JAŸ-Z Brings ‘Reasonable Doubt’ Full Circle At Yankee Stadium For 30th Anniversary Show (Review)

JAŸ-Z. Jigga. Jiggaman, HOV. Hovito. William H. S.Carter. Iceberg Slim. GOAT.

Fans and critics of the storied emcee have long called JAŸ by several names and aliases. But one thing that many spectators could maybe all agree upon was calling day one of his sold-out three-night Yankee Stadium show a “masterclass in spectacle.”

Before fans descended upon Yankee Stadium on July 10 for a concert dedicated entirely to the thirtieth anniversary of JAŸ-Z’s seminal debut album, Reasonable Doubt, the house that Ruth built was surrounded by die-hard supporters of the Brooklyn-based artist.

Paper Plane snapbacks and New York Yankees fitteds were hard to miss, while customized New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets jerseys bearing JAŸ’s “S.Carter” namesake flooded the gates. Fans were also draped in official anniversary memorabilia recently released at various JAŸ-Z30 pop-up events throughout NYC, including MLB collaboration baseball jerseys from the Yankees, Mitchell & Ness Reasonable Doubt varsity jackets, and, of course, tees, tank tops, and shorts from Roc Nation.

Nearby cars, vendors, and onlookers played various tracks from the rapper’s classic catalog, with some people even forming cypher circles to spit their favorite Hov verses with pride. One East 161st Street buzzed with a celebratory spirit, an infectious vibe very fitting for what felt like a once-in-a-lifetime event, which was true, in a way.  

JAŸ previously performed in the current iteration of Yankee Stadium on multiple occasions: the rapper had the first concert in the stadium’s new era on Sept. 13-14, 2010, co-headlining with Eminem as a part of the legendary sold-out “Home & Home Tour”; on Oct. 29, 2009, ahead of Game 2 of the World Series, with Alicia Keys to perform “Empire State of Mind”; and July 19-20, 2013, on a double bill with Justin Timberlake, during the sold-out “Legends of the Summer Stadium Tour,” which grossed $12,041,096, per Pollstar Boxoffice reports.

However, this triple-night delight, promoted by Roc Nation, which operates in partnership with Live Nation, was the first time the emcee had headlined the baseball stadium as a solo act in his career.

DJ D-Nice kicked off the event, opening the show promptly at 8 p.m. The beloved disc jockey was joined by a band that added a certain bombast to the records he was spinning for a stadium crowd of 45,000 fans, at maximum capacity for this event.

“It’s an honor to be celebrating my brother, JAŸ-Z, with y’all tonight,” D-Nice told a roaring crowd with Pollstar in attendance. “So, let’s turn this thing out that is only fitting for JAŸ, only fitting for New York City!”

The DJ ripped through classic New York hip-hop tracks that provided added context to how important the night was for the genre. Tracks like BDP’s “The Bridge Is Over,” Jadakiss and Styles P’s “We Gon Make It,” and even Ja Rule’s “New York,” which D-Nice used as a way to celebrate the Knicks’ historic NBA Championship with the passionate hometown crowd.

By 9:36, however, DJ D-Nice had long said his goodbyes and exited the stage, until suddenly the lights disappeared. Smoke and glaring red lights fell upon the stage from the top of the main Daktronics LED display. And then a video began playing: Beyoncé is seen taking a pair of electric clippers to JAŸ-Z’s hair, cutting his afro. As the camera pans outward, the audience discovers that the Carters are both in the stadium, and, as they share a tender moment, the video ends. As subtle lights illuminated the stage, “Can’t Knock the Hustle” began playing, followed by strings from an array of live violins, and then: JAŸ-Z. The rapper emerged from the smoke before a roaring crowd, performing the Reasonable Doubt intro. As the chorus hits, Beyoncé walks on stage in a shimmery capri suit to an enormous eruption of cheers and begins singing the lyrics originally performed by soul legend Mary J. Blige.

The family ties were on full display throughout the show as artists that JAŸ-Z has closely collaborated with, or been rivals with in the case of Nas, joined him on stage. Nasty Nas joined him for “Dead Presidents,” “The World Is Yours,” “N.Y. State of Mind.” Right after, his daughter, Blue Ivy, surprised the stadium and played the piano keys to help introduce his hit “Feelin It.” Alicia Keys stunned the crowd, performing the iconic hit “Empire State of Mind.” Jaz-O, a rapper that JAŸ-Z described as being “directly responsible for his being on stage,” and Roc-A-Fella comrade Memphis Bleek joined the show to perform “Bring It On” and “Coming of Age,” respectively.

The emcee’s production throughout the night played throwback videos of Jiggaman, circa 1996. Videos followed young Hov as he recorded his debut album, traversed through New York City in pursuit of his musical aspirations, was arrested by the NYPD, and finally “made it in America.”

“If you made it in America, New York City, make some noise,” JAŸ-Z passionately told the crowd during a masterful transition and blend of his tracks ‘Politics as Usual’ and ‘Made It in America,’ from Watch the Throne. “We did this sh*t, we did this sh*t, despite everything, we did this sh*t.”

And, after the show ended with “Empire State of Mind,” the air in the room reflected that feeling; beyond a Reasonable Doubt, this wasn’t a concert just celebrating JAŸ-Z, Jiggaman, Hov, or whatever name you want to call him but rather a celebration of the success that his music instilled in a whole generation of fans.

JAŸ-Z 30, Yankee Stadium, Friday, July 10th – Set List

Can’t Knock The Hustle (Beyoncé)

Politics As Usual

Made In America

Brooklyn’s Finest

I Love The Dough

Dead Presidents

World Is Yours (Nas)

NY State of Mind (Nas)

Where I’m From (Nas)

Feelin It

D’evils

No Church In the Wild

Can I Live

Jigga My

Ain’t No

Excuse Me Miss

22 Two’s

Friend or Foe

Coming Of Age (Memphis Bleek)

Cashmere Thoughts

Allure

Bring It On

Regrets

Encore

Hits Medley

Empire State of Mind (Alicia Keys)