On Friday (July 11), Jay-Z delivered the first night of his long-awaited three-night run at Yankee Stadium, and he did not disappoint.
Billed as the Reasonable Doubt evening for his day-one fans, Hov dazzled the crowd, reimagining his landmark 1996 debut alongside a live band. He seamlessly wove classics like “Ain’t No N—a” into “Excuse Me Miss,” while also making the night a family affair. Beyoncé joined him to sing the hook on “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” and their eldest daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, took to the piano for a silky rendition of “Feelin’ It.”
When Jay shifted into a more defiant gear, he stunned fans with a sharp new freestyle aimed at critics of his recent Target deal. But the night wasn’t all about proving a point. Leaning into nostalgia, he reunited with Memphis Bleek for “Coming of Age” and Jaz-O for “Bring It On.”
Then, as if pulling guests out of thin air, Jay continued the surprises. Former rival Nas joined him for a mash-up of “Dead Presidents” and “New York State of Mind,” while Alicia Keys capped off one of the night’s biggest moments with their Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit, “Empire State of Mind.”
Among the tens of thousands in attendance were LeBron James, Megan Thee Stallion, Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, DJ Khaled, Swizz Beatz, Knicks star OG Anunoby and more. With two more nights to go, who knows what more Jigga Man has up his sleeve.
Check out the full setlist from Night One of Jay-Z’s three-night Yankee Stadium run below.
We don’t know all the details of what went down inside Madison Square Garden during Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s July 3 wedding last week, but now we know how much they had to pay so they could host the event in the thick of New York City.
During a press conference on Friday (July 10), NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani was asked by a reporter whether Swift would be paying back the city for police overtime needed to support her wedding weekend events in Midtown Manhattan, and the politician confirmed that she already has.
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“Taylor Swift … has paid already the cost of the permit that was lodged, which was over $160,000 for that event and for the response to that event,” Mamdani told reporters. “That was a permit that was finalized, I think, in just the days before the event itself.”
The security permit included street closures and traffic management around the famed arena, starting with a rehearsal dinner event on July 2 through the wedding itself on July 3.
Most details have been kept under wraps, but in a press release announcing Swift and Kelce’s marriage, Swift’s rep confirmed that the pop superstar and football player wore outfits designed by Christian Dior Haute Couture; that the couple did not have traditional bridesmaids or groomsmen, but Swift’s brother Austin was her man of honor while Jason Kelce was Travis’ best man; and that actor/comedian Adam Sandler officiated the nuptials.
Two performers at the event have been reported as well, with Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts confirming that Stevie Nicks took the stage, and People sharing that Paul McCartney performed The Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand” for the first time since 1963 at the MSG wedding.
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