Jay-Z performed two shows at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on September 4th and 5th, marking his return to the U.K. after a six-year hiatus. The concerts celebrated 30 years of his debut album, *Reasonable Doubt*, and 25 years of *The Blueprint*, featuring a variety of guest appearances on the first night.
Jay-Z’s history with London dates back to 1989 when he first visited with mentor Jaz-O, followed by a performance at the Notting Hill Carnival in 1997. In 2008, he famously headlined Glastonbury, opening with an Oasis cover to address criticism about hip-hop’s place at the festival. His most recent U.K. performances prior to this run were in 2018 as part of the *On The Run II* tour with Beyoncé, and the *Magna Carta World Tour* in 2013.
The first night of the London shows included a spoken-word introduction by Idris Elba, a reunion performance by Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean as The Fugees, and a set by Giggs performing “Talkin’ Da Hardest.” A stadium-wide rendition of “Happy Birthday” was sung for Beyoncé, who was in attendance. The second night featured performances by Sampha and Dave.
During the concerts, Jay-Z performed both classic tracks and deep cuts, including “Dead Presidents” and “Jigga What, Jigga Who” – the latter of which hadn’t been performed in two decades. Introducing “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” Jay-Z stated that *The Blueprint* changed his life upon its 2001 release, and the crowd enthusiastically sang the opening verse with him. He also incorporated footage of New York City into the show, wearing a Yankees cap embroidered with “‘96 and forever.”
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