Jay-Z’s Yankee Stadium residency has turned into a major New York music event, drawing more than 45,000 fans on Friday night for the first of three shows. The run is being staged to mark the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt, with the opening night focused on that album and Saturday’s performance centered on The Blueprint, which turns 25 this year.
Across the first two nights, Jay-Z kept the production stripped back, putting the emphasis on the performance itself while inviting a long list of guests to join him. Friday’s show opened with a surprise appearance from Beyoncé, who sang “Can’t Knock the Hustle” with him before he moved through solo tracks like “Made In America (Freestyle)” and “Brooklyn’s Finest.” Blue Ivy Carter also appeared, joining her father at the piano to introduce “Feelin’ It.” Other guests that night included Memphis Bleek, Jaz-O, Alicia Keys, and Nas, who shared the stage with Jay-Z on several songs.
Record sales and more guest turns on night two
Saturday’s concert kept the momentum going and, according to the report, broke Yankee Stadium’s ticket sales record. Jay-Z opened with “The Ruler’s Back” alongside Slick Rick, and later welcomed Eminem for “Renegade.” Pharrell had the most time onstage during the second show, appearing on five songs including “Excuse Me Miss” and “Frontin’,” and at one point praised Jay-Z as the greatest of all time.
Jay-Z is scheduled to return to Yankee Stadium for the third and final night of the residency, billed as Extra Innings. The anniversary production is also set to move to London, Paris, and Los Angeles this fall.
Source: pitchfork.com
