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Image Credit<\/p>\n
Steph Chambers – FIFA\/Contributor via Getty Images<\/p>\n
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JAY-Z attends the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Brazil and Norway in New Jersey<\/p>\n
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landscape-medium<\/p>\n
Key Takeaways<\/p>\n
The three-night run included anniversary performances of Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint, followed by a career-spanning Extra Innings set.
\n Beyonc\u00e9, Nas, Eminem, and Rihanna appeared across the weekend, performing collaborations from different eras of JAY-Z\u2019s catalog.
\n The final show started about four hours late due to a security lockdown after a crowd rushed checkpoints, shifting the 8 p.m. start time to around 12:20 a.m.<\/p>\n
JAY-Z<\/a> transformed Yankee Stadium into a living archive of his career during a three-night run from July 10 through July 12. Each concert spotlighted a chapter of his catalog, relationships, and influence, as the Brooklyn native revisited two albums before widening the lens to three decades of music.<\/p>\n The full residency was designed as three separate experiences instead of a repeated stadium set. Friday honored the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt, Saturday marked 25 years of The Blueprint, and Sunday\u2019s Extra Innings finale assembled songs and collaborators from his career.<\/p>\n Beyonc\u00e9, Nas, Eminem, Rihanna, Blue Ivy Carter, Alicia Keys, Pharrell, Slick Rick, Usher, and others appeared throughout the weekend. A stripped-down stage, live band, string section, and outfield screen centered the performances on JAY-Z\u2019s lyrics and history. The run also produced a Yankee Stadium concert attendance record and ended with a nearly three-hour finale that stretched into early Monday morning.<\/p>\n Night One: JAY-Z revisits Reasonable Doubt with Beyonc\u00e9, Nas, and Blue Ivy<\/p>\n Friday\u2019s JA\u0178-Z 30 opened with Beyonc\u00e9<\/a> singing Mary J. Blige\u2019s portion of \u201cCan\u2019t Knock the Hustle.\u201d After \u201cPolitics as Usual,\u201d JAY-Z addressed criticism of the corporate partnerships tied to the anniversary campaign with a new freestyle.<\/p>\n \u201cThey say I sold out. Yeah, I did sell out. Three nights. I sold Yankee Stadium the h**l out,\u201d he rapped.<\/p>\n The Notorious B.I.G. appeared through archival footage during \u201cBrooklyn\u2019s Finest,\u201d while Nas joined JAY-Z for \u201cDead Presidents,\u201d \u201cThe World Is Yours,\u201d \u201cN.Y. State of Mind\u201d and \u201cWhere I\u2019m From.\u201d The former rivals performed each other\u2019s lyrics as songs and instrumentals from both their catalogs were paired throughout the segment.<\/p>\n Blue Ivy Carter later played piano during \u201cFeelin\u2019 It\u201d after footage showed her learning the song\u2019s familiar passage. Memphis Bleek, JAY-Z\u2019s former prot\u00e9g\u00e9, returned for \u201cComing of Age,\u201d while early mentor Jaz-O appeared during \u201cBring It On.\u201d During the surprise encore, Alicia Keys hit the stage and performed \u201cEmpire State of Mind\u201d with her Brooklyn collaborator.<\/p>\n Night Two: Eminem and Slick Rick join The Blueprint anniversary celebration<\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s JA\u0178-Z 25 began at approximately 9:11 p.m., matching The Blueprint\u2019s Sept. 11, 2001 release date. JAY-Z opened with \u201cThe Ruler\u2019s Back\u201d alongside Slick Rick and later reflected on the album\u2019s arrival during the 9\/11 attacks and its place in New York City\u2019s healing. The concert reportedly<\/a> drew 45,832 fans, setting a venue record.<\/p>\n Slick Rick performed his own \u201cThe Ruler\u2019s Back\u201d and \u201cLa Di Da Di,\u201d connecting JAY-Z\u2019s opener to one of its clearest inspirations. Hov continued through The Blueprint, performing \u201cIzzo (H.O.V.A.),\u201d \u201cU Don\u2019t Know,\u201d \u201cHeart of the City,\u201d \u201cNever Change,\u201d and \u201cSong Cry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTakeover\u201d was the night\u2019s most conspicuous omission, as JAY-Z skipped the Nas and Prodigy diss track one night after bringing his Queensbridge counterpart onstage. Eminem later performed part of \u201cLose Yourself\u201d over the \u201cTakeover\u201d beat after joining JAY-Z for a stadium-shaking rendition of fan-favorite \u201cRenegade.\u201d Elsewhere, Pharrell led a medley featuring \u201cExcuse Me Miss,\u201d \u201cLa-La-La,\u201d \u201cI Just Wanna Love U,\u201d \u201cFrontin\u2019,\u201d and \u201cAllure.\u201d<\/p>\n The production extended above the stadium as a helicopter circled overhead, casting a spotlight on JAY-Z while its camera supplied aerial footage to the video boards.<\/p>\n Night Three: Rihanna, Beyonc\u00e9, and more close Extra Innings after an unfortunate delay<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s finale began approximately four hours late after a crowd rushed security checkpoints, prompting a lockdown that temporarily prevented attendees from entering or leaving. The 8 p.m. concert did not start until around 12:20 a.m.<\/p>\n JAY-Z told the audience that “10,000 people” remained outside after someone rushed an entrance, prompting officials to close the stadium\u2019s gates. \u201cI didn\u2019t wanna start music and people get trampled,\u201d he explained. After apologizing for the inconvenience, Hov added, \u201cI had to make sure everybody was okay, so I appreciate your patience.\u201d<\/p>\n After getting the show going, Teyana Taylor sang on \u201cCan\u2019t Knock the Hustle,\u201d Jermaine Dupri joined \u201cMoney Ain\u2019t a Thang,\u201d and Jeezy performed \u201cSeen It All\u201d and \u201cGo Crazy.\u201d Usher appeared during \u201cHeart of the City,\u201d \u201cThrowback,\u201d and \u201cPart II (On the Run),\u201d while The-Dream joined \u201cNo Church in the Wild.\u201d<\/p>\n