After Delays Over Crowd Safety Concerns, The Hip-Hop Mogul Closed His Three-Night Bronx Residency With Nearly 50 Songs and Surprise Guests
Jay-Z closed his three-night Yankee Stadium residency Sunday with an all-star celebration featuring Beyoncé, Rihanna, Usher, Pharrell Williams, Jeezy and several of hip-hop and R&B’s biggest names.
The Brooklyn rap icon performed nearly 50 songs during a marathon set that stretched into the early morning hours Monday, bringing his anniversary run in the Bronx to a star-studded conclusion.
The concerts celebrated the 30th anniversary of Jay-Z’s debut album, “Reasonable Doubt,” and the 25th anniversary of his landmark album, “The Blueprint.”
According to Variety, the final performance began several hours later than scheduled after fans encountered long, unmoving lines inside and outside Yankee Stadium.
Jay-Z did not take the stage until shortly after midnight. Once the show began, he told the audience that organizers had temporarily closed the gates because of a crowd surge outside the stadium.
The rapper said he refused to begin performing while thousands of ticket holders remained stranded outside, choosing to prioritize their safety before starting the concert. Reports estimated that approximately 10,000 people were still outside when the gates were closed.
Once the situation was resolved, Jay-Z promised the crowd that the performance would be worth the wait.
He delivered a nearly three-hour set for more than 40,000 fans, moving through songs spanning his three-decade career.
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Beyoncé and Rihanna Join Jay-Z Onstage
Beyoncé returned to the stadium stage to perform “Drunk in Love” alongside her husband.
Earlier in the residency, Beyoncé surprised fans by joining Jay-Z for “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” while their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, accompanied him on piano during “Feelin’ It.”
Rihanna also made a surprise appearance during the finale, performing the hook from “Run This Town” before delivering her own hit, “Bitch Better Have My Money.”
(Roc Nation)
The appearance marked one of Rihanna’s first major live performances in years. She told the Yankee Stadium crowd that she had missed being onstage.
Usher joined Jay-Z for “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)” and performed “Throwback,” while Teyana Taylor handled vocals on “Can’t Knock the Hustle.”
Pharrell, Jeezy and Hip-Hop Heavyweights Take the Stage
Pharrell Williams performed a medley of his collaborations with Jay-Z before welcoming Clipse members Pusha T and Malice for their signature record, “Grindin’.”
The-Dream performed Frank Ocean’s portion of “No Church in the Wild,” while Jeezy, Swizz Beatz, Jermaine Dupri, Fat Joe and Jadakiss each appeared throughout the night.
Fat Joe and Jadakiss helped bring the guest portion of the show to a close with “New York.”
The finale followed two equally historic nights. The opening concert included appearances from Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, Nas, Jaz-O and Alicia Keys. Eminem reunited with Jay-Z during the second show to perform “Renegade.”
The Saturday performance also set a Yankee Stadium concert attendance record with 45,832 tickets sold, surpassing the record Jay-Z established at the venue one night earlier.
Despite the long list of famous guests, Jay-Z remained at the center of the celebration. He delivered an a cappella performance of “Dear Summer” before ending the residency with “Encore” as fireworks illuminated the sky above the Bronx.
Nearly a decade after releasing his last solo studio album, Jay-Z’s Yankee Stadium residency offered another reminder of the rapper’s lasting influence on hip-hop, New York City and popular culture.
