Photo credit: Jay-z
Jay-Z’s third and final night of his Yankee Stadium residency got off to a rocky start. A lengthy delay before the show’s kickoff left thousands of fans outside the venue without answers and sparked speculation across social media about what had caused the holdup. Once he finally took the stage, HOV addressed the situation directly.
“New York City, what’s up? So, let me explain the delay to you guys,” the 25-time Grammy winner told the crowd. He described a situation where approximately 10,000 people were waiting outside the stadium when someone rushed the door, forcing security to shut all entrances down. At that point, he made a deliberate choice not to begin performing.
“I didn’t wanna start music and people get trampled,” he said. He then apologized for the inconvenience and thanked fans for their patience, promising to make the night worthwhile.
What police sources said about the incident
WABC-TV reported that a police source confirmed a large group had breached security at the venue, leading to a temporary stadium lockdown. That account aligned with what Jay-Z described from the stage. The lockdown caused the hours-long delay before the concert could begin. No major injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
The show delivered despite the delay
Fans who waited through the delay were ultimately rewarded. Jay-Z made good on his promise that he had something special lined up for the final night of the residency. The guest list for the closing show included Rihanna, Beyoncé, Jeezy, Clipse and Teyana Taylor, all of whom joined him on stage throughout the evening.
Furthermore, HOV performed several classic collaborations with Kanye West during the set. Ye himself did not appear, which had been widely anticipated given the current state of their relationship. Nevertheless, the performances drew strong reactions from the crowd.
A three-night run marked by major moments
The Sunday night show closed out what had been a landmark three-night residency at Yankee Stadium. The earlier shows had also generated significant buzz. During the opening night of the run, Jay-Z addressed controversy surrounding his new retail deal with Target, dismissing critics with a freestyle from the stage. He also reunited with his mentor Jaz-O during the residency, bringing the veteran rapper who first helped put him on out to perform alongside him.
The security breach and delay added an unplanned chapter to the final night, but the performance itself underscored why the run generated the kind of attention it did throughout the weekend.
Source: Complex / WABC-TV
About the Author
