Encore: Jay-Z's Greatest Concert Moments
Encore: Jay-Z's Greatest Concert Moments
Tonight and tomorrow, Jay-Z and Eminem will conclude the second half of their Home and Home concert series at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. What kind of madness will ensue? Will Alicia Keys come out to perform "Empire State of Mind"? Will Rihanna and Em give us a replay of their VMA performance? No one knows for sure, but just like the rest of hip-hop, we're super-hyped to see the two hip-hop legends rock the house. We're so hyped, in fact, that it got us thinking about all the amazing moments Jigga has brought to the stage over the years. That's why we put together Encore: Jay-Z's Greatest Concert Moments, counting down just a few of Jigga's many performance highlights. Are you not entertained?
#10. Jay Celebrates His Classic (2006)
What: Reasonable Doubt 10th Anniversary Show
Where: Radio City Music Hall, New York City
Complex says: Next to The Blueprint, Reasonable Doubt is Hov's most heralded album. So even though it took six years for RD to go platinum, people lined up to see Jigga don a white suit like Tom Wolfe and rock the entire RD setlist backwards in front of a 50-piece band. In retrospect, the concert should have made us more worried about the ticking timebomb of Kingdom Come. Because when you're promoting your upcoming album by reminding everyone you once made a classic, chances are your new album will suck. Word to Blueprint 2.
#9. Jay Brings The Pain (2009)
What: Hot 97's Summer Jam 2009
Where: Giants Stadium, New Jersey
Complex says: We all came into that show thinking T-Pain would be the next contestant on the Summer Jam screen (more on that later), but instead the Top-Hatted One had the nerve to hop on stage with Jay while he performed "D.O.A." According to Jay, T-Pain's on-stage cameo was unplanned. But according to one YouTube commenter, "T-Pain became the first person to ever attend his own funeral." LOL. But seriously, Drake also performed that night. So like we've been saying all along, Auto-Tune ain't dead!
#8. My President Is Black (2009)
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#7. Jay & Alicia Keys Sing The Yankees Anthem (2009)
What: Game 2 of The 2009 World Series
Where: Yankee Stadium, New York City
Complex says: Jay and Alicia Keys were supposed to kick off Game 1 of the World Series, but weather conditions forced them to reschedule. No matter, both were still in top form as they performed Jay's only No. 1 hit, which also served as Derek Jeter's entrance music. The performance proved once again that Jay—who rocked Timbs and was not in all-black everything—made the Yankee's hat more famous than A-Rod ever could.
#6. Fade To Black (2004)
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#5. Jay-Z Is A Fuckin' Rock Star (2008)
What: Glastonbury Festival 2008
Where: Worthy Farm, UK
Complex says: Before even taking the stage at Glastonbury, there was controversy surrounding the fact that Jay-Z would be performing. Many people were upset that a hip-hop act was headlining the festival for the first time. Noel Gallagher of Oasis voiced his opposition to Jay by saying he didn't fit the bill because, "Glastonbury has a tradition of guitar music." Of course, Noel Gallagher has a history of being a douchebag. So Jay's response was reminiscent of the time he got The Roots to play the "Oochie Wally" beat during the third verse to "Takeover": He hit the Glasto stage donning a guitar and mockingly performed a cover of Oasis' signature song, "Wonderwall," before rocking out with "99 Problems." Hey, Noel: stay in your LAAAAAAAANE!
#4. An Epic Moment (2007)
What: Scream Tour 2007
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York City
Complex says: In 2007, Scream Tour was headlined by Ciara and T.I., who mostly swapped stage time during their alternating sets. At the time, 50 Cent was rumored to be dating Ciara, so she pulled him out during her set. Not to be undone, T.I. pulled Jay-Z out during his set. But things got truly wild when Jay brought Kanye West out to perform "Can't Tell Me Nothing" during the height of
#3. 9/11 Memorial Concert (2009)
What: Answer the Call
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York City
Complex says: This show was pretty much like Fade To Black 2.0, except it didn't end with Jay totally going back on his claims of retirement. Instead, it ended with him giving all the proceeds of the show to charity. There was a huge list of special guest stars at the show (everyone from Yeezy to John Mayer to Santigold), but what we'll remember most is how it aired commercial-free live on FUSE while all of us were tweeting our asses off. And how John Mayer didn't drop the N-bomb. Simpler times, simpler times.
#2. Jay Declares Peace, Not War (2005)
What: I Declare War
Where: Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey
Complex says: When Jay announced that he would "air some rappers out" at a concert dubbed "I Declare War," hip-hop fans everywhere began speculating who he was going to dis. Would it be Cam'ron and his Dipset crew for baiting him on various songs? Would it be Game, who constantly mentioned Hov in his rhymes? No one knew for sure, but the last thing anyone was expecting was what actually happened: Nas came out and performed alongside Jigga. The concert led to this epic photo, as Jay and Nas did something 2pac and Biggie never got a chance to do: Squash it. If Summer Jam '01 was the grand opening of their beef, I Declare War was the grand closing.
#1. Michael Jackson & The Summer Jam Screen (2001)
What: Hot 97's Summer Jam 2001
Where: Nassau Coliseum, Long Island
Complex says: No moment lives in hip-hop infamy quite like the time Jay put Prodigy on the Summer Jam screen. In the midst of his feud with P (along with other rappers, notably Nas), Jay swiftly and decisively put Prodigy in his place by posting a 1988 picture that showed P dressed as a dancer, essentially destroying most of P's once limitless street cred. He even ended his set with, "Ask Nas, he don't want it with Hov," instigating the soon-to-be epic battle with Nas. As if that wasn't enough already, Jay found time to bring out the the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Though Jackson didn't say anything other than, "I love you all," his presence was enough to send the crowd bonkers. Backstage afterward, Jigga was looking so intensely focused we can't help but wonder what he was staring at. Hopefully it was titties.
