Key Takeaways
- Jay-Z's final show at Yankee Stadium was delayed by three hours due to a large crowd outside the venue.
- The rapper addressed fans, explaining that safety concerns led to the delay and promised more surprises.
- Despite the delay, the show featured appearances from several high-profile artists including Rihanna.
Jay-Z's final show at Yankee Stadium on Sunday night was delayed by three hours due to security concerns caused by a large crowd outside the venue. The rapper addressed fans after taking the stage, explaining that 10,000 people were gathered outside and that he did not want anyone to get hurt.
In a video posted by XXL, Jay-Z said, 'Let me explain the delay to you guys. It was like 10,000 people outside, and we closed all the doors, and somebody rushed the door. They closed the door for your safety and everyone’s safety outside. There's 10,000 people outside; 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.'
Despite the delay, Jay-Z promised his fans that there would be more surprises in store during the Extra Innings finale of his Yankee Stadium run. The show started nearly three hours later than the previous editions on Friday and Saturday night.
The delayed performance featured a rare live appearance from Rihanna, who joined Jay-Z for 'Run This Town' before taking a solo turn with her 2015 hit 'Bitch Better Have My Money.' Beyoncé also made an appearance on stage to perform 'Drunk in Love,' while Teyana Taylor joined the rapper to sing the Mary J. Blige hook on 'Can’t Knock the Hustle.'
Other guests included Jermaine Dupri, Fat Joe and Jadakiss, the Clipse, Jeezy and Swizz Beatz. Usher also popped in for 'Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)' and 'Throwback,' while Pharrell came out again for a medley run that included 'Love U (Give It 2 Me)' and 'Frontin’.' The-Dream subbed in for Frank Ocean on 'No Church in the Wild' from Jay-Z and Kanye West's 2011 joint album Watch the Throne.
The weekend run was a celebration of, respectively, the 25th anniversary of Jay-Z’s The Blueprint and the 30th anniversary of his seminal 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt. Jay-Z's first significant run of shows since his 2017 4:44 tour will include a Sept. 4 show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, a Sept. 10 gig at Stade de France in Paris and an Oct. 23 date at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
The rapper's final shows are part of his ongoing tour, which has been celebrated for its star-studded lineups and special performances.
Let me explain the delay to you guys. It was like 10,000 people outside, and we closed all the doors, and somebody rushed the door.
Jay-Z
