‘Granite State of Mind’ spoof of rapper Jay-Z’s NY video pokes fun at, pays tribute to NH

Spoof of NY video makes fun of, pays tribute to NH

CONCORD, N.H. — A spoof video that started with swapping “Salem” for “Harlem” has become a YouTube hit, at least in New Hampshire.

Christian Wisecarver’s “Granite State of Mind” video has been viewed more than 200,000 times since he posted it online Wednesday. The video is a parody of “Empire State of Mind,” rapper Jay-Z’s tribute to New York.

Wisecarver lives in the small town Hampstead, N.H., and works for a video production company in Massachusetts. He says he knew the video would be popular but he’s surprised at how fast it has spread. He says New Hampshire pride has played a big role.

The song highlights everything from the state liquor stores along the highway to the poetry of Robert Frost, who wrote “Mending Wall” and “Ghost House” while at his family farm in Derry, N.H.