Hip-hop icon Jay-Z has apologised to fans after the final show of his three-night run at New York’s Yankee Stadium began more than three hours behind schedule, explaining that organisers delayed the concert to prevent a dangerous crowd situation outside the venue, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The rapper finally took to the stage shortly after midnight on Monday, more than three hours after the scheduled start time. Addressing the audience early in the show, he explained that around 10,000 people had remained outside the stadium and that security temporarily closed the gates after someone rushed an entrance.
“Let me explain the delay to you guys,” Jay-Z told the crowd. “It was like 10,000 people outside, and we closed all the doors, and somebody rushed the door. They closed the door for you guys’ safety and everyone’s safety outside. There’s 10,000 people outside; I don’t want to start the music and people get trampled. I’m really sorry for the inconvenience, but I had to make sure everyone was OK. I appreciate your patience.”
Although many concertgoers expressed frustration over the lengthy delay, the atmosphere changed once the performance began. Most fans remained in the stadium throughout the show, which ended at around 2:45 a.m. with fireworks lighting up Yankee Stadium.
The final performance, titled Extra Innings, had generated enormous anticipation after Jay-Z welcomed Beyoncé, Nas and Alicia Keys on the opening night, followed by Eminem during the second concert.
The closing show featured another star-studded line-up. Rihanna joined Jay-Z for Run This Town before performing Bitch Better Have My Money in a rare live appearance. Beyoncé later returned to perform Drunk In Love. Teyana Taylor joined Jay-Z for Can’t Knock the Hustle, while Usher and Pharrell Williams also made guest appearances.
The Yankee Stadium concerts marked Jay-Z’s first major live performances since concluding his 4:44 Tour in 2017. The hometown shows celebrate the 30th anniversary of his landmark album Reasonable Doubt and the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint.
Following the New York concerts, Jay-Z is scheduled to perform in London, Paris and Los Angeles in the coming months. He is also the subject of a Rick Rubin-directed documentary series set to premiere on HBO later this autumn.
