Jay-Z Tour 2009-2010 Setlists and Reviews
Jay-Z, chart topping rap mogul, will be hitting national stages again this year as part of a new fall 2009 North American tour. Jay-Z's upcoming tour will feature N.E.R.D., J. Cole, and Wale as openers. Eighteen concerts have been confirmed so far, beginning October 9 at Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, PA, and concluding November 22 at Frank Erwin Center in Austin, TX.
* update Jay-Z annouced on Nov 5th that he will be extending the Blueprint 3 Tour into 2010, see below for additional tour dates and ticket information.
Find Jay Z Tickets 2009-2010
Contents at a Glance
- Jay Z Tour Dates 2009-2010
- Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Pauley Pavillion Los Angeles CA Nov 8, 2009
- Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Scotiabank Place Kanata, ON Nov 1, 2009
Jay Z Tour Dates 2009-2010
Jay Z Tour Dates & Ticket Information 2009-2010
___________________________________________________
In the midst of his first college tour, promoting his latest #1 album The Blueprint 3 and his recently released video game sensation "DJ Hero: Renegade Edition," the unstoppable JAY-Z confirms North American tour dates for 2010's BP3 tour.
The second leg of the tour will begin on February 22nd in Houston, Texas at the Toyota Center with more dates to be announced soon. JAY-Z will be joined by Grammy-nominated rapper Young Jeezy who will open all dates on the tour.
Jay-Z Tour Dates 2009-2010
click on your city for tickets:
Nov. 7 - Fresno, CA @ Save Mart Center
Nov. 8 - Los Angeles,CA @ Pauley Pavilion
Nov. 10 - Austin, TX @ Frank Erwin Center
Nov. 12 - Champaign, IL @ Assembly Hall
Nov. 13 - Memorial Gym in Nashville, TN
Nov. 17 - United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, TX
Nov. 20 - Don Haskins Center in El Paso, TX
2010
Feb. 22 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
Feb. 23 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
Feb. 25 - New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena
Feb. 27 - Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
Feb. 28 - Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Mar. 3 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
Mar. 7 - Norfolk, VA @ Scope Arena
Mar. 11 - Boston, MA @ TD Garden
Mar. 16 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mellon Arena
Mar. 19 - St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
Mar. 20 - Indianapolis, IN @ Conseco Fieldhouse
Mar. 22 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
Mar. 24 - San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion
Mar. 26 - Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Pauley Pavillion Los Angeles CA Nov 8, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: Los Angeles Times
by Gerrick Kennedy
Live review: Jay-Z at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion
The rap superstar is generous with sharing the spotlight -- OMG, was that Rihanna? -- in a show that also included sets by N.E.R.D., J.Cole and Wale.
It's not easy to upstage Jay-Z, especially at his own show. But during a performance Sunday at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, one special guest managed to do just that -- and it wasn't the rap superstar's wife, Beyoncé.
Not quite midway through the show, Rihanna, draped in black and standing on an elevated riser, emerged from underneath the stage to sing her vocal on Jay-Z's summer hit, "Run This Town," from his 11th studio album, "The Blueprint 3."
Young women in the audience jumped onto their chairs, camera phones in hand, for a better glimpse, their screams ringing out in near unison over the arena. One fan nearby turned to her friend and screamed, "Oh my God, is that really her?"
It was the first time the pop star had performed since breaking her nearly nine month silence last week about being assaulted by former boyfriend Chris Brown in February.
Armed with a newfound swagger, she sang on "Run This Town," then treated the crowd to the new single "Hard" from her upcoming album, "Rated R," due Nov. 23. Jay-Z nodded his head in approval -- from the side of the stage.
He was equally generous when it came to spotlighting the other performers on the bill. J.Cole, the first act signed to Jay-Z's label Roc Nation, opened the show and joined the rapper later for their collaboration "A Star Is Born."
Up-and-comer Wale was embraced by the sold-out crowd, who rapped along with every word of the Washington, D.C., native's hit "Chillin" from his studio debut, "Attention Deficit," out Tuesday. No stranger to the mix-tape circuit, Wale appeared every bit the seasoned performer, delivering a high-energy, engaging set.
When it came to high energy, though, it would have been difficult for any of the acts to compete with N.E.R.D. The band, fronted by the Neptunes' Pharell Williams, doesn't have the same album sales as the artists it produces, but group's fan base is loyal, judging by how easily concertgoers transformed the arena into a raucous mosh pit.
Playing for an hour, the genre-bending rockers ran through such hits as "Lapdance" and "Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom)," with Lupe Fiasco joining them on the latter track. Williams' raspy falsetto was sometimes lost in the massive mix, but the presence of female vocalist Rhea added a strong, sexy edge to the songs.
Jay-Z used his two-hour set to run through an abbreviated catalog of hits and wasted no time getting to his current single, "Empire State of Mind."
He'll return to L.A. next year with a March 26 performance at Staples Center.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: Los Angeles Times
by Gerrick Kennedy
Live review: Jay-Z at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion
The rap superstar is generous with sharing the spotlight -- OMG, was that Rihanna? -- in a show that also included sets by N.E.R.D., J.Cole and Wale.
It's not easy to upstage Jay-Z, especially at his own show. But during a performance Sunday at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, one special guest managed to do just that -- and it wasn't the rap superstar's wife, Beyoncé.
Not quite midway through the show, Rihanna, draped in black and standing on an elevated riser, emerged from underneath the stage to sing her vocal on Jay-Z's summer hit, "Run This Town," from his 11th studio album, "The Blueprint 3."
Young women in the audience jumped onto their chairs, camera phones in hand, for a better glimpse, their screams ringing out in near unison over the arena. One fan nearby turned to her friend and screamed, "Oh my God, is that really her?"
It was the first time the pop star had performed since breaking her nearly nine month silence last week about being assaulted by former boyfriend Chris Brown in February.
Armed with a newfound swagger, she sang on "Run This Town," then treated the crowd to the new single "Hard" from her upcoming album, "Rated R," due Nov. 23. Jay-Z nodded his head in approval -- from the side of the stage.
He was equally generous when it came to spotlighting the other performers on the bill. J.Cole, the first act signed to Jay-Z's label Roc Nation, opened the show and joined the rapper later for their collaboration "A Star Is Born."
Up-and-comer Wale was embraced by the sold-out crowd, who rapped along with every word of the Washington, D.C., native's hit "Chillin" from his studio debut, "Attention Deficit," out Tuesday. No stranger to the mix-tape circuit, Wale appeared every bit the seasoned performer, delivering a high-energy, engaging set.
When it came to high energy, though, it would have been difficult for any of the acts to compete with N.E.R.D. The band, fronted by the Neptunes' Pharell Williams, doesn't have the same album sales as the artists it produces, but group's fan base is loyal, judging by how easily concertgoers transformed the arena into a raucous mosh pit.
Playing for an hour, the genre-bending rockers ran through such hits as "Lapdance" and "Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom)," with Lupe Fiasco joining them on the latter track. Williams' raspy falsetto was sometimes lost in the massive mix, but the presence of female vocalist Rhea added a strong, sexy edge to the songs.
Jay-Z used his two-hour set to run through an abbreviated catalog of hits and wasted no time getting to his current single, "Empire State of Mind."
He'll return to L.A. next year with a March 26 performance at Staples Center.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Jay z feat. Rihanna Run This Town (LIVE @ UCLA) - HD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xepJVvHfaiI ( JayZ Empire State of Mind LIVE @ UCLA - HD) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNmu5LwPuAY (JayZHome Already LIVE @ UCLA - HD) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoTA8cW_2GY (JayZ DOA LIVE@ UCLA - HD)
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curated content from YouTube
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Scotiabank Place Kanata, ON Nov 1, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: Ottawa Citizen
by Allan Wigney
Concert review: Jay-Z
The rare pause for breath came midway through a brisk-paced sold-out show. Brooklyn-bred hiphop hero Jay-Z had just performed Thank You, a sentimental cut from his latest album The Blueprint 3, and wished to expand on that expression of gratitude.
"Thank you, everyone who bought my album," the suddenly-demure superstar stated. By doing so, he continued, the 7,800 friends and wellwishers present at Scotiabank Place Sunday had helped to raise Jay-Z's tally of Billboard chart-topping albums to a record-breaking 11 - surpassing the total amassed by a formidable foe.
"Elvis," the headliner declared with a sly smile, "has officially left the building."
It was a moment that perfectly encapsulated the mixture of humility and bravado at the heart of hiphop's foremost superstar. Throughout a two-hour set that showcased 10 of The Blueprint 3's 15 songs without shortchanging enduring favourites like 99 Problems, Big Pimpin' and Heart of the City, Jay-Z guided devotees in every movement, every utterance. He boasted in rhyme of being "on another plane" and of "droppin' some of the hottest verses rap has ever heard."
Yet, more than once Jay-Z counseled impressionable admirers to never give up on their dreams, and at the show's close, the cool ruler insisted on doffing his ever-present 'sunnies' to seemingly make eye contact with each and every ticketholder. As he did so, the engaging rapper commented on wardrobe selections, let slip an embarrassed laugh as a bra was thrown towards the stage and gladly signed a starstruck teen's arm.
Meanwhile, thousands of outstretched arms lived vicariously through that one lucky limb. Cellphones aloft, the awestruck crowd and the idol before them brought it home in style, joining forces for the downtempo farewell Young Forever.
It was a calming end to an emotional evening that had seen the audience on its feet early on, thanks to spirited sets by DC-based rapper WALE and hiphop group N.E.R.D., whose frontman Pharrell Williams (like the night's opener J. Cole) would later return to trade verses with Jay-Z.
The headliner, backed by a 10-piece band complete with horn section, was also abetted vocally by sidekick Memphis Bleek and by Bridget Kelly, playing the role of Alicia Keys on the powerful Empire State of Mind.
That song, like the rapidfire rap Jigga What and a dozen other highlights, would surely have brought fans to their feet - had they not already been there.
And on their feet they would remain, even after Jay-Z had left the building.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: Ottawa Citizen
by Allan Wigney
Concert review: Jay-Z
The rare pause for breath came midway through a brisk-paced sold-out show. Brooklyn-bred hiphop hero Jay-Z had just performed Thank You, a sentimental cut from his latest album The Blueprint 3, and wished to expand on that expression of gratitude.
"Thank you, everyone who bought my album," the suddenly-demure superstar stated. By doing so, he continued, the 7,800 friends and wellwishers present at Scotiabank Place Sunday had helped to raise Jay-Z's tally of Billboard chart-topping albums to a record-breaking 11 - surpassing the total amassed by a formidable foe.
"Elvis," the headliner declared with a sly smile, "has officially left the building."
It was a moment that perfectly encapsulated the mixture of humility and bravado at the heart of hiphop's foremost superstar. Throughout a two-hour set that showcased 10 of The Blueprint 3's 15 songs without shortchanging enduring favourites like 99 Problems, Big Pimpin' and Heart of the City, Jay-Z guided devotees in every movement, every utterance. He boasted in rhyme of being "on another plane" and of "droppin' some of the hottest verses rap has ever heard."
Yet, more than once Jay-Z counseled impressionable admirers to never give up on their dreams, and at the show's close, the cool ruler insisted on doffing his ever-present 'sunnies' to seemingly make eye contact with each and every ticketholder. As he did so, the engaging rapper commented on wardrobe selections, let slip an embarrassed laugh as a bra was thrown towards the stage and gladly signed a starstruck teen's arm.
Meanwhile, thousands of outstretched arms lived vicariously through that one lucky limb. Cellphones aloft, the awestruck crowd and the idol before them brought it home in style, joining forces for the downtempo farewell Young Forever.
It was a calming end to an emotional evening that had seen the audience on its feet early on, thanks to spirited sets by DC-based rapper WALE and hiphop group N.E.R.D., whose frontman Pharrell Williams (like the night's opener J. Cole) would later return to trade verses with Jay-Z.
The headliner, backed by a 10-piece band complete with horn section, was also abetted vocally by sidekick Memphis Bleek and by Bridget Kelly, playing the role of Alicia Keys on the powerful Empire State of Mind.
That song, like the rapidfire rap Jigga What and a dozen other highlights, would surely have brought fans to their feet - had they not already been there.
And on their feet they would remain, even after Jay-Z had left the building.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Air Canada Centre Toronto, ON Oct 31, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: Toronto Star
by Ashante Infantry
Jay-Z brings fans tricks and treats
Jay-Z sure knows how to make an entrance.
A recording of the Beastie Boys' "No Sleep Til Brooklyn" launched a 10-minute video countdown for the New York rapper's appearance at the Air Canada Centre on Halloween night.
The arena lights dimmed. With 28 seconds to go, the music stopped and the crowd of 14,000 began chanting "Hova," one of the entertainer's many aliases, and put their thumbs and forefingers together in the shape of his diamond logo.
Right on cue, the performer rose up from a trap door, clad in black and wearing a trick-or-treat friendly hockey mask which he quickly exchanged for sunglasses as the band introduced "Run This Town."
That was followed by "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)," another selection from current album The Blueprint 3, which the performer referred to as "superhero music."
That may be the better characterization of Jay-Z's status in hip hop, than the messianic position he's more commonly afforded given his longevity and propensity for self-attached monikers like (Je)Hova and "The Rock of Gibraltar."
His transition from teen drug dealer to rapper (with 1996's Reasonable Doubt), to record company president, to husband of squeaky-clean diva Beyoncé to surpassing Elvis Presley's record with 11 No. 1 albums is an extraordinary feat.
And having tempered the misogynistic lyrics and amped up his charitable efforts, Jay-Z who turns 40 next month, is exuding Clark Kent vulnerability these days. A recent sit-down with Oprah Winfrey found him recalling the pain of being abandoned by his father. His expressions of gratitude to attendees certainly seemed sincere at Saturday's show, where tickets were priced up to $175.
He generously shared the spotlight, bringing back opening acts, N.E.R.D.'s Pharrell Williams and up-and-coming rapper J. Cole, during his 90-minute set, allowing local rapper Drake his first performance ("Successful") since undergoing knee surgery last month and shouting out Toronto's Kardinal Offishall in the audience.
Jay-Z, who last played the arena in April 2008, co-headlining with Mary J. Blige, performed hits such as, "99 Problems," "Hard Knock Life" "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" and "Big Pimpin'."
With a clothing line, sports clubs and co-ownership of the New Jersey Nets, rap could have just become Jay-Z's calling card, but he's still dominating the genre.
Though The Blueprint 3 debuted to mixed reviews in September, it's proved a contender, spawning a number of gems - "Thank You," "Empire State of Mind" and "Already Home"- which were wildly embraced at the concert.
"I am a multi millionaire/So how is it/I'm still the hardest nigga here?" Jay-Z wonders in "D.O.A.," echoing others' consternation about his staying power.
It's the authority of his against-the-odds ascendance; effective producers who find him sing-along choruses and catchy beats; and a knack for irreverent stick-to-your-ribs lines like: "This ain't for sing-a-longs/This is Sinatra at the opera/Bring a blond/Preferably with a fat ass/Who can sing-a-song."
The show was enthralling, but not ideal: Jay-Z's touring voice is raggedy, his focus on "the haters" gets tiresome and hypeman Memphis Bleek is ineffectual.
Among the highlights: back-up vocalist Bridget Kelly's powerful turn on Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind" hook; the 10-piece band's killing horn section; and the unique video towers that recreated the Big Apple skyline.
With a nod to self-actualizing books like The Seat of the Soul and The Celestine Prophecy, which he told Winfrey are nightstand staples, he now desires to encourage others.
"It sounds like a cliché, but you can't let nobody block your dreams," he counselled the ACC crowd. "If you have so much ambition, you will be so successful."
He says it better on "So Ambitious":
"I felt so inspired by what my teacher said/Said I'd either be dead or be a reefer head ... I went from pauper to the president/Every deal I ever made set precedent ... Dear Teacher, you're probably somewhere near a speaker/I'm balling outta control, can you hear my sneakers?"
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: Toronto Star
by Ashante Infantry
Jay-Z brings fans tricks and treats
Jay-Z sure knows how to make an entrance.
A recording of the Beastie Boys' "No Sleep Til Brooklyn" launched a 10-minute video countdown for the New York rapper's appearance at the Air Canada Centre on Halloween night.
The arena lights dimmed. With 28 seconds to go, the music stopped and the crowd of 14,000 began chanting "Hova," one of the entertainer's many aliases, and put their thumbs and forefingers together in the shape of his diamond logo.
Right on cue, the performer rose up from a trap door, clad in black and wearing a trick-or-treat friendly hockey mask which he quickly exchanged for sunglasses as the band introduced "Run This Town."
That was followed by "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)," another selection from current album The Blueprint 3, which the performer referred to as "superhero music."
That may be the better characterization of Jay-Z's status in hip hop, than the messianic position he's more commonly afforded given his longevity and propensity for self-attached monikers like (Je)Hova and "The Rock of Gibraltar."
His transition from teen drug dealer to rapper (with 1996's Reasonable Doubt), to record company president, to husband of squeaky-clean diva Beyoncé to surpassing Elvis Presley's record with 11 No. 1 albums is an extraordinary feat.
And having tempered the misogynistic lyrics and amped up his charitable efforts, Jay-Z who turns 40 next month, is exuding Clark Kent vulnerability these days. A recent sit-down with Oprah Winfrey found him recalling the pain of being abandoned by his father. His expressions of gratitude to attendees certainly seemed sincere at Saturday's show, where tickets were priced up to $175.
He generously shared the spotlight, bringing back opening acts, N.E.R.D.'s Pharrell Williams and up-and-coming rapper J. Cole, during his 90-minute set, allowing local rapper Drake his first performance ("Successful") since undergoing knee surgery last month and shouting out Toronto's Kardinal Offishall in the audience.
Jay-Z, who last played the arena in April 2008, co-headlining with Mary J. Blige, performed hits such as, "99 Problems," "Hard Knock Life" "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" and "Big Pimpin'."
With a clothing line, sports clubs and co-ownership of the New Jersey Nets, rap could have just become Jay-Z's calling card, but he's still dominating the genre.
Though The Blueprint 3 debuted to mixed reviews in September, it's proved a contender, spawning a number of gems - "Thank You," "Empire State of Mind" and "Already Home"- which were wildly embraced at the concert.
"I am a multi millionaire/So how is it/I'm still the hardest nigga here?" Jay-Z wonders in "D.O.A.," echoing others' consternation about his staying power.
It's the authority of his against-the-odds ascendance; effective producers who find him sing-along choruses and catchy beats; and a knack for irreverent stick-to-your-ribs lines like: "This ain't for sing-a-longs/This is Sinatra at the opera/Bring a blond/Preferably with a fat ass/Who can sing-a-song."
The show was enthralling, but not ideal: Jay-Z's touring voice is raggedy, his focus on "the haters" gets tiresome and hypeman Memphis Bleek is ineffectual.
Among the highlights: back-up vocalist Bridget Kelly's powerful turn on Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind" hook; the 10-piece band's killing horn section; and the unique video towers that recreated the Big Apple skyline.
With a nod to self-actualizing books like The Seat of the Soul and The Celestine Prophecy, which he told Winfrey are nightstand staples, he now desires to encourage others.
"It sounds like a cliché, but you can't let nobody block your dreams," he counselled the ACC crowd. "If you have so much ambition, you will be so successful."
He says it better on "So Ambitious":
"I felt so inspired by what my teacher said/Said I'd either be dead or be a reefer head ... I went from pauper to the president/Every deal I ever made set precedent ... Dear Teacher, you're probably somewhere near a speaker/I'm balling outta control, can you hear my sneakers?"
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Bell Centre Montreal, QC Oct 30, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: Montreal Gazette
by T'Cha Dunlevy
King Jay-Z holds court
Hip-hop star has Bell crowd roaring
It was to the unmistakable guitar crunch of Beastie Boys' No Sleep Til Brooklyn that the 10-minute on-screen countdown began for New York rap star Jay-Z's performance at the Bell Centre last night.
He was in an Empire State of Mind, apparently; just 24 hours prior, he and Alicia Keys had performed their current hit at Yankee Stadium for Game 2 of the World Series.
When he came up, on cue, from a platform beneath centre-stage to the tune of Run This Town - another single off his new album The Blueprint 3 - over the PA,10,600 fans let out a mammoth roar.
"Bounce! Come on! Bounce! Come on!" Jay-Z commanded. And they obeyed. In the rap world, there is no more commanding presence.
And when he intoned the "na-na-na-na" hook off Death Of Auto-Tune, the Montreal crowd joined in.
By the third song of the night, U Don't Know, it felt like the encore. The crowd was on its feet, arms up, the beat was booming, horns were blazing.
"I like that," Jay-Z said.
He was, it should be noted, backed by a rockin' 12-piece band, including hype-man Memphis Bleek.
"I've never heard a rap show sound so clean," said veteran hip-hop promoter Rickey D, seated next to me - and he would know.
The hits kept coming: 99 Problems, Show Me What You Got, I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me), the Jackson 5-sampling Izzo (H.O.V.A.), Heart Of the City (Ain't No Love) - all with full-on singalong - and we were just half-way through the show.
"S--t! How am I gonna go back home after all that love?" Jay-Z asked.
He delivered a capella rhymes, tongue-twisting jams, sing-songy singles and devastating speaker-bruisers.
Then came the above-noted Empire State of Mind. Backed by a moving, night time Big Apple skyline, it showed another thing Jay-Z does like no one else - deliver a swelling, reflective, larger-than-life anthem.
And kudos to featured vocalist Bridget Kelly, who showed some powerful pipes as she filled in for Keys, belting out the hook with conviction.
Pharrell Williams - who had performed in the opening slot with his band N.E.R.D. - came out for So Ambitious. With the full band giving it extra punch, the song sounded better than on the record. But the crowd was relatively docile.
That changed for the encore-preceding Dirt Off Your Shoulder, which all but raised the roof, as Jay-Z spat his lines with a vengeance.
He came back to thank everybody who bought The Blueprint 3, "my 11th No. 1 album, surpassing Elvis Presley," he said, alluding to the fact that he now holds the title for for the most No. 1 albums by a solo artist.
"It's an amazing accomplishment for any artist, all genres combined. Now may I say, Elvis has officially left the building."
Things loosened up in the encore, dropping various hits - including Big Pimpin' and the huge Hard Knock Life - the crowd with him every step of the way. One sensed that he could have kept going all night.
A hip-hop king was holding court.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: Montreal Gazette
by T'Cha Dunlevy
King Jay-Z holds court
Hip-hop star has Bell crowd roaring
It was to the unmistakable guitar crunch of Beastie Boys' No Sleep Til Brooklyn that the 10-minute on-screen countdown began for New York rap star Jay-Z's performance at the Bell Centre last night.
He was in an Empire State of Mind, apparently; just 24 hours prior, he and Alicia Keys had performed their current hit at Yankee Stadium for Game 2 of the World Series.
When he came up, on cue, from a platform beneath centre-stage to the tune of Run This Town - another single off his new album The Blueprint 3 - over the PA,10,600 fans let out a mammoth roar.
"Bounce! Come on! Bounce! Come on!" Jay-Z commanded. And they obeyed. In the rap world, there is no more commanding presence.
And when he intoned the "na-na-na-na" hook off Death Of Auto-Tune, the Montreal crowd joined in.
By the third song of the night, U Don't Know, it felt like the encore. The crowd was on its feet, arms up, the beat was booming, horns were blazing.
"I like that," Jay-Z said.
He was, it should be noted, backed by a rockin' 12-piece band, including hype-man Memphis Bleek.
"I've never heard a rap show sound so clean," said veteran hip-hop promoter Rickey D, seated next to me - and he would know.
The hits kept coming: 99 Problems, Show Me What You Got, I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me), the Jackson 5-sampling Izzo (H.O.V.A.), Heart Of the City (Ain't No Love) - all with full-on singalong - and we were just half-way through the show.
"S--t! How am I gonna go back home after all that love?" Jay-Z asked.
He delivered a capella rhymes, tongue-twisting jams, sing-songy singles and devastating speaker-bruisers.
Then came the above-noted Empire State of Mind. Backed by a moving, night time Big Apple skyline, it showed another thing Jay-Z does like no one else - deliver a swelling, reflective, larger-than-life anthem.
And kudos to featured vocalist Bridget Kelly, who showed some powerful pipes as she filled in for Keys, belting out the hook with conviction.
Pharrell Williams - who had performed in the opening slot with his band N.E.R.D. - came out for So Ambitious. With the full band giving it extra punch, the song sounded better than on the record. But the crowd was relatively docile.
That changed for the encore-preceding Dirt Off Your Shoulder, which all but raised the roof, as Jay-Z spat his lines with a vengeance.
He came back to thank everybody who bought The Blueprint 3, "my 11th No. 1 album, surpassing Elvis Presley," he said, alluding to the fact that he now holds the title for for the most No. 1 albums by a solo artist.
"It's an amazing accomplishment for any artist, all genres combined. Now may I say, Elvis has officially left the building."
Things loosened up in the encore, dropping various hits - including Big Pimpin' and the huge Hard Knock Life - the crowd with him every step of the way. One sensed that he could have kept going all night.
A hip-hop king was holding court.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review John Labatt Centre London ON Oct 29, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: London Free Press
by James Reaney
Jay-Z's got some game
JLC CONCERT: The self-proclaimed master of hip-hop delivered in New York and then in downtown London
Say what you want about Jay-Z -- the man's got ballgame.
Just hours after leading off Game 2 of baseball's World Series in NYC, the hip-hop master was in downtown London.
About 8,000 energized young fans were right there with him last night, shouting their worship as Jay-Z emerged, rising from the stage.
"This is going to one of the shows," the star said. "I came here specifically for that reason. They said that I wouldn't be here . . . I am."
As Muhammad Ali said, it ain't bragging if you can do.
"Elvis has officially left the building," Jay-Z announced at one point, speaking of boasts. It was the star's way of confirming he had surpassed Elvis Presley's total of No. 1 albums.
Jay-Z was not about to leave the building.
The set with its projections and panels turned into a beautiful NYC skyline for Empire State of Mind. Bridgety Kelly joined Jay-Z on the song he performed with Alicia Keys at the ballgame earlier in the evening.
Before he finally disappeared through the stage, reversing his entry, he had saluted dreams with So Ambitious and dusted off the jerks on Dirt.
During the encore, he took off his "sunnies" -- the everpresent sunglasses -- to salute many fans individually as the videocams swept the packed arena.
It was a great moment -- and so was the finale Young Forever.
Last night and early this morning, Jay-Z and the fans combined on a concert to rival Neil Young's and Leonard Cohen's as the best of the year and indeed the best-ever at the downtown London arena.
Yes, there was Jay-Z, looking extra cool in a So Ambitious T-shirt and sunglasses. He tossed aside his leather jacket early.
Jay-Z used the opening spot to taunt hip-hop pretenders with a song from 2009's The Blueprint 3, D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune).
That also gave him the chance to get everybody singing the hip-hop version of Hey, Hey Goodbye. Instead of being directed at a sports team, it's foes of another sort in Jay-Z's version.
A 10-piece band that included a three-piece horn section and an excellent soprano sax player backed up the star. An ally, Memphis Bleek, joined Jay-Z onstage after the opening song.
One measure of the show's tremendous burst of energy is that more than 600 tickets -- a John Labatt Centre record -- were sold yesterday. That is a day-of-show mark for the arena, surpassing Green Day's record.
Those tickets were sold to fans who believed the star would make it from NYC to London in time for a party set to run until midnight.
Well, he did. It proves that private jets really do help stars keep impossible schedules.
Jay-Z was also able to time it so he reached the arena -- 10 p.m. -- as his Yankees started to take charge of Game 2.
Last night also proved that someone can party in the Big Apple and still save his best stuff for London.
It wasn't just a Jay-Z show. It was a party all night. N.E.R.D. had groups of men and women on stage. The men were good. The women, who were up there a long time as the set reached the fun anthem Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing In Line for the Bathroom) were wilder.
N.E.R.D. leader Pharell Williams kept the party moving as he showed a deft ability to keep just enough distance from the dancing women. He was also able to shut down on stage photography without any grief.
"We don't want to party with paparazzi. We want to party with real Canadian girls," Williams said to cheers.
Second up was Washington, D.C., hip-hopper Wale. He finished strongly by shifting from a Nirvana riff to a big singalong of Hey Hey, Goodbye. Wale also took a solo ramble along the floor. No accompanying phalanx of security for such a stroll. A first. There was a videographer trying to keep up with Wale's quick moves.
The opener was J.Cole.
About three hours before his scheduled on-stage appearance at the downtown London arena, Jay-Z was in NYC, firing up his beloved Yankees and their fans.
Joined by fellow superstar Keys, on piano and vocals, the Yankee jacket- and cap-wearing star performed Empire State of Mind before Game 2 of the World Series between the Yanks and Philadelphia Phillies.
Jay-Z's band also sported Yankee attire. Keys, in dark shorts over a purple outfit, moved out to join Jay-Z as they both shouted out "New York, New York."
TV cameras showed Yankees' star Derek Jeter nodding approval during the performance.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: London Free Press
by James Reaney
Jay-Z's got some game
JLC CONCERT: The self-proclaimed master of hip-hop delivered in New York and then in downtown London
Say what you want about Jay-Z -- the man's got ballgame.
Just hours after leading off Game 2 of baseball's World Series in NYC, the hip-hop master was in downtown London.
About 8,000 energized young fans were right there with him last night, shouting their worship as Jay-Z emerged, rising from the stage.
"This is going to one of the shows," the star said. "I came here specifically for that reason. They said that I wouldn't be here . . . I am."
As Muhammad Ali said, it ain't bragging if you can do.
"Elvis has officially left the building," Jay-Z announced at one point, speaking of boasts. It was the star's way of confirming he had surpassed Elvis Presley's total of No. 1 albums.
Jay-Z was not about to leave the building.
The set with its projections and panels turned into a beautiful NYC skyline for Empire State of Mind. Bridgety Kelly joined Jay-Z on the song he performed with Alicia Keys at the ballgame earlier in the evening.
Before he finally disappeared through the stage, reversing his entry, he had saluted dreams with So Ambitious and dusted off the jerks on Dirt.
During the encore, he took off his "sunnies" -- the everpresent sunglasses -- to salute many fans individually as the videocams swept the packed arena.
It was a great moment -- and so was the finale Young Forever.
Last night and early this morning, Jay-Z and the fans combined on a concert to rival Neil Young's and Leonard Cohen's as the best of the year and indeed the best-ever at the downtown London arena.
Yes, there was Jay-Z, looking extra cool in a So Ambitious T-shirt and sunglasses. He tossed aside his leather jacket early.
Jay-Z used the opening spot to taunt hip-hop pretenders with a song from 2009's The Blueprint 3, D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune).
That also gave him the chance to get everybody singing the hip-hop version of Hey, Hey Goodbye. Instead of being directed at a sports team, it's foes of another sort in Jay-Z's version.
A 10-piece band that included a three-piece horn section and an excellent soprano sax player backed up the star. An ally, Memphis Bleek, joined Jay-Z onstage after the opening song.
One measure of the show's tremendous burst of energy is that more than 600 tickets -- a John Labatt Centre record -- were sold yesterday. That is a day-of-show mark for the arena, surpassing Green Day's record.
Those tickets were sold to fans who believed the star would make it from NYC to London in time for a party set to run until midnight.
Well, he did. It proves that private jets really do help stars keep impossible schedules.
Jay-Z was also able to time it so he reached the arena -- 10 p.m. -- as his Yankees started to take charge of Game 2.
Last night also proved that someone can party in the Big Apple and still save his best stuff for London.
It wasn't just a Jay-Z show. It was a party all night. N.E.R.D. had groups of men and women on stage. The men were good. The women, who were up there a long time as the set reached the fun anthem Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing In Line for the Bathroom) were wilder.
N.E.R.D. leader Pharell Williams kept the party moving as he showed a deft ability to keep just enough distance from the dancing women. He was also able to shut down on stage photography without any grief.
"We don't want to party with paparazzi. We want to party with real Canadian girls," Williams said to cheers.
Second up was Washington, D.C., hip-hopper Wale. He finished strongly by shifting from a Nirvana riff to a big singalong of Hey Hey, Goodbye. Wale also took a solo ramble along the floor. No accompanying phalanx of security for such a stroll. A first. There was a videographer trying to keep up with Wale's quick moves.
The opener was J.Cole.
About three hours before his scheduled on-stage appearance at the downtown London arena, Jay-Z was in NYC, firing up his beloved Yankees and their fans.
Joined by fellow superstar Keys, on piano and vocals, the Yankee jacket- and cap-wearing star performed Empire State of Mind before Game 2 of the World Series between the Yanks and Philadelphia Phillies.
Jay-Z's band also sported Yankee attire. Keys, in dark shorts over a purple outfit, moved out to join Jay-Z as they both shouted out "New York, New York."
TV cameras showed Yankees' star Derek Jeter nodding approval during the performance.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Empire State of Mind Jay Z ft. Alicia Keys Yankee Stadium World Series Game 2 October 29, 2009
I DO NOT OWN THIS CONTENT, ALL CREDIT GOES TO ATLANTIC RECORDS, FOX, JAY Z AND ALICIA KEY, YANKEES STADIUM... the reason why there is a watermark in the corner is so that no one reuploads this video ---------------- The audio is unclear at parts, it is not my camera, or tv, it is just the echo from the staduim. This was a great performance by both J and Alicia, but the echo may have taken away from that at times..sorry about that haha GO PHILLIES!!!!!!! ** Jay Z and Alicia Keys performed Empire State of Mind at 7:30 pm Eastern right before the second game of the 2009 World Series (phillies vs. yankees) started.
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Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review 1st Mariner Arena Baltimore ML Oct 27, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: Baltimore Sun
by Sam Sessa
Jay-Z at 1st Mariner Arena last night
Few rappers can make an entrance like Jay-Z.
He didn't just take the stage -- he set a timer first.
Before his sold-out show began last night at 1st Mariner Arena, the THX sound effect boomed through the speakers and digital clocks displayed on the big screens started counting down from 10 minutes. When time ran out, the curtain was pulled back, revealing Jay-Z's tight 10-piece band and a screen shaped like the New York City skyline.
He didn't just walk onto the stage, either. He rose from the floorboards, wearing black shades, black pants, a black shirt and a black leather jacket.
Now that's an entrance.
The rest of the show was everything you'd expect from one of hip-hop's superstars: Swaggering, bragging and furious verses. Jay-Z dominated the mike, and the audience loved nearly every minute of it ...
When Jay-Z told them to bounce, they bounced. When he told them to make some noise, they made some noise, chanting "HOVA" and making his trademark diamond-shaped hand sign. Here is a link to a photo gallery from the show.
Jay-Z's performance was a 90-minute hit parade that toured through "The Black Album," "Vol. 2 ... Hard Knock Life" and the rapper's latest No. 1 album (his 11th to debut at No. 1, which surpasses Elvis' record, he reminded us last night), "The Blueprint 3."
Longtime collaborator Memphis Bleek joined Jay-Z for much of the show, J. Cole guested on "Every Day A Star Is Born" and singer Bridget Kelly easily held down Alicia Key's parts on "Empire State of Mind."
The highlights: "Jigga What, Jigga Who" was just dirty; Jay-Z nailed it. "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)" had an easygoing groove. And Pharrell joined Jay-Z for a solid performance of the brass heavy, high-stepping "So Ambitious."Jay-Z had the band fade out at the end of several songs so he could deliver the last verse and chorus a capella, which gave the words even more weight.
The show's only stumble was the long, rambling finish. Jay-Z might know how to get a performance rolling, but he had trouble wrapping things up last night.
During the encore, he took about 15 minutes to give shout outs to strangers in the crowd, identifying them by what they were wearing. If you weren't up front, it was incredibly boring, and unsurprisingly, people started leaving early.
Finally, Jay-Z closed out the show with a so-so rendition of "Forever Young" and saluted the crowd while being lowered back down below the stage. Endings aside, last night's show was definitely one for the books.
The opening acts weren't too shabby, either. Washington's own Wale, who looks to be the most promising rapper to come out of the District, warmed up the audience with some heavy-hitting hip-hop (and even a little go-go). During his last song, Wale strode out into the crowd, shaking hands and greeting folks. When his debut "Attention: Deficit" drops Nov. 10, he might not need to introduce himself anymore.
N.E.R.D. hit the stage after Wale, delivering an intense set of rap/funk/hip-hop. Their songs, which seemed too progressive for the crowd, changed tempos more than Madonna changes outfits. The only track that really brought down the house was their closer, Pharrell's "Drop it Like It's Hot."
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: Baltimore Sun
by Sam Sessa
Jay-Z at 1st Mariner Arena last night
Few rappers can make an entrance like Jay-Z.
He didn't just take the stage -- he set a timer first.
Before his sold-out show began last night at 1st Mariner Arena, the THX sound effect boomed through the speakers and digital clocks displayed on the big screens started counting down from 10 minutes. When time ran out, the curtain was pulled back, revealing Jay-Z's tight 10-piece band and a screen shaped like the New York City skyline.
He didn't just walk onto the stage, either. He rose from the floorboards, wearing black shades, black pants, a black shirt and a black leather jacket.
Now that's an entrance.
The rest of the show was everything you'd expect from one of hip-hop's superstars: Swaggering, bragging and furious verses. Jay-Z dominated the mike, and the audience loved nearly every minute of it ...
When Jay-Z told them to bounce, they bounced. When he told them to make some noise, they made some noise, chanting "HOVA" and making his trademark diamond-shaped hand sign. Here is a link to a photo gallery from the show.
Jay-Z's performance was a 90-minute hit parade that toured through "The Black Album," "Vol. 2 ... Hard Knock Life" and the rapper's latest No. 1 album (his 11th to debut at No. 1, which surpasses Elvis' record, he reminded us last night), "The Blueprint 3."
Longtime collaborator Memphis Bleek joined Jay-Z for much of the show, J. Cole guested on "Every Day A Star Is Born" and singer Bridget Kelly easily held down Alicia Key's parts on "Empire State of Mind."
The highlights: "Jigga What, Jigga Who" was just dirty; Jay-Z nailed it. "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)" had an easygoing groove. And Pharrell joined Jay-Z for a solid performance of the brass heavy, high-stepping "So Ambitious."Jay-Z had the band fade out at the end of several songs so he could deliver the last verse and chorus a capella, which gave the words even more weight.
The show's only stumble was the long, rambling finish. Jay-Z might know how to get a performance rolling, but he had trouble wrapping things up last night.
During the encore, he took about 15 minutes to give shout outs to strangers in the crowd, identifying them by what they were wearing. If you weren't up front, it was incredibly boring, and unsurprisingly, people started leaving early.
Finally, Jay-Z closed out the show with a so-so rendition of "Forever Young" and saluted the crowd while being lowered back down below the stage. Endings aside, last night's show was definitely one for the books.
The opening acts weren't too shabby, either. Washington's own Wale, who looks to be the most promising rapper to come out of the District, warmed up the audience with some heavy-hitting hip-hop (and even a little go-go). During his last song, Wale strode out into the crowd, shaking hands and greeting folks. When his debut "Attention: Deficit" drops Nov. 10, he might not need to introduce himself anymore.
N.E.R.D. hit the stage after Wale, delivering an intense set of rap/funk/hip-hop. Their songs, which seemed too progressive for the crowd, changed tempos more than Madonna changes outfits. The only track that really brought down the house was their closer, Pharrell's "Drop it Like It's Hot."
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Dunkin Donuts Center Providence, RI Oct 24, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: Boston Herald
by Lauren Carter
Jay-Z leaves dope blueprint at Dunk
Last night at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence (he plays in Amherst tonight), the rapper/mogul turned in another live victory lap for a sold-out audience.
It was a cool collection of hits and new tracks, including the Kanye West-produced "Already Home," anti-copycat single "D.O.A." (Death of Auto-Tune)" and opener "Run This Town," for which the self-proclaimed God MC rose up out of the floor to a crowd eagerly bearing their diamond signs.
Thirteen years and 11 studio albums into his career, the Brooklyn MC appears to have performing down to a science, so much so that his set begins with a countdown ticking off the seconds until he takes the stage.
Throughout the abbreviated set (which was inexpli-cably delayed), the video screen alternately displayed images of giant speakers, the New York skyline and stock market figures; in case you forgot, he's not a businessman, he's a business, man.
Yes, whether or not you like his music, it's hard not to respect his hustle, as Hov now lays claim to nightclubs, a basketball team and a label along with enough rap hits to keep a venue shaking for hours.
With a 10-piece band - including a three-piece horn section - and help from longtime protege-yet-to-blow Memphis Bleek, Jay-Z ran through hits including "99 Problems," "I Just Wanna Love You (Give It 2 Me)," "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" and "Dirt Off Your Shoulder."
"Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)" was a soulful inclusion, while "Public Service Announcement" became a sonic earthquake.
Of course, Jigga made a point to thank the crowd for making his latest album, "Blueprint 3," No.1 - his 11th to date, surpassing Elvis Presley.
"Elvis has officially left the building," Jay said while wrapping up his set.
Opening acts included newcomers Wale, protege J. Cole (who reappeared during "A Star Is Born") and N.E.R.D., with Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who double as the in-demand production team The Neptunes.
Their band, however, bears little resemblance to the sound of their innumerable rap hits, minus an occasional falsetto flourish from Williams. For the more rap-friendly "Beautiful," they brought a horde of girls onstage, a feature that was thankfully missing from Jay-Z's set, at least as of press time.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: Boston Herald
by Lauren Carter
Jay-Z leaves dope blueprint at Dunk
Last night at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence (he plays in Amherst tonight), the rapper/mogul turned in another live victory lap for a sold-out audience.
It was a cool collection of hits and new tracks, including the Kanye West-produced "Already Home," anti-copycat single "D.O.A." (Death of Auto-Tune)" and opener "Run This Town," for which the self-proclaimed God MC rose up out of the floor to a crowd eagerly bearing their diamond signs.
Thirteen years and 11 studio albums into his career, the Brooklyn MC appears to have performing down to a science, so much so that his set begins with a countdown ticking off the seconds until he takes the stage.
Throughout the abbreviated set (which was inexpli-cably delayed), the video screen alternately displayed images of giant speakers, the New York skyline and stock market figures; in case you forgot, he's not a businessman, he's a business, man.
Yes, whether or not you like his music, it's hard not to respect his hustle, as Hov now lays claim to nightclubs, a basketball team and a label along with enough rap hits to keep a venue shaking for hours.
With a 10-piece band - including a three-piece horn section - and help from longtime protege-yet-to-blow Memphis Bleek, Jay-Z ran through hits including "99 Problems," "I Just Wanna Love You (Give It 2 Me)," "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" and "Dirt Off Your Shoulder."
"Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)" was a soulful inclusion, while "Public Service Announcement" became a sonic earthquake.
Of course, Jigga made a point to thank the crowd for making his latest album, "Blueprint 3," No.1 - his 11th to date, surpassing Elvis Presley.
"Elvis has officially left the building," Jay said while wrapping up his set.
Opening acts included newcomers Wale, protege J. Cole (who reappeared during "A Star Is Born") and N.E.R.D., with Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who double as the in-demand production team The Neptunes.
Their band, however, bears little resemblance to the sound of their innumerable rap hits, minus an occasional falsetto flourish from Williams. For the more rap-friendly "Beautiful," they brought a horde of girls onstage, a feature that was thankfully missing from Jay-Z's set, at least as of press time.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Wolstein Center @ Cleveland State University Cleveland OH Oct 22, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: Cleveland Plain Dealer
by John Soeder
Jay-Z gets an assist from LeBron James in concert at the Wolstein Center
The good news is Jay-Z didn't offer LeBron James a new contract on the spot.
The bad news? The hip-hop superstar and the NBA's MVP were thick as thieves Thursday night at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center.
When Jay-Z rapped an ode to his hometown of New York City (complete with a dazzling Manhattan skyline backdrop), James danced alongside. Alarmingly, No. 23 seemed to know all the words, too. Did we mention that the tune was called "Empire State of Mind"?
Their buddy routine certainly didn't do anything to dispel persistent rumors that New Jersey Nets co-owner Jay-Z is trying to lure James for his team.
A few tense moments for any Cavaliers fan notwithstanding, Jay-Z put on an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable show.
After rising slowly into view from below the stage, the charismatic MC got down to business with "Run This Town." Sporting dark shades, he spit rhymes with his right index finger semi-permanently pressed against his upper lip, as if it all were one big secret.
As he expertly worked the arena, packed nearly to capacity with more than 8,000 enthusiastic fans, it wasn't hard to fathom Jay-Z's appeal. He kept his clever wordplay tight ("I'm not a businessman / I'm a business, man!") and the overall mood loose. Early on, he instructed security guards not to hassle concertgoers who danced in the aisles.
"We can't keep the aisles clear at a rap concert," said Jay-Z, 39. "This isn't Disney!"
During the encore, he went out of his way to point out individual audience members (from Shaquille O'Neal to anonymous concertgoers in eye-catching outfits) and to thank everyone for their support.
Besides James, several other guests made appearances during Jay-Z's fast-paced, 100-minute performance, including rapper Memphis Bleek, singer Bridget Kelly and opening act J. Cole.
In a refreshing twist, Jay-Z eschewed the canned accompaniment that many hip-hop artists rely on, in favor of a 10-piece band. It made for a fuller, more dynamic sound, especially when the horn section punctuated "Show Me What You Got" with blasts of old-school cool.
"Big Pimpin'," "Izzo (H.O.V.A.), "99 Problems" and other signature tunes from yesteryear were revisited alongside no fewer than 10 selections from Jay-Z's new album, "The Blueprint 3," including the recent hit "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)."
Jay-Z noted that "The Blueprint 3" was his 11th No. 1 album, which broke the record for most chart-topping albums by a solo artist, previously held by Elvis Presley.
"I feel funny about it," Jay-Z said of dethroning The King.
The one from Tupelo, Miss., not Akron
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjJBVI6gJ5Q
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
Run This Town
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Takeover
You Don't Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
Give It to Me
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
Jigga My [expletive]
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Jigga What
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Already Home
Empire State of Mind
A Star Is Born
So Ambitious
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Encore:
Thank You
On to the Next One
Venus vs. Mars
Can I Get a . . .
Big Pimpin'
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore
Young Forever
Review: Cleveland Plain Dealer
by John Soeder
Jay-Z gets an assist from LeBron James in concert at the Wolstein Center
The good news is Jay-Z didn't offer LeBron James a new contract on the spot.
The bad news? The hip-hop superstar and the NBA's MVP were thick as thieves Thursday night at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center.
When Jay-Z rapped an ode to his hometown of New York City (complete with a dazzling Manhattan skyline backdrop), James danced alongside. Alarmingly, No. 23 seemed to know all the words, too. Did we mention that the tune was called "Empire State of Mind"?
Their buddy routine certainly didn't do anything to dispel persistent rumors that New Jersey Nets co-owner Jay-Z is trying to lure James for his team.
A few tense moments for any Cavaliers fan notwithstanding, Jay-Z put on an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable show.
After rising slowly into view from below the stage, the charismatic MC got down to business with "Run This Town." Sporting dark shades, he spit rhymes with his right index finger semi-permanently pressed against his upper lip, as if it all were one big secret.
As he expertly worked the arena, packed nearly to capacity with more than 8,000 enthusiastic fans, it wasn't hard to fathom Jay-Z's appeal. He kept his clever wordplay tight ("I'm not a businessman / I'm a business, man!") and the overall mood loose. Early on, he instructed security guards not to hassle concertgoers who danced in the aisles.
"We can't keep the aisles clear at a rap concert," said Jay-Z, 39. "This isn't Disney!"
During the encore, he went out of his way to point out individual audience members (from Shaquille O'Neal to anonymous concertgoers in eye-catching outfits) and to thank everyone for their support.
Besides James, several other guests made appearances during Jay-Z's fast-paced, 100-minute performance, including rapper Memphis Bleek, singer Bridget Kelly and opening act J. Cole.
In a refreshing twist, Jay-Z eschewed the canned accompaniment that many hip-hop artists rely on, in favor of a 10-piece band. It made for a fuller, more dynamic sound, especially when the horn section punctuated "Show Me What You Got" with blasts of old-school cool.
"Big Pimpin'," "Izzo (H.O.V.A.), "99 Problems" and other signature tunes from yesteryear were revisited alongside no fewer than 10 selections from Jay-Z's new album, "The Blueprint 3," including the recent hit "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)."
Jay-Z noted that "The Blueprint 3" was his 11th No. 1 album, which broke the record for most chart-topping albums by a solo artist, previously held by Elvis Presley.
"I feel funny about it," Jay-Z said of dethroning The King.
The one from Tupelo, Miss., not Akron
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjJBVI6gJ5Q
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center Ypsilanti, MI Oct 21, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist: *unconfirmed (setlist corrections and additions are always welcomed and appreciated, scroll down to the bottom of the page to submit)
1.Run This Town
2.Death To Autotune
3.U Don't Know
4.99 Problems
5.Show Me What You Got
6.I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)
7.Jigga My/
8.H To The Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
9.Jigga What, Jigga Who
10.Public Service Announcement
11.Ain't No Love (In The Heart Of The City)
12.Already Home
13.Empire State of Mind
14.So Ambitious
15.Dirt Off Your Shoulder (Linkin Park cover)
16.Thank You
17.On to the Next One
18.Venus Vs. Mars
19.Swagga Like Us
20.Can I Get A%u2026
21.Big Pimpin'
22.Hard Knock Life
23.Encore
24.Young Forever
Review: to follow
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist: *unconfirmed (setlist corrections and additions are always welcomed and appreciated, scroll down to the bottom of the page to submit)
1.Run This Town
2.Death To Autotune
3.U Don't Know
4.99 Problems
5.Show Me What You Got
6.I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)
7.Jigga My/
8.H To The Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
9.Jigga What, Jigga Who
10.Public Service Announcement
11.Ain't No Love (In The Heart Of The City)
12.Already Home
13.Empire State of Mind
14.So Ambitious
15.Dirt Off Your Shoulder (Linkin Park cover)
16.Thank You
17.On to the Next One
18.Venus Vs. Mars
19.Swagga Like Us
20.Can I Get A%u2026
21.Big Pimpin'
22.Hard Knock Life
23.Encore
24.Young Forever
Review: to follow
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Key Arena Seattle, WA Oct 17, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
to follow
Review: Seattle Times
by Andrew Matson
Seattle goes crazy for Jay-Z at KeyArena show
A review of Jay-Z's Oct. 17 show at KeyArena in Seattle, where one of the biggest stars in the world showed his fans he loved them - and vice versa.
At the end of his concert Saturday night - a concert everybody in the sold-out KeyArena rapped every word to - Jay-Z acknowledged his constituents. He pointed into the crowd from the front row to the rafters. A spotlight followed the line from his finger to his people.
"You in the Crooks & Castles shirt. Yeah. I see you. You with the nice dress. I like that. You're killin' that."
It went on forever, Jay-Z letting people know he saw them. And then near the stage, someone held up an airbrushed T-shirt which Jay-Z demanded be shown on one of the JumboTron screens behind him. On it was a man's face and the words "Lost One," a reference to a 2006 Jay-Z song partially about the death of his nephew. Jay explained this significance to the rest of the crowd, who already understood, and said:
"That's love. That's love, right there."
Besides being one of the biggest stars in the world, Jay-Z is part of people's lives (and deaths) in a way few pop musicians are nowadays, and it felt good to see him call special attention to that fact.
KeyArena was with him from the first song, "Run This Town," to the last, "Young Forever," which are both off his new album "The Blueprint 3." It's a little over a month old and marks Jay's 11th number-one album, breaking Elvis' record. Jay-Z is now The King.
He commanded his ocean of adorers to wave its hands side to side and they did, but at one point got the entire stadium to lose its mind just by standing still and delivering a pointed sidelong glance.
The best song of the night was "Empire State of the Mind," a "Blueprint 3" song. On the gigantic screen behind the stage, a camera on a helicopter showed New York City at night from about 80 stories up, slo-mo, all shiny skyscrapers and big-city glitter. With that swirling behind him, Jay-Z panthered around the stage in black jeans and a Yankees hat, rapping about how he's the new Sinatra, seeming very much the best rapper alive. The hook was handled by Bridget Kelly, a new Jay-Z find with a big voice who made the chorus a total gut-puncher, something like Harry Nilsson's "Can't Live (If Living is Without You)."
Jay-Z crammed in so many hits, some only got 30-seconds of stage time. But while nobody in attendance heard all their favorites, everyone went home loving Jay-Z, and knowing Jay-Z loved them.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
to follow
Review: Seattle Times
by Andrew Matson
Seattle goes crazy for Jay-Z at KeyArena show
A review of Jay-Z's Oct. 17 show at KeyArena in Seattle, where one of the biggest stars in the world showed his fans he loved them - and vice versa.
At the end of his concert Saturday night - a concert everybody in the sold-out KeyArena rapped every word to - Jay-Z acknowledged his constituents. He pointed into the crowd from the front row to the rafters. A spotlight followed the line from his finger to his people.
"You in the Crooks & Castles shirt. Yeah. I see you. You with the nice dress. I like that. You're killin' that."
It went on forever, Jay-Z letting people know he saw them. And then near the stage, someone held up an airbrushed T-shirt which Jay-Z demanded be shown on one of the JumboTron screens behind him. On it was a man's face and the words "Lost One," a reference to a 2006 Jay-Z song partially about the death of his nephew. Jay explained this significance to the rest of the crowd, who already understood, and said:
"That's love. That's love, right there."
Besides being one of the biggest stars in the world, Jay-Z is part of people's lives (and deaths) in a way few pop musicians are nowadays, and it felt good to see him call special attention to that fact.
KeyArena was with him from the first song, "Run This Town," to the last, "Young Forever," which are both off his new album "The Blueprint 3." It's a little over a month old and marks Jay's 11th number-one album, breaking Elvis' record. Jay-Z is now The King.
He commanded his ocean of adorers to wave its hands side to side and they did, but at one point got the entire stadium to lose its mind just by standing still and delivering a pointed sidelong glance.
The best song of the night was "Empire State of the Mind," a "Blueprint 3" song. On the gigantic screen behind the stage, a camera on a helicopter showed New York City at night from about 80 stories up, slo-mo, all shiny skyscrapers and big-city glitter. With that swirling behind him, Jay-Z panthered around the stage in black jeans and a Yankees hat, rapping about how he's the new Sinatra, seeming very much the best rapper alive. The hook was handled by Bridget Kelly, a new Jay-Z find with a big voice who made the chorus a total gut-puncher, something like Harry Nilsson's "Can't Live (If Living is Without You)."
Jay-Z crammed in so many hits, some only got 30-seconds of stage time. But while nobody in attendance heard all their favorites, everyone went home loving Jay-Z, and knowing Jay-Z loved them.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review General Motors Place Vancouver, BC Oct 16, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
to follow
Review: Vancouver Sun
by Francois Marchand
Jay-Z's so big they call him 'Mister'
To use a classic candy bar slogan, when you're this big they call you "Mister."
Well, Mr. Shawn Carter -- aka Jay-Z -- is more than just big. Jay-Z is so big that his body of work and career arc have defined the progress of an entire genre of music. Albums like 2001's The Blueprint and 2003's Black Album shaped a decade of hip-hop. He was instrumental in launching the careers of superstars like Kanye West and Rihanna. He co-owns a basketball team (the New Jersey Nets), was the president and CEO of Def Jam Records, created clothing line Rocawear and is worth an estimated $150 million. Let's not forget, of course, that he's married to Beyonce (priceless?).
Jay-Z is the Don of hip-hop (sorry, Kanye, you're still just the Louis Vutton Don), and when the Don gets mad, he doesn't just get even -- he rectifies.
Fed up with all the warbly, fake vocal nonsense that has overtaken rap over the last few years (thanks, T-Pain), Jay-Z recently went on the offensive with the vitriolic jam D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune), where he proudly declared, un-effected, "This ain't for iTunes, this ain't a sing-along," adding his stuff should make you want to "go and commit felonies."
And so this is where we found ourselves on Friday night: in the grips of a re-energized, re-invigorated Jay-Z, proclaiming loud and clear that gangsta rap -- especially the "real school" kind he just released on The Blueprint III -- was the solution, the offer no one could dare refuse.
As the countdown trickled down to zero, chants of "HOVA! HOVA!" filled GM Place, the 13,500 fans erupting when Jay-Z rose through a trap in the stage floor.
Hitting the ground running with Run This Town, Mr. Carter theb paused for a word with his fans.
"If anybody in here is being boozy or being fake," he said, "I want you to sing them this."
Chants of "na-na-na, hey-hey-hey, goodbye would then lead into Jay-Z's latest manifesto, the aforementioned D.O.A., the cityscape at the back of the stage bursting into a spectacle of flashing lights.
The vibe was obviously pushed into full-on party mode from the get-go, the crowd following every line, beat and blast with hands-a-waving, plumes of smoke a-rising, which prompted another word of advice.
"If a cop gives you trouble because you're smoking weed," Jay-Z said, "just whisper this."
The rapper then dropped a red-hot 99 Problems ("but a certain something ain't one"), turning the cityscape into a mass of booming speakers. There was nary a moment to pause between each track, Jay-Z hopscotching from hit to hit without a moment's respite.
Backed by a full band, Jay-Z dominated the stage, the entire building shaking from both the insane bass blasts -- we're talking real loud here -- and the swaying, jumping and dancing of a frenzied crowd hanging onto his every word.
The only complaint could've been that each song was turned into a snippet of its former self in order to cover as much territory as possible -- Izzo (H.O.V.A.) felt much too short. But for those who know Jay-Z inside out and wanted to hear as many tracks as possible, this was actually a bit of a treat.
Mr. Carter would eventually linger a bit longer on certain songs from The Blueprint III notably the shiver-inducing Empire State of Mind, which finally transformed the stage cityscape into New York City proper. With singer Bridget Kelly filling the duties originally handled by Alicia Keys, the song was a momentous ode to Jay-Z's hometown.
"Let's hear it for New York! New York! New York!"
Amazing.
Other guests would include Pharrell Williams on a heartfelt So Ambitious.
Williams and his N.E.R.D. gang had set up the stage for Mr. Carter earlier, bringing a double-drum, four-emcee frenzy to the stage. The group's bumptacular jams -- Spaz, in particular, complete with some nasty drum solos -- and their fusion of rap, metal and electro instantly sparked the first wafts of green smoke to come emanating from the floor.
It has to be said Pharrell Williams' bunch sounds a whole lot heavier live than it does on record, the pounding bass and devastating guitar crunch hitting hard, especially on crowd favourites like Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom).
For a hybrid act that could easily fall flat (is that a hint of Limp Bizkit I hear?), N.E.R.D. sure got the party started off right. (But what's up with bringing up a bunch of girls from the audience on stage to dance and then leaving them standing there for half the set? Awkward.)
But back to Jay-Z -- imagine this is where he took a short break -- there would be plenty more Blueprint III in the mix, including Thank You and a devastating On To the Next One ("Would someone bring me back some money please?"), which probably registered on a seismograph somewhere in Mexico.
For roughly an hour and a half, Jay-Z was the boss, the Don, the guy in charge, and the crowd was drinking (and smoking) it all in. From Big Pimpin on, it was "HOVA! HOVA!" again and again.
Jay-Z then spent over 10 minutes at the end of the show to pretty much thank every fan in attendance individually -- "You in the red shirt, you with the Yankees hat..."
"I appreciate everyone in this building," he said before closing with a lighter/cellphone-speckled Forever Young. "I'm not jaded, I don't take it for granted."
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
to follow
Review: Vancouver Sun
by Francois Marchand
Jay-Z's so big they call him 'Mister'
To use a classic candy bar slogan, when you're this big they call you "Mister."
Well, Mr. Shawn Carter -- aka Jay-Z -- is more than just big. Jay-Z is so big that his body of work and career arc have defined the progress of an entire genre of music. Albums like 2001's The Blueprint and 2003's Black Album shaped a decade of hip-hop. He was instrumental in launching the careers of superstars like Kanye West and Rihanna. He co-owns a basketball team (the New Jersey Nets), was the president and CEO of Def Jam Records, created clothing line Rocawear and is worth an estimated $150 million. Let's not forget, of course, that he's married to Beyonce (priceless?).
Jay-Z is the Don of hip-hop (sorry, Kanye, you're still just the Louis Vutton Don), and when the Don gets mad, he doesn't just get even -- he rectifies.
Fed up with all the warbly, fake vocal nonsense that has overtaken rap over the last few years (thanks, T-Pain), Jay-Z recently went on the offensive with the vitriolic jam D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune), where he proudly declared, un-effected, "This ain't for iTunes, this ain't a sing-along," adding his stuff should make you want to "go and commit felonies."
And so this is where we found ourselves on Friday night: in the grips of a re-energized, re-invigorated Jay-Z, proclaiming loud and clear that gangsta rap -- especially the "real school" kind he just released on The Blueprint III -- was the solution, the offer no one could dare refuse.
As the countdown trickled down to zero, chants of "HOVA! HOVA!" filled GM Place, the 13,500 fans erupting when Jay-Z rose through a trap in the stage floor.
Hitting the ground running with Run This Town, Mr. Carter theb paused for a word with his fans.
"If anybody in here is being boozy or being fake," he said, "I want you to sing them this."
Chants of "na-na-na, hey-hey-hey, goodbye would then lead into Jay-Z's latest manifesto, the aforementioned D.O.A., the cityscape at the back of the stage bursting into a spectacle of flashing lights.
The vibe was obviously pushed into full-on party mode from the get-go, the crowd following every line, beat and blast with hands-a-waving, plumes of smoke a-rising, which prompted another word of advice.
"If a cop gives you trouble because you're smoking weed," Jay-Z said, "just whisper this."
The rapper then dropped a red-hot 99 Problems ("but a certain something ain't one"), turning the cityscape into a mass of booming speakers. There was nary a moment to pause between each track, Jay-Z hopscotching from hit to hit without a moment's respite.
Backed by a full band, Jay-Z dominated the stage, the entire building shaking from both the insane bass blasts -- we're talking real loud here -- and the swaying, jumping and dancing of a frenzied crowd hanging onto his every word.
The only complaint could've been that each song was turned into a snippet of its former self in order to cover as much territory as possible -- Izzo (H.O.V.A.) felt much too short. But for those who know Jay-Z inside out and wanted to hear as many tracks as possible, this was actually a bit of a treat.
Mr. Carter would eventually linger a bit longer on certain songs from The Blueprint III notably the shiver-inducing Empire State of Mind, which finally transformed the stage cityscape into New York City proper. With singer Bridget Kelly filling the duties originally handled by Alicia Keys, the song was a momentous ode to Jay-Z's hometown.
"Let's hear it for New York! New York! New York!"
Amazing.
Other guests would include Pharrell Williams on a heartfelt So Ambitious.
Williams and his N.E.R.D. gang had set up the stage for Mr. Carter earlier, bringing a double-drum, four-emcee frenzy to the stage. The group's bumptacular jams -- Spaz, in particular, complete with some nasty drum solos -- and their fusion of rap, metal and electro instantly sparked the first wafts of green smoke to come emanating from the floor.
It has to be said Pharrell Williams' bunch sounds a whole lot heavier live than it does on record, the pounding bass and devastating guitar crunch hitting hard, especially on crowd favourites like Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom).
For a hybrid act that could easily fall flat (is that a hint of Limp Bizkit I hear?), N.E.R.D. sure got the party started off right. (But what's up with bringing up a bunch of girls from the audience on stage to dance and then leaving them standing there for half the set? Awkward.)
But back to Jay-Z -- imagine this is where he took a short break -- there would be plenty more Blueprint III in the mix, including Thank You and a devastating On To the Next One ("Would someone bring me back some money please?"), which probably registered on a seismograph somewhere in Mexico.
For roughly an hour and a half, Jay-Z was the boss, the Don, the guy in charge, and the crowd was drinking (and smoking) it all in. From Big Pimpin on, it was "HOVA! HOVA!" again and again.
Jay-Z then spent over 10 minutes at the end of the show to pretty much thank every fan in attendance individually -- "You in the red shirt, you with the Yankees hat..."
"I appreciate everyone in this building," he said before closing with a lighter/cellphone-speckled Forever Young. "I'm not jaded, I don't take it for granted."
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Prospera Place Kelowna, BC Oct 15, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
to follow
Review: Kelowna.com
by Mark Stone
Jay-Z: The Kelowna experience and how it all went down
Last night at Prospera Place, Jay-Z proved that the love for rap is alive and well in Kelowna. Playing to a sold out Prospera Place, the rapper/music mogul from New York City showed Kelowna a great time, and not a single person in attendance went home dissatisfied (none that I could find anyway).
It would be unfair to call Jay-Z's concert a rap show, especially given the eleven-piece band that plays behind him. Comprised of two drummers, two guitarists, a three-piece horn section, three keyboardists and one DJ, the band never missed a note or a beat as Jay-Z played practically every single hit song you can think of. HOVA played for just under an hour before taking his first unofficial encore, but his entire set lasted about an hour and a half.
Before I continue I can't forget to mention the second opening act, N.E.R.D. Led by fellow music mogul Pharrell Williams, N.E.R.D. worked the crowd unlike any opening band I have ever seen - and I've seen more concerts than I care to count. Williams is as confident and comfortable on stage as Jay-Z, and his infectious charisma brought the crowd to their feet much earlier than one would expect. Williams even brought several women up on stage to join him and the band for their last few songs, and the sold out crowd responded with enthusiasm, especially for the monster single Drop It Like It's Hot.
The first opening act, Wale (pronounced wah-lay) performed well and got the crowd to a good start, but a poor sound mix prevented his short set from being fully appreciated.
Back to Jay-Z%u2026 You know how for every concert you go to you get a certain vibe from the crowd? Last night's concert probably had the biggest party vibe I've witnessed from a show - rap or otherwise. From his opening Run This Town to his final song Forever Young, the crowd stayed on its feet and didn't sit still for a second. Normally concerts have several songs where you always see people rush for the exits and take a bathroom break; this show had none of those moments. Kelowna was feelin' Jay-Z tonight and everyone was there to have a good time (some probably had a little too much of a good time as there seemed to be a lot of females in attendance by the name of Mary Jane).
To add to the great musical vibe, the backdrop of Jay's stage is a visually stunning group of video screens that changed for every song, at times interweaving live footage of Jay and his band with various images, most notably the 360 degree view of the New York City skyline that we were treated to for his current single, Empire State of Mind. People I spoke to that were sitting near the front of the stage on the floor told me after the show how they had trouble keeping their eyes off the video screens, despite having Jay only several feet away.
The concert wasn't perfect however, as the sound mix wasn't exactly up to par. At times, the bass emanating from his band muddled Jay's raps. Another nitpicky item: for a rap concert, the DJ and his turntables were completely lost in the mix. I was only able to distinctly hear the turntables on one song, Dirt Off Your Shoulder. My only other complaint would be how short many of his songs were. I know he was doing it to ensure that all the hits were covered, but it was slightly disappointing when big hits like 99 Problems, Hard Knock Life and Can I Get A. But if that was the only way that we get to hear all the songs we love, then it's a small price to pay.
The Afterparty Fiasco
At the end of the show, Memphis Bleek - who joined Jay on stage for at least half of the concert - announced that the official afterparty was going to be at Flashbacks, not at Level as many were anticipating. Kelowna.com announced this last week, but because Level didn't let up with their advertising, many were duped into heading there after the show.
Which is unfortunate because those in attendance at Flashbacks witnessed an absolutely stunning performance by DJ Mell Starr and his MC, Kay M. Hailing from New Jersey, Starr and Kay M worked the small crowd into a frenzy, luring an extremely high percentage of people onto the dance floor. To see these guys work was something to behold; for a hip-hop purist like myself who loves to see a DJ and MC work their magic, Mell Starr and Kay M provided that magic that was missing from the Jay-Z concert.
I spoke to several people who had attended both afterparties, and they all told me that although Level had many more in attendance, the music was much better at Flashbacks. Because of the small crowd, Memphis Bleek did not perform (although he was in attendance for the majority of the evening) and Jay-Z did not make an appearance.
So where was Jay-Z? I'm told that the man who is happily married to Beyonce went back to his large suite at the Delta Grand, showered, took a quick nap, and apparently flew out of Kelowna on his own private jet to Vancouver about 1 am. Which is a shame, because I think if the afterparty scenario wasn't so unclear for everyone, he may have stuck around.
Either way, everyone who saw his show went home happy knowing they had just witnessed a show they will never forget.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
to follow
Review: Kelowna.com
by Mark Stone
Jay-Z: The Kelowna experience and how it all went down
Last night at Prospera Place, Jay-Z proved that the love for rap is alive and well in Kelowna. Playing to a sold out Prospera Place, the rapper/music mogul from New York City showed Kelowna a great time, and not a single person in attendance went home dissatisfied (none that I could find anyway).
It would be unfair to call Jay-Z's concert a rap show, especially given the eleven-piece band that plays behind him. Comprised of two drummers, two guitarists, a three-piece horn section, three keyboardists and one DJ, the band never missed a note or a beat as Jay-Z played practically every single hit song you can think of. HOVA played for just under an hour before taking his first unofficial encore, but his entire set lasted about an hour and a half.
Before I continue I can't forget to mention the second opening act, N.E.R.D. Led by fellow music mogul Pharrell Williams, N.E.R.D. worked the crowd unlike any opening band I have ever seen - and I've seen more concerts than I care to count. Williams is as confident and comfortable on stage as Jay-Z, and his infectious charisma brought the crowd to their feet much earlier than one would expect. Williams even brought several women up on stage to join him and the band for their last few songs, and the sold out crowd responded with enthusiasm, especially for the monster single Drop It Like It's Hot.
The first opening act, Wale (pronounced wah-lay) performed well and got the crowd to a good start, but a poor sound mix prevented his short set from being fully appreciated.
Back to Jay-Z%u2026 You know how for every concert you go to you get a certain vibe from the crowd? Last night's concert probably had the biggest party vibe I've witnessed from a show - rap or otherwise. From his opening Run This Town to his final song Forever Young, the crowd stayed on its feet and didn't sit still for a second. Normally concerts have several songs where you always see people rush for the exits and take a bathroom break; this show had none of those moments. Kelowna was feelin' Jay-Z tonight and everyone was there to have a good time (some probably had a little too much of a good time as there seemed to be a lot of females in attendance by the name of Mary Jane).
To add to the great musical vibe, the backdrop of Jay's stage is a visually stunning group of video screens that changed for every song, at times interweaving live footage of Jay and his band with various images, most notably the 360 degree view of the New York City skyline that we were treated to for his current single, Empire State of Mind. People I spoke to that were sitting near the front of the stage on the floor told me after the show how they had trouble keeping their eyes off the video screens, despite having Jay only several feet away.
The concert wasn't perfect however, as the sound mix wasn't exactly up to par. At times, the bass emanating from his band muddled Jay's raps. Another nitpicky item: for a rap concert, the DJ and his turntables were completely lost in the mix. I was only able to distinctly hear the turntables on one song, Dirt Off Your Shoulder. My only other complaint would be how short many of his songs were. I know he was doing it to ensure that all the hits were covered, but it was slightly disappointing when big hits like 99 Problems, Hard Knock Life and Can I Get A. But if that was the only way that we get to hear all the songs we love, then it's a small price to pay.
The Afterparty Fiasco
At the end of the show, Memphis Bleek - who joined Jay on stage for at least half of the concert - announced that the official afterparty was going to be at Flashbacks, not at Level as many were anticipating. Kelowna.com announced this last week, but because Level didn't let up with their advertising, many were duped into heading there after the show.
Which is unfortunate because those in attendance at Flashbacks witnessed an absolutely stunning performance by DJ Mell Starr and his MC, Kay M. Hailing from New Jersey, Starr and Kay M worked the small crowd into a frenzy, luring an extremely high percentage of people onto the dance floor. To see these guys work was something to behold; for a hip-hop purist like myself who loves to see a DJ and MC work their magic, Mell Starr and Kay M provided that magic that was missing from the Jay-Z concert.
I spoke to several people who had attended both afterparties, and they all told me that although Level had many more in attendance, the music was much better at Flashbacks. Because of the small crowd, Memphis Bleek did not perform (although he was in attendance for the majority of the evening) and Jay-Z did not make an appearance.
So where was Jay-Z? I'm told that the man who is happily married to Beyonce went back to his large suite at the Delta Grand, showered, took a quick nap, and apparently flew out of Kelowna on his own private jet to Vancouver about 1 am. Which is a shame, because I think if the afterparty scenario wasn't so unclear for everyone, he may have stuck around.
Either way, everyone who saw his show went home happy knowing they had just witnessed a show they will never forget.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Pengrowth Saddledome Calgary, AB Oct 14, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
to follow
Review: Calgary Herald
by Heath McCoy
Jay-Z's brief show filled with energy
Between Lil Wayne last winter and the Rock the Bells festival in the summer, not to mention the odd Mos Def here and K'Naan there, 2009 hasn't been half bad for Calgary's hip-hop fans.
But in the big picture Wednesday night's Jay-Z gig at Saddledome had to have been the year's essential event.
More than just a hip-hop star, the 39-year-old rapper/media mogul is one of the genre's legitimate super powers with few of his peers able to touch him in terms of his sheer impact, both critically and commercially.
Eight Grammys, a net worth of over $150 million and a gorgeous R&B queen for a bride in Beyonce Knowles (who was, apparently, in town Wednesday evening) are but a few examples of Jay-Z's king dog status in the hip-hop universe.
And, yes, the rapper who rose up from a Brooklyn housing project really did live up to his hype at the 'Dome with a concert that was quite literally action-packed - visually spectacular with a rapid-fire mix of hits.
To be sure, the show was a hasty affair, barely an hour-and-a-half long, and that might have spelled ripoff had it not been for the gig's non-stop energy.
Kicking things off with Run This Town, a catchy R&B number off his latest disc The Blueprint 3, Jay-Z appeared in sunglasses, dressed in black as the crowd of 9,500 greeted him with chants of "Hova! Hova!," that being his chosen nickname, short for the Biblical Jehovah.
Next, he teased Calgary about its own dreaded nickname, Cowtown, before launching into D.O.A. (Death of Autotune) , which features a fractured version of the old pop tune Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.
As a big screen backdrop flashed everything from lyrics and blood red American flags to all manner of computer graphics and shots of the man himself onstage, Jay-Z and his massive band then rolled out a truly bang for your buck set.
Highlights included Jigga What, Jigga Who, the fun Izzo (H.O.V.A.), and 99 Problems off 2004's The Black Album, a song that just may be Jay-Z's greatest with its menacing chords, thunderous beats, and wicked, feminist-baiting chorus.
Jay-Z's latest single, Empire State of Mind provided another excellent moment in all its anthemic splendour as a long-legged R&B mama tackled the tune's chorus, handled on record by none other than Alicia Keys.
The show wasn't impeccable because not all of Jay-Z's material stands up. Some of his tunes are just too shallow, better suited to cell phone ring tones than truly great records. That's a trap too common in modern hip-hop, which frequently cheapens the genre.
But, when he's at his best, it's clear why Jay-Z stands at the top of the hip-hop pack. His finest work demonstrates the sort of depth and inspiration that few of his peers can match and that variety dominated the show Wednesday night.
Particularly so during the evening's champion finale, including Young Forever, which samples the '80s synth-pop classic Forever Young by Alphaville. And, of course, no Jay-Z gig would be complete without Hard Knock Life, complete with that unforgettable singalong lifted from the the Broadway musical Annie.
As for the night's warmup acts, the relatively unknown Wale (pronounced Wal-ley) got the evening started. An up-and-coming hip-hop artist from Washington, D.C, whose debut album is due in November, Wale showed tons of promise with his humorous stage demeanor and the tight, percussion heavy grooves embedded in his tunes.
Next up was N.E.R.D., a group that's been an artistic vehicle for super star production duo The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo) who have worked their magic on everybody from Britney Spears and Madonna to Snoop, Diddy and Jay-Z himself.
Powered by the pair's phenomenal gift for infectious, bare bones funk-rock, N.E.R.D was excellent live, touching on their most popular songs, including Rock Star, Everyone Nose and Lap Dance, as well as Drop It Like It's Hot, a Snoop Dogg hit that featured Pharrell.
If there was one strike against N.E.R.D it was that their set was uneven, owing to the inconsistency of their records. The group's debut (2001's In Search Of...) was fantastic, but the followups have been patchy with the group's raw grooves taking precedence over the quality of their songwriting.
That didn't hinder them much live, however, given Pharrell's magnetic presence as a frontman and the welcome addition of the group's newest member, female singer Rhea.
With such great opening acts complimenting his own spectacular show, Jay-Z really did bring Calgary the year's must-see hip-hop gig.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
to follow
Review: Calgary Herald
by Heath McCoy
Jay-Z's brief show filled with energy
Between Lil Wayne last winter and the Rock the Bells festival in the summer, not to mention the odd Mos Def here and K'Naan there, 2009 hasn't been half bad for Calgary's hip-hop fans.
But in the big picture Wednesday night's Jay-Z gig at Saddledome had to have been the year's essential event.
More than just a hip-hop star, the 39-year-old rapper/media mogul is one of the genre's legitimate super powers with few of his peers able to touch him in terms of his sheer impact, both critically and commercially.
Eight Grammys, a net worth of over $150 million and a gorgeous R&B queen for a bride in Beyonce Knowles (who was, apparently, in town Wednesday evening) are but a few examples of Jay-Z's king dog status in the hip-hop universe.
And, yes, the rapper who rose up from a Brooklyn housing project really did live up to his hype at the 'Dome with a concert that was quite literally action-packed - visually spectacular with a rapid-fire mix of hits.
To be sure, the show was a hasty affair, barely an hour-and-a-half long, and that might have spelled ripoff had it not been for the gig's non-stop energy.
Kicking things off with Run This Town, a catchy R&B number off his latest disc The Blueprint 3, Jay-Z appeared in sunglasses, dressed in black as the crowd of 9,500 greeted him with chants of "Hova! Hova!," that being his chosen nickname, short for the Biblical Jehovah.
Next, he teased Calgary about its own dreaded nickname, Cowtown, before launching into D.O.A. (Death of Autotune) , which features a fractured version of the old pop tune Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.
As a big screen backdrop flashed everything from lyrics and blood red American flags to all manner of computer graphics and shots of the man himself onstage, Jay-Z and his massive band then rolled out a truly bang for your buck set.
Highlights included Jigga What, Jigga Who, the fun Izzo (H.O.V.A.), and 99 Problems off 2004's The Black Album, a song that just may be Jay-Z's greatest with its menacing chords, thunderous beats, and wicked, feminist-baiting chorus.
Jay-Z's latest single, Empire State of Mind provided another excellent moment in all its anthemic splendour as a long-legged R&B mama tackled the tune's chorus, handled on record by none other than Alicia Keys.
The show wasn't impeccable because not all of Jay-Z's material stands up. Some of his tunes are just too shallow, better suited to cell phone ring tones than truly great records. That's a trap too common in modern hip-hop, which frequently cheapens the genre.
But, when he's at his best, it's clear why Jay-Z stands at the top of the hip-hop pack. His finest work demonstrates the sort of depth and inspiration that few of his peers can match and that variety dominated the show Wednesday night.
Particularly so during the evening's champion finale, including Young Forever, which samples the '80s synth-pop classic Forever Young by Alphaville. And, of course, no Jay-Z gig would be complete without Hard Knock Life, complete with that unforgettable singalong lifted from the the Broadway musical Annie.
As for the night's warmup acts, the relatively unknown Wale (pronounced Wal-ley) got the evening started. An up-and-coming hip-hop artist from Washington, D.C, whose debut album is due in November, Wale showed tons of promise with his humorous stage demeanor and the tight, percussion heavy grooves embedded in his tunes.
Next up was N.E.R.D., a group that's been an artistic vehicle for super star production duo The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo) who have worked their magic on everybody from Britney Spears and Madonna to Snoop, Diddy and Jay-Z himself.
Powered by the pair's phenomenal gift for infectious, bare bones funk-rock, N.E.R.D was excellent live, touching on their most popular songs, including Rock Star, Everyone Nose and Lap Dance, as well as Drop It Like It's Hot, a Snoop Dogg hit that featured Pharrell.
If there was one strike against N.E.R.D it was that their set was uneven, owing to the inconsistency of their records. The group's debut (2001's In Search Of...) was fantastic, but the followups have been patchy with the group's raw grooves taking precedence over the quality of their songwriting.
That didn't hinder them much live, however, given Pharrell's magnetic presence as a frontman and the welcome addition of the group's newest member, female singer Rhea.
With such great opening acts complimenting his own spectacular show, Jay-Z really did bring Calgary the year's must-see hip-hop gig.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Rexall Place Edmonton, AB Oct 13, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
to follow
Review: Edmonton Sun
by Mike Ross
Hands up, it's Jay-Z!
Rapper delivers full-throttle show with delirious excess
Rap music sure has come a long way. Golly, just 30 years ago, it was underground, a voice from the underclass, a passionate expression of the "word on the street." Now it's an entertainment industry unto itself, whose biggest stars tend to celebrate little more than their own massive success.
Well, go on. They earned it. No one embodies this superstar mentality better than Jay-Z, who delivered a larger-than-life hip-hop spectacular at Rexall Place last night. This show had everything: Giant video screens, bone-rattling bass, a 10-piece band including horn section, the wailing back-up singer Bridget Kelly, the shouting back-up rapper Memphis Bleek, and front and centre: the richest rapper on the planet, the man who has more No. 1 hits than Elvis.
Jay-Z couldn't have earned a bigger response if he were A-Rod and Malcolm X rolled into one, which, in a way, he is. Jay-Z combines the bravado of a sports hero with the charisma of a political pulpit pounder -- even if his basic message is one of "put your hands in the air!" More than 9,000 fans who turned up last night seemed to agree.
It was fun show -- big and loud and sloppy and filled with fans screaming out the words to favourite songs, just like a rock concert. Tunes ranged from his roots back in the early '90s to stuff from his latest record, The Blueprint 3 -- all of it delivered at full throttle, with delirious excess. Bonus points for D.O.A. (Death of Autotune), a song about "keeping it real" that seeks to destroy that annoying vocal effect heard in half the songs on hit radio.
There's this idea that Jay-Z's lyrics are degrading and even hateful to women. The London Abused Women's Centre recently scrapped a plan to raffle off a private box for Jay-Z's show at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ont. on Oct. 29, concluding -- after a careful reading of his lyrics --that Jay-Z's music is misogynistic. Why, then, were there so many women at the show last night?
OK, so most of the crowd were guys, but there many fine ladies in the house, yes indeed. It was mentioned several times. Why, if Jay-Z is such a cad, is he still happily married to Beyonce, the most bootylicious diva of them all, who clearly won't take any guff from anyone? Just wondering.
A careful listening of Jay-Z's material last night reveals a fondness for fine champagne, fine women and his own fine self, hopefully combining all three in a hot tub filled with $100 bills. That's just the surface impression. Sexist? Hard to say. But hateful it's not.
Last night's show was an expression of pure joy. Even 99 Problems, coming early in the evening, with its line, "I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one," was brimming with positivity -- positive that the man has a fine woman who is not a bitch, obviously. Gimme That Funk is a simple call for sex, while Show Me What You Got is a simple call to show him what you got, such as waving one's arms like one doesn't care, and so on.
You could argue that the entire commercial rap genre is sexist, and as its spiritual leader, Jay-Z has to at least help set the agenda or people will get suspicious. In any case, he was very convincing last night: veering expertly between pure party anthems to more sensitive songs dealing with the hard road from the ghetto to rap superstar, and even a dash of politics. He also sang of fine champagne and good weed -- at one point lamenting to the crowd about Canada's "border cops" -- and of beautiful women and great towns. Several songs seemed to focus on his own name, confusing, but understandable given how many he has: Jay-Z, Hova, Jigga or Shawn Carter. Jigga What was one of those massive crowd participation songs that helped clear it up.
The show opened with sets by D.C.-area rapper MC Wale and rock-rap-jazz fusion combo N.E.R.D. Both groups used a live band with varying success. Both paid tribute to rock favourites, Wale on Nirvana, N.E.R.D. quoting the White Stripes.
Wale's outfit pounded out a sloppy, choppy funk sound, apparently known as "go-go" in D.C. funk circles. N.E.R.D. did all this and more -- with two drummers, four MCs up front, great groove, big sound. As front man Pharrell Williams explained, "We're known for chaos, that's what we do." Wale seemed to come by chaos naturally, though he stood out for songs like Pretty Girls and Party Party Party, which explain themselves. The far more experienced, mature and sophisticated N.E.R.D. -- which has recently added a female member to its ranks -- was notable for songs like Rock Star, She Wants to Move and Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing In Line for the Bathroom).
Which also explain themselves, I guess.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
to follow
Review: Edmonton Sun
by Mike Ross
Hands up, it's Jay-Z!
Rapper delivers full-throttle show with delirious excess
Rap music sure has come a long way. Golly, just 30 years ago, it was underground, a voice from the underclass, a passionate expression of the "word on the street." Now it's an entertainment industry unto itself, whose biggest stars tend to celebrate little more than their own massive success.
Well, go on. They earned it. No one embodies this superstar mentality better than Jay-Z, who delivered a larger-than-life hip-hop spectacular at Rexall Place last night. This show had everything: Giant video screens, bone-rattling bass, a 10-piece band including horn section, the wailing back-up singer Bridget Kelly, the shouting back-up rapper Memphis Bleek, and front and centre: the richest rapper on the planet, the man who has more No. 1 hits than Elvis.
Jay-Z couldn't have earned a bigger response if he were A-Rod and Malcolm X rolled into one, which, in a way, he is. Jay-Z combines the bravado of a sports hero with the charisma of a political pulpit pounder -- even if his basic message is one of "put your hands in the air!" More than 9,000 fans who turned up last night seemed to agree.
It was fun show -- big and loud and sloppy and filled with fans screaming out the words to favourite songs, just like a rock concert. Tunes ranged from his roots back in the early '90s to stuff from his latest record, The Blueprint 3 -- all of it delivered at full throttle, with delirious excess. Bonus points for D.O.A. (Death of Autotune), a song about "keeping it real" that seeks to destroy that annoying vocal effect heard in half the songs on hit radio.
There's this idea that Jay-Z's lyrics are degrading and even hateful to women. The London Abused Women's Centre recently scrapped a plan to raffle off a private box for Jay-Z's show at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ont. on Oct. 29, concluding -- after a careful reading of his lyrics --that Jay-Z's music is misogynistic. Why, then, were there so many women at the show last night?
OK, so most of the crowd were guys, but there many fine ladies in the house, yes indeed. It was mentioned several times. Why, if Jay-Z is such a cad, is he still happily married to Beyonce, the most bootylicious diva of them all, who clearly won't take any guff from anyone? Just wondering.
A careful listening of Jay-Z's material last night reveals a fondness for fine champagne, fine women and his own fine self, hopefully combining all three in a hot tub filled with $100 bills. That's just the surface impression. Sexist? Hard to say. But hateful it's not.
Last night's show was an expression of pure joy. Even 99 Problems, coming early in the evening, with its line, "I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one," was brimming with positivity -- positive that the man has a fine woman who is not a bitch, obviously. Gimme That Funk is a simple call for sex, while Show Me What You Got is a simple call to show him what you got, such as waving one's arms like one doesn't care, and so on.
You could argue that the entire commercial rap genre is sexist, and as its spiritual leader, Jay-Z has to at least help set the agenda or people will get suspicious. In any case, he was very convincing last night: veering expertly between pure party anthems to more sensitive songs dealing with the hard road from the ghetto to rap superstar, and even a dash of politics. He also sang of fine champagne and good weed -- at one point lamenting to the crowd about Canada's "border cops" -- and of beautiful women and great towns. Several songs seemed to focus on his own name, confusing, but understandable given how many he has: Jay-Z, Hova, Jigga or Shawn Carter. Jigga What was one of those massive crowd participation songs that helped clear it up.
The show opened with sets by D.C.-area rapper MC Wale and rock-rap-jazz fusion combo N.E.R.D. Both groups used a live band with varying success. Both paid tribute to rock favourites, Wale on Nirvana, N.E.R.D. quoting the White Stripes.
Wale's outfit pounded out a sloppy, choppy funk sound, apparently known as "go-go" in D.C. funk circles. N.E.R.D. did all this and more -- with two drummers, four MCs up front, great groove, big sound. As front man Pharrell Williams explained, "We're known for chaos, that's what we do." Wale seemed to come by chaos naturally, though he stood out for songs like Pretty Girls and Party Party Party, which explain themselves. The far more experienced, mature and sophisticated N.E.R.D. -- which has recently added a female member to its ranks -- was notable for songs like Rock Star, She Wants to Move and Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing In Line for the Bathroom).
Which also explain themselves, I guess.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Bank of Kentucky Center Highland Heights, KY Oct 10, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
to follow
Review: Cincinnati Enquirer
by Chris Varias
Jay-Z puts N. Kentucky on hip-hop map
Superstar rapper Jay-Z thrilled a full house at the Bank of Kentucky Center Saturday night. The 90-minute set was packed with several songs from "The Blueprint 3" - his new CD released last month - and older hits.
It was the first sold-out show at the Highland Heights arena, which opened last year. A crowd of 8,800 attended.
There weren't any glaring technical glitches or errors in execution in what was the second stop on Jay-Z's fall tour. The show is equally simple and sleek. The 39-year-old rapper, born Shawn Carter, operated at the front of an empty stage, with his 10-piece band arranged on risers in a semi-circle behind him.
Dressed in an all-black ensemble of leather jacket, t-shirt, jeans and sunglasses, Jay-Z rose through a trap door in the stage to start the show. After performing the opening number, the hit "Run This Town" off of "The Blueprint 3," he asked a question related to the song as to his whereabouts: "I'm really confused. Who run the town? Is it Kentucky? Is it Cincinnati?" The latter received louder applause.
A fair share of the production budget went into a three-dimensional video screen towering behind the band. It offered all kinds of stunning visual possibilities, such as showing dozens of stage shots and music-video clips at once.
As the Brooklyn-bred rapper performed "Empire State of Mind," the screen displayed pretty panoramic nighttime shots of the Manhattan skyline. Guest vocalist Bridget Kelly sang the Alicia Keys part of the tune, another hit from "The Blueprint 3."
"I'm the new Sinatra," Jay-Z boasted in the song. It's a fair comparison, not just because each is portrayed as the coolest American pop megastar of his day. There are other parallels. One guy had Kennedy for a pal; the other has Obama. One guy was married to fellow celeb Ava Gardner; the other is married to Beyonce. One guy had Joey Bishop for a celebrity toady. The other has Kanye West.
"Empire State of Mind" and all of the material from "The Blueprint 3" resonated with the crowd as strongly as the old hits. "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" and "Young Forever," two more "The Blueprint 3" hits, couldn't have been more different. "D.O.A." was one of Jay-Z's typically potent blasts aimed at trend-following in hip-hop, while "Forever Young," which he placed at the end of the set list, was a slice of good old-fashioned pop-music cheesiness.
Jay-Z saved many of his older hits for an extended encore. Joined on stage by fellow New York rapper Memphis Bleek during the encore, Jay-Z rolled through several signature tunes including "Can I Get A%u2026," "99 Problems," "Big Pimpin'" and "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)."
Vocalist Pharrell Williams was another guest, and he and Jay-Z performed their duet on "The Blueprint 3" called "So Ambitious." Earlier in the night, Williams' band N.E.R.D. played an opening set of synth-laden hip-hop that at its best was propelled by the complex beats of two powerhouse drummers. At its worst, N.E.R.D. took on ska a couple times and came out sounding like No Doubt.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University University Park, PA Oct 9, 2009
premium seats available for all shows
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
to follow
Review: The Weekender
by Michael Lello
Jay-Z scores big at Penn State
In a performance that had the feel of a stadium show, thanks to the scope of the production and the magnitude of the star on stage, Jay-Z did something remarkable during his encore Friday night. Even more remarkable than the tight, full-band renditions of stunners like "Big Pimpin'" and "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" and more attention-getting than his flashy New York City skyline backdrop.
He made individual members of the audience feel that they were as important as him, an entertainer with 11 No. 1 albums and an entrepreneur reportedly worth $150 million.
"I appreciate you in the Phillies shirt, you in the vest, homeboy with the dreads," he said, pointing to fans. "You, baby girl, in the front with the Adidas shirt."
"You want my hat?" he asked a fan up front, then tossed him his Yankees cap.
It went on for 10 minutes, and it put an exclamation point on a stellar show at the Bryce Jordan Center, the first night of the hip-hop mogul's fall tour that will primarily play to college campuses.
After opening sets by J. Cole, Wale and N.E.R.D., a 10-minute countdown clock began on the screens on either side of the stage. With the basketball-game-style clock, Jay-Z, a co-owner of the NBA's New Jersey Nets performing in a basketball arena the night before a Penn State football game, gave the evening a big-game feel. The numbers on the clock turned red at the two-minute mark, eliciting a chant of "Hova," Jay-Z's nickname, from the crowd. He entered through a rising platform at center stage and launched into "Run This Town" from his recently released "The Blueprint 3" album. Supported by a guitarist, a drummer, a percussionist, two keyboard players (one played some bass, too), a horn section, backing singers and a DJ, the sound was rich and crisp.
"Penn State, what's up?" he said after the song. "Penn State, if ya'll run this town tonight, make some noise."
The rapper went on to say he ran into some people from Eastern Illinois - the university's opponent in Saturday's football game. "I don't know how you feel about that, but if you run this town, make some noise." The crowd erupted, and a massive Nittany Lions logo was projected on the enormous backdrop screens. Jay-Z led the crowd in a "na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye," chant, which also serves as the opening of "D.O.A.," which he and the band performed flawlessly. The song was driven by Tony Royster Jr.'s loping drum beats and propulsive stuttering hits that led into each verse as Jay-Z repeated the word "begin." At the song's conclusion, the frontman said "Good riddance," a note of disdain for the electronically enhanced vocals dominating his genre as of late.
Other early standouts included a James Brown-ish "Show Me What You Got," saxophone blasts permeating the arena as Jay-Z controlled the swaying audience with flicks of his wrist, "I Just Wanna Love You (Give It to Me)" - Jay-Z said, "Shit, I like Penn State," after the song's raucous reception - and "Jigga My Nigga."
The set had no low points, with "H to the Izzo," reworked with horns and Jackson Five samples, "Jigga What," with live glockenspiel by the percussionist, "New York" and "Brush Your Shoulders Off" all giving weight to the latter portion of the concert.
After the conclusion of the roughly one-hour set, Jay-Z opened his encores with "Thank You," also from the new album. "I was gonna kill a couple rappers/ But they did it to themselves," he rapped about his competition. The music dropped out, leaving him to display his impressive rapping skills a cappella, as he did several times during the show. The New Yorker freestyled about planes flying into buildings, bringing some poignancy and sobriety to the celebratory night. He also included 1998's "Can I Get A," the frenzied, rock-flavored "99 Problems," and after telling the crowd "someone in here tonight will change the world," "Forever Young."
The songs, no doubt, were great. But the setlist was like a box score that doesn't truly convey what happened in the game. The show on Friday, and Jay-Z himself, was more about connecting with people and celebrating being alive. And, even for a man worth more than $100 million, that's something money can't buy.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
to follow
Review: The Weekender
by Michael Lello
Jay-Z scores big at Penn State
In a performance that had the feel of a stadium show, thanks to the scope of the production and the magnitude of the star on stage, Jay-Z did something remarkable during his encore Friday night. Even more remarkable than the tight, full-band renditions of stunners like "Big Pimpin'" and "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" and more attention-getting than his flashy New York City skyline backdrop.
He made individual members of the audience feel that they were as important as him, an entertainer with 11 No. 1 albums and an entrepreneur reportedly worth $150 million.
"I appreciate you in the Phillies shirt, you in the vest, homeboy with the dreads," he said, pointing to fans. "You, baby girl, in the front with the Adidas shirt."
"You want my hat?" he asked a fan up front, then tossed him his Yankees cap.
It went on for 10 minutes, and it put an exclamation point on a stellar show at the Bryce Jordan Center, the first night of the hip-hop mogul's fall tour that will primarily play to college campuses.
After opening sets by J. Cole, Wale and N.E.R.D., a 10-minute countdown clock began on the screens on either side of the stage. With the basketball-game-style clock, Jay-Z, a co-owner of the NBA's New Jersey Nets performing in a basketball arena the night before a Penn State football game, gave the evening a big-game feel. The numbers on the clock turned red at the two-minute mark, eliciting a chant of "Hova," Jay-Z's nickname, from the crowd. He entered through a rising platform at center stage and launched into "Run This Town" from his recently released "The Blueprint 3" album. Supported by a guitarist, a drummer, a percussionist, two keyboard players (one played some bass, too), a horn section, backing singers and a DJ, the sound was rich and crisp.
"Penn State, what's up?" he said after the song. "Penn State, if ya'll run this town tonight, make some noise."
The rapper went on to say he ran into some people from Eastern Illinois - the university's opponent in Saturday's football game. "I don't know how you feel about that, but if you run this town, make some noise." The crowd erupted, and a massive Nittany Lions logo was projected on the enormous backdrop screens. Jay-Z led the crowd in a "na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye," chant, which also serves as the opening of "D.O.A.," which he and the band performed flawlessly. The song was driven by Tony Royster Jr.'s loping drum beats and propulsive stuttering hits that led into each verse as Jay-Z repeated the word "begin." At the song's conclusion, the frontman said "Good riddance," a note of disdain for the electronically enhanced vocals dominating his genre as of late.
Other early standouts included a James Brown-ish "Show Me What You Got," saxophone blasts permeating the arena as Jay-Z controlled the swaying audience with flicks of his wrist, "I Just Wanna Love You (Give It to Me)" - Jay-Z said, "Shit, I like Penn State," after the song's raucous reception - and "Jigga My Nigga."
The set had no low points, with "H to the Izzo," reworked with horns and Jackson Five samples, "Jigga What," with live glockenspiel by the percussionist, "New York" and "Brush Your Shoulders Off" all giving weight to the latter portion of the concert.
After the conclusion of the roughly one-hour set, Jay-Z opened his encores with "Thank You," also from the new album. "I was gonna kill a couple rappers/ But they did it to themselves," he rapped about his competition. The music dropped out, leaving him to display his impressive rapping skills a cappella, as he did several times during the show. The New Yorker freestyled about planes flying into buildings, bringing some poignancy and sobriety to the celebratory night. He also included 1998's "Can I Get A," the frenzied, rock-flavored "99 Problems," and after telling the crowd "someone in here tonight will change the world," "Forever Young."
The songs, no doubt, were great. But the setlist was like a box score that doesn't truly convey what happened in the game. The show on Friday, and Jay-Z himself, was more about connecting with people and celebrating being alive. And, even for a man worth more than $100 million, that's something money can't buy.
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Jay-Z Tour 2009 Setlist & Review Madison Square Garden, New York NY Sep 11, 2009
Click Here for Jay-Z Tickets 2009
Setlist:
1.Pledge of Alliegance
2.The Star-Spangled Banner (Jimi Hendrix cover)
3.Empire State of Mind
4.Where I'm From
5.Brooklyn Go Hard (with Santigold)
6.Public Service Announcement (Interlude) (with Memphis Bleek)
7.Heart of the City (Ain't No Love) (with Memphis Bleek)
8.Already Home (with Kid Cudi)
9.Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)
10.Jigga My/
11.Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
12.Jigga What, Jigga Who
13.U Don't Know (with John Mayer)
14.John Mayer guitar solo ('03 Bonnie and Clyde/ Run This Town/ Dirt Off Your Shoulder/ D.O.A.)
15.D.O.A. (Death of Autotune) (with John Mayer)
16.Run This Town w/ Rhianna (with Kanye West)
17.Can't Tell Me Nothing (with Kanye West)
18.Good Life (with Kanye West)
19.99 Problems
20.Venus Vs. Mars
21.Diva (with Beyonce Knowles)
22.Show Me What You Got
23.I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me) (with Pharrell Williams)
24.On to the Next One (with Swizz Beatz)
25.I Know (with Pharrell Williams)
26.Allure
27.Dirt Off Your Shoulder (Linkin Park cover)
28.Can't Knock the Hustle (with Mary J. Blige)
29.I'm The One (with Mary J. Blige)
30.Money Ain't a Thang
31.La La La (Excuse Me Miss Again)/
32.Feelin' It/
33.Fiesta (Remix) (R. Kelly cover)
34.Can I Get A
35.Big Pimpin'
36.Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
37.Young Forever
38.Encore w/ Diddy (with Kanye West)
Review: USA Today
by Kenneth Partridge
Jay-Z more than a rock star at his 9/11 concert
For New Yorkers, every Sept. 11 is a chance to remember the dead and reaffirm the resiliency of the living.
Hometown hero Jay-Z did both Friday night, marking the eighth anniversary of the terrorist attacks with Answer the Call, a triumphant two-hour performance at Madison Square Garden.
"We're celebrating life tonight," said the 39-year-old, Brooklyn-born rapper, rallying the capacity crowd midway through his set. "We're celebrating strength tonight."
The concert, a fundraising event for the families of New York City police officers and firefighters who died responding to the attacks, featured nearly as many guest performers as it did hit songs.
While Jay-Z hardly needed the extra star power to ensure a full house - as he reminded everyone on the song Encore, he's plenty capable of selling out the Garden - the addition of such luminaries as Kanye West, John Mayer, Diddy and Mary J. Blige underscored the significance of the occasion.
Perhaps most thrilling was the presence of Jay-Z's wife, Beyonce, a powerhouse performer who rarely shares the stage with her husband.
As was the case with most of Jay-Z's collaborators, her time on stage was brief. Still, she used it to maximum effect, hoofing and hollering through her hit Diva with the intensity of vintage Tina Turner.
If the audience was thrilled to see Beyonce, it was even more enthusiastic about Rihanna, making one of her first public appearances since her highly publicized altercation with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown earlier this year. Wearing little more than a bullet belt and steely expression, the singer joined Jay-Z and West on Run this Town, one of the night's many New York-centric anthems.
Given that Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, is more music mogul than mere emcee, many fans were expecting an evening loaded with such surprises.
"I'm thinking he'll go the extra mile," said Queens native Eric Backmon, who arrived at the Garden a full three hours before show time. "America is watching." (The show was carried live on the cable music channel Fuse.)
No doubt mindful of his TV audience, Jay-Z was careful to strike the right balance between revelry and reverence.
The show opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, read by a New York City Fire Department color guard. Later in the evening, after the high-energy likes of Dirt Off Your Shoulder and Can't Knock the Hustle had sufficiently roused the crowd, rendering the venue's seating obsolete, Jay-Z cooled things down with a moment of silence.
Before launching into 99 Problems- a ferocious version that found the rapper replacing his usual laidback delivery with an impassioned yelp - Jay-Z turned his trademark streetwise bravado to world affairs, framing the tune as a warning to terrorists "hiding in caves."
"They took down our towers," he said at another point in the show. "They thought it would weaken us. They were sadly mistaken."
For Rod White of New York City, the concert brought back recollections of eight years ago. On Sept. 11, 2001, White purchased Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, which had arrived in stores that day.
That same morning, White and a cousin watched from New Jersey as smoke rose from the remnants of the World Trade Center. The attacks inspired White's cousin to join the Army, and several years later, he died fighting in Iraq.
White says memories of his cousin, coupled with his admiration for Jay-Z, made Friday's concert all the more poignant.
"(Jay-Z) knows the feelings of the people who live here," he said. "As an artist, he stands the test of time."
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Jay-Z News
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Reasonable Doubt
Jay-Z's classic debut is a compelling reflection o more...0 points
The Blueprint
Includes both of Jay-Z's ground-breaking albums Th more...0 points
American Gangster
Separate from the official motion picture soundtra more...0 points
The Blueprint 3
International superstar and multi-media mogul, JAY more...0 points
Vol. 2, Hard Knock Life
Only an artist of Jay-Z's stature could have survi more...0 points
Vol. 3: Life and Times of S. Carter
On The Life and Times of S. Carter, Jay-Z's centur more...0 points
The Black Album
If The Black Album is truly Jay-Z's last statement more...0 points
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
In an earlier age, when the likes of Public Enemy more...0 points
The Blueprint Collector's Edition
Includes both of Jay-Z's ground-breaking albums Th more...0 points
Jay Z - Fade to Black
FADE TO BLACK takes a look at the rapper's career, more...0 points
Classic Albums: Reasonable Doubt
Jay-Z has been one of the most influential figures more...0 points
Collision Course (with DVD)
MTV Ultimate Mash-Ups is one of the biggest musica more...0 points
Jay-Z: Streets Is Watching
Studio: Uni Dist Corp (music) Release Date: 10/05/ more...0 points
Jay-Z Photos
Empire State of Mind
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Jay-z Empire State
Jennifer Lopez - Liv...
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Jay-Z Setlist Corrections or Contributions
It's been hard to find rekiable setlists for the current Jay-Z tour so if you have a setlist from a show you've attended we'd be happy to have you post it right here ... also setlist corrections are always welcome.
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- kiwisoutback kiwisoutback Nov 6, 2009 @ 11:42 am
- Wow, a lot of content on this page. Nice work!
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- Jayjamm Jayjamm Oct 26, 2009 @ 6:54 pm
- wow alot of content. Thanks
by JimH
North American audiences have a chance to see Rap icon Jay-Z as he tours North America fall 2009.
We'll follow the tour with setlists, reviews and... (more)
We'll follow the tour with setlists, reviews and... (more)
