JAŸ-Z Caps Yankee Stadium Run With Superstar Guests

The longest wait of JAŸ-Z’s three-night Yankee Stadium run ultimately led to its biggest celebration. After delaying Sunday’s (July 12) finale by more than four hours because thousands of fans remained outside the venue, the rapper rewarded those who stayed with a sprawling 44-song set and a parade of guests that included Rihanna, Beyoncé, Usher, Pharrell, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Jermaine Dupri, Jeezy, The-Dream, Swizz Beatz, Fat Joe and Jadakiss.

Taking the stage shortly after midnight Monday morning, Jay-Z addressed the delay directly. “It was like 10,000 people outside,” he said. “I don’t want to start the music and people get trampled. I’m really sorry for the inconvenience, but I had to make sure everyone was OK. I appreciate your patience. We’re going to go until like 5 a.m., so don’t be scared.”

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Taylor subbed for Mary J. Blige on “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” while Rihanna made a rare onstage visit for “Run This Town” and her own “Bitch Better Have My Money” (“I missed this shit,” she enthused). The-Dream was a capable sub for Frank Ocean on “No Church in the Wild,” and Usher took the mic for “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love).”

The marathon finale wound up running until 3 a.m., and served as the culmination of a weekend celebrating milestones across JAŸ-Z’s catalog. Friday’s Reasonable Doubt-focused opening performance featured an emotional reunion with wife Beyoncé for “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” the pair’s first duet of the residency, before JAŸ welcomed Nas for a run through “Dead Presidents,” “The World Is Yours” and “N.Y. State of Mind.” Blue Ivy Carter then took her place at the piano to introduce “Feelin’ It,” while Alicia Keys closed out one of the night’s biggest moments with “Empire State of Mind.”

Saturday’s second show was even bigger, drawing 45,832 fans to set a new attendance record for a concert at Yankee Stadium, surpassing the mark established the previous evening. On a night celebrating the 25th birthday of The Blueprint, Eminem brought the house down with “Renegade” before launching into “Lose Yourself,” Pharrell joined JAŸ for “Excuse Me Miss,” “I Just Wanna Love U,” “Frontin’” and “Allure,” and Slick Rick materialized for early New York hip-hop classic “La Di Da Di.”

The concerts were part of JAŸ-Z’s first extended return to the live stage since his 4.44 Tour in 2017. The artist recently headlined the Roots Picnic in Philadelphi and will visit London on Sept. 4, Paris on Sept. 19 and Los Angeles on Oct. 23. Meanwhile, a new HBO documentary series, JAŸ-Z in 8, is an eight-part project directed by producer Rick Rubin that will debut this fall.

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