Over the weekend, Jay-Z marked the anniversaries of his albums “Reasonable Doubt” and “The Blueprint” with a three-day residency at Yankee Stadium in New York. While it was only the first stop of three more anniversary concerts scheduled for Los Angeles, Paris and London, it set the tone for moments that felt genuinely special. Hov was joined by a star-studded list of guests onstage, including Beyoncé, Usher, Fat Joe and Pharrell.
If you missed it, here’s a breakdown of the major stars who showed up across the three nights. The performances ranged from full collaborations to surprise drops that had the stadium moving. What made these shows work wasn’t just the lineup, though. It was watching Jay-Z navigate two decades of music with the people who helped build it.
Beyoncé
Beyoncé appeared on night one and the final night of the residency. Together, they performed “Drunk in Love” and she covered Mary J. Blige’s part on “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” reminding everyone why these two remain one of hip-hop’s most formidable pairs.
Blue Ivy
Blue Ivy played piano on “Feelin’ It,” showcasing a different skill set than the dancing fans had seen during her mom’s tour. The moment felt intimate, even in a stadium full of thousands.
Nas
Nas came out on night one to perform “Dead Presidents,” “The World Is Yours” and “Where I’m From.” The chemistry between them felt effortless, the kind of thing you can’t manufacture.
Memphis Bleek
Jay-Z brought out Memphis Bleek to perform “Coming of Age,” a track that speaks to their Reasonable Doubt era and the loyalty that’s defined their career relationship.
Jaz-O
Jaz-O performed “Bring It On” with Jay-Z on night one. For fans who grew up on the older material, this was the kind of lineup that validated why they’ve been paying attention for so long.
Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys belted out “Empire State of Mind” with Jay-Z. It’s the New York anthem, and there was no way this residency was happening without it.
Eminem
On night two, Eminem appeared to perform “Renegade” from The Blueprint. He also rapped “Lose Yourself,” and the stadium response made it clear this was a moment people will remember.
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell joined Jay-Z on “Excuse Me, Miss” and “Allure,” then they performed “Frontin'” together. His presence across multiple nights showed how integral he’s been to Jay-Z’s catalog.
Slick Rick
Slick Rick delivered “La Di Da Di” (the 1999 Doug E. Fresh collaboration) and “Children’s Story.” His appearance was a reminder that this residency wasn’t just celebrating Jay-Z’s work—it was celebrating New York hip-hop legacy.
Rihanna
On night three, Rihanna showed up to perform “Run This Town” and “Bitch Better Have My Money.” After her set, she told the crowd she was a little rusty but that she misses “this shit.” It was candid and real, which is exactly what the moment needed.
Clipse
Clipse hit the stage on night three with another appearance from Pharrell to perform “Grindin’.” The response from the crowd was electric.
Jeezy
Jeezy canceled a Las Vegas concert to perform “Seen It All” and “Go Crazy” with Jay-Z. That kind of commitment says something about what this moment meant.
Fat Joe and Jadakiss
Fat Joe and Jadakiss took the stage together to perform “New York” from 2004 (the Ja Rule collaboration). It felt right that New York rappers were performing New York anthems at Yankee Stadium.
Usher
Usher, currently touring with Chris Brown, made time to show up for Jay-Z. He performed “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)” and “Part II (On the Run).” His participation felt significant—not every artist would step away from their own tour for something like this.
Swizz Beatz
Swizz Beatz appeared to perform “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” as a tribute to DMX, followed by “On to the Next One.” The energy shifted when that track came on.
Teyana Taylor
Teyana Taylor delivered the vocals on “Can’t Knock the Hustle” on night two, taking the role Beyoncé held on night one. She brought her own interpretation to the track.
Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri came out on night three to perform “Money Ain’t a Thang” with Jay-Z. The song still hits.
The-Dream
The-Dream closed out one of the nights with “No Church in the Wild.” By that point, the crowd had experienced hours of New York hip-hop history in real time.
★TR★
