Jay-Z’s first headline solo show in the UK in more than a decade saw him celebrate hip-hop culture alongside a host of special guests, including Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Giggs.
The US rap superstar rolled back the years for more than two hours – playing hits like 99 Problems, Empire State of Mind and Dead Presidents – as he took to the stage at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday night for the first of two shows in London this weekend.
The run is part of his Jay-Z 30 tour, which is marking the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, and his culture-shaping career that followed.
Fans of his wife Beyoncé had hoped she would join him on stage, like she did at two of his three New York shows this summer, as she was also celebrating her 45th birthday on Friday.
Toward the end of the show, Jay-Z mentioned it was a “young lady’s birthday”, sending the crowd into a frenzy, but he joked that he couldn’t make her perform on her big day.
Instead he asked the crowd to join him in singing Happy Birthday to the US superstar, who was sat in a private box, while sparkler-like fireworks erupted in the sky.
Beyoncé serenaded on her birthday
The show’s opening set the tone for the star-studded evening to follow, as British actor Sir Idris Elba kicked things off by performing the intro track to his 2007 album, American Gangster.
As Jay-Z took to the stage, he recalled coming to London in 1989 with his mentor Jaz-O and seeing “what was possible” and it became a “special” place in his career.
His return to the capital this time round was explosive, with the rapper rattling through a string of hits like Izzo (H.O.V.A.), On To The Next One and Song Cry.
Throughout the show, vintage video clips and moments from his early career played across a massive LED screen, while an orchestra and a few guitarists accompanied him on stage.
There was no sign of Rihanna or Alicia Keys, who both made appearances during the New York run for their collaboration tracks, but the crowd made up for their absence by chanting back their lyrics during Run This Town and Empire State of Mind.
Jay-Z also took a moment to thank his fans who have been there from the beginning, telling them that “music saved my life”. His reflective mood continued as he performed Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) and Where I’m From, which explores his upbringing in the Marcy housing projects in Brooklyn, New York.
He cranked the energy back up for his 2011 hit No Church in the Wild, which was amplified by firey pyrotechnics that radiated heat through the stadium.
Originally a collaboration with controversial rapper Ye, also known as Kanye West, Jay-Z left his voice in for the chorus but cut his verses out.
US DJ Khaled had a brief moment on stage while Jay-Z changed, but it was the appearance of London-born rapper Giggs which got the crowd erupting.
He appeared overwhelmed at one stage, his hand clutching his face, as he took in the packed crowd while performing his track Talkin Da Hardest alongside Jay-Z.
The surprise guests didn’t stop there, as Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean from the 90s American hip-hop collective Fugees reunited to perform their hit tracks Ready or Not, Killing Me Softly With His Song and Fu-Gee-La.
It was a full circle moment for both them and Jay-Z as he recalled supporting them on their European tour.
The US rap superstar closed out the night with rousing renditions of Public Service Announcement (Interlude) and Numb/Encore, hailing it as a “legendary night” that he would “never forget”.
The crowd appeared to agree as thousands praised him by holding up his famous diamond hand gesture.
Fans had travelled from across the UK and the world to see the rapper, including Prince Dean Sithole, who hailed Jay-Z as one of his role models.
“I think he’s very impacting, especially for us black people because we don’t get a lot of recognition,” the 19-year-old from Leeds told BBC Newsbeat.
“Seeing him today shows that dreams are possible and you can be that person that you want to be.”
Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, broke through with his 1996 debut album, but it was his third record, Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life, in 1998 which landed him the top spot in the US charts for the first time and a best rap album Grammy.
He went on to establish himself as one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, releasing 13 solo studio albums and several collaboration records, which have secured him 25 Grammy Awards.
He was also the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017, as well being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
Over the years, he has also become one of the most prominent music mogul’s in the world, with his company Roc Nation representing a host of top talent and, in recent years, it has been behind the Super Bowl half-time show.
In 2019, he was declared hip-hop’s first billionaire by Forbes, having built an empire based on music, property, fashion and investments alongside his wife Beyoncé.
The power couple have three children, daughter Blue Ivy, 14, and 9-year-old twins, Rumi and Sir.
By BBC News
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