was watching that game.

Now that the Knicks sit just one win away from a championship, there’s a good chance “Empire State Of Mind” isn’t done climbing yet.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.