Jay-Z was so frustrated over his Yankee Stadium show being delayed that he wouldn’t speak to anyone backstage, according to his longtime collaborator Memphis Bleek. The rapper’s show was pushed back several hours due to security issues, and those close to him say he made his displeasure known in his own way: total silence.
We caught up with Memphis in New York City on Monday and asked him what the vibe was like backstage while Jay-Z waited hours to perform. The answer was telling.
The audience wasn’t happy about the delays, and neither was Jay. After fans broke through a security checkpoint, Memphis described the rapper as turning into a “stone-faced killer” who wouldn’t engage with anyone around him.
Memphis suspected the venue had a hard midnight deadline before the whole event would need to shut down. Jay finally took the stage at 12:20 AM, more than four hours behind schedule. The wait was brutal for everyone involved.
Some fans are already dreading work after pulling an all-nighter. Memphis had a suggestion: a certain Jay-Z track might come in handy for anyone considering a sick day.
We also asked Memphis about potential fines for noise complaints or curfew violations. His response was surprisingly clever and oddly practical.
Despite the frustration behind the scenes, once Jay hit the stage he did what he does best. He brought the energy and reminded everyone in that stadium exactly why they waited so long in the first place.
★★★
