Courtesy: X
Jay-Z opened his three-night 30th anniversary concert run at Yankee Stadium on Friday, July 10, and made it a night that reached well beyond the setlist. Beyoncé, Blue Ivy Carter, Nas and Alicia Keys all took the stage at different points throughout the evening. Tens of thousands of fans were there to witness it.
The night centered on Reasonable Doubt, Jay-Z’s landmark 1996 debut album, reinterpreted with a live band across the full show. The framing gave longtime fans a front-row seat to where it all started while surrounding those songs with guest appearances that felt genuinely unplanned.
How Beyoncé and Blue Ivy joined Jay-Z at Yankee Stadium
Beyoncé took over the hook on Can’t Knock the Hustle, a track that originally featured Mary J. Blige. She performed the verse while moving across the stage. Jay-Z responded to the crowd’s reaction by acknowledging her talent openly. Beyoncé directed the applause back at him before leaving the stage.
Blue Ivy, 14, then joined her father for Feelin’ It, the 1996 deep cut. She played a piano solo at the end of the song to sustained applause from the crowd. Jay-Z introduced her to the crowd as legendary before the two shared a long embrace. Jay-Z told GQ in March that Blue Ivy has perfect pitch and teaches herself songs by ear after listening to them once. She previously appeared onstage with Beyoncé during the Renaissance World Tour in 2023 and returned for 32 shows across three months during the Cowboy Carter World Tour in 2025.
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The Jay-Z guest list that kept the crowd guessing all night
Jay-Z leaned into nostalgia throughout the set, reuniting with Memphis Bleek for Coming of Age and Jaz-O for Bring It On. He also delivered a new freestyle aimed at critics of his recent Target deal, shifting the tone before returning to the celebration.
Nas joined him for a mash-up of Dead Presidents and New York State of Mind, a pairing that carried its own weight given the long history between the two artists. Alicia Keys closed one of the night’s biggest moments by performing Empire State of Mind with Jay-Z, their number-one hit that has remained a signature New York anthem since its 2009 release.
Who attended Jay-Z’s Yankee Stadium opening night
LeBron James, Megan Thee Stallion, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, DJ Khaled, Swizz Beatz and Knicks forward OG Anunoby were among those in attendance. Two more nights remain at Yankee Stadium as part of the anniversary run, with additional dates also planned in Paris and Los Angeles.
SOURCE: People
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