The Roc’ is still alive: Jay-Z solidifies legacy with Yankee Stadium residency

By Aria Brent 
Special to the AFRO

Tens of thousands of people packed out Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. for the three night residency put on by hip-hop legend, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter July 10-12. The concert series was first announced in March of this year and tickets for the event sold out immediately.

The first night of the residency celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut album “Reasonable Doubt.” 

In June 1996, Carter released his first studio album and it went on to be certified platinum and featured artists like the Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige and Memphis Bleek. Concertgoers who attended the residency’s opening night discussed how Carter’s first album impacted them. 

“‘Reasonable Doubt’ is one of my favorite Jay-Z albums. I listen to it when I need life advice or just simply not in the best of moods,” said David James of the Bronx, N.Y. “Attending this concert was an absolute must for me.”

The three-night residency was a star-studded event. On night one, several special guests joined “Jigga-Man” on stage, including his wife, Beyoncé, daughter Blue Ivy Carter and musical artists Nas, Mecca, Memphis Bleek, Jaz-O and Alicia Keys.

The second night of the concert series was centered around the 25th anniversary of his 2001 album, “The Blueprint.” Similar to his first project, this triple-platinum album is highly regarded by Carter’s fans and is often considered one of the best hip-hop albums of all time. This energy was felt by fans who attended the Saturday night concert, noting it to be a huge moment for all of hip-hop.

“It was truly a moment for all of hip-hop. To see such a level of class be executed along with longevity for not only his albums, but the genre itself at this level while never compromising its essence is an inspiration,” said Andre Mego of Brooklyn, N.Y. “It’s amazing to see preservation, innovation and authenticity all be in harmony with its growth over time.”

The third and final night of HOV’s residency was highly anticipated as it was a special show that was added to the concert’s lineup following the instant sellout of tickets for the first two shows. However, chaos broke out as non-ticket-holding fans tried to force their way into the venue, prompting gates to be closed and resulting in concertgoers waiting an additional three hours for the show to start. Once on stage, Carter apologized for the delay and explained what happened. 

“For your guys’ safety and everybody’s safety outside—there’s 10,000 people outside and I didn’t want to start music and people get trampled,” said Carter. “So, really sorry for the inconvenience but I just wanted to make sure everybody was OK.”

Following the Sunday night performance local news outlets also shared a joint statement released by Roc Nation, Live Nation and Yankee Stadium.

“On Sunday evening at various fan entrances at Yankee Stadium, hundreds of individuals in large groups — who did not have tickets for tonight’s performance — stormed over peaceful ticketholders, and in some cases, breached security,” the statement shared by Spectrum News NY 1 read. “As a result, gates at all entrances of the stadium were closed for an extended period of time. With the thoughtful guidance of the NYPD, gates were reopened cautiously and carefully to ensure the safety of those inside and outside.”

In spite of the lengthy wait and some ticketholders being left outside the stadium, the show eventually went on and, apparently, did not disappoint. The Extra Innings performance had artists like Usher, Rihanna, Pharrell, Teyana Taylor, The-Dream, Jadakiss and many more take the stage to help Carter amaze fans once more.

Carter has undoubtedly carved out his place in the world of entertainment and hip-hop. With over three decades of experience and a plethora of notable business endeavors like clothing lines and a media streaming service under his belt, there’s no telling what’s next for him. Whatever it may be though, fans are looking forward to it. 

“I am excited to see whatever he wants to give the world through his authenticity as he has been doing,” Mego said. “I am constantly inspired by not only music but his philanthropy, his social justice initiatives, and how he serves so many around him.”

The post The Roc’ is still alive: Jay-Z solidifies legacy with Yankee Stadium residency appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.