Image via Complex Original
This Saturday, Jay-Z plays the last concert in his historic run of performances at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. It’s been a week of excitement for Hov, as well as BK fans who've watched their hometown hero night after night. Naturally, we've gained a few new insights from his string of shows.
Before Jay wraps up his christening of Barclays with finale sets tonight and tomorrow, let’s take a look at what we've gleaned from the six concerts behind him. Here are 10 Things We’ve Learned From Jay-Z’s Performances at Barclays Center.
Written by Eric Diep (@E_Diep)
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Jay-Z Doesn't Care What You Think About His Ownership Percentage
By night three, Hov was hitting his stride. He stopped during his set to address a rumor about his ownership of the Nets. There has been word that he only owes about one-fifteenth of one percent, a very small stake compared to Russian billionaire owner Mikhail Prokohorov. In his speech, he reminded the crowd to not “let anybody diminish your accomplishments.”
He added, “When I look at the paper and I see them talking, ‘Eh, he owns one-fifteenth.’ First of all, I don’t know where they get that number from. But I’m cool with it. I know it’s not about me, it’s about ya’ll. What I mean by that is it’s not personal to me. They know that if you see me standing here that you know it’s possible to achieve great things.”
There’s a 40/40 Club in Brooklyn
The grand opening of the Barclays Center wouldn’t be complete without Hov’s chain of nightclubs. The arena includes a 40/40 Club location with a lot of open space and a view of the Brooklyn Nets hardwood.
He told press: “I walked around here earlier and I just seen everybody busy and at work trying to finish up and it was a great feeling. A guy stopped me in the hallway and said, 'Man this is a great thing for New York City.' And that's what the whole thing was about."
The Official Nets Jersey Was Revealed
Back in April, the official logo of the Brooklyn Nets was unveiled by Jay-Z at a press conference. Soon after, merchandise starting to come in but no team jerseys were available yet. On the first night of the eight-show concert run, Hov surprised the 19,000-plus in attendance by rocking a custom-made official Nets jersey by adidas.
The front read “BROOKLYN” with the No. 4 and the back read “CARTER.” He's worn his all-black everything performance attire—topping it off with a Nets baseball cap—throughout the entire series of shows. The jerseys are available for purchase now, too.
Rihanna and Chris Brown Are Back Together?
Rihanna and Chris Brown have a storied past, but lately they have been spotted in NYC, back together. First, there were reports of them kissing at the Griffin nightclub this past Monday. Then, Brown was spotted sneaking out of Rihanna’s hotel to meet up with recent ex, Karrueche Tran. On the fifth night of Jay’s show, Rihanna and Chris Brown were seen entering the VIP and sitting next to each other during the performance.
Rap Radar’s Elliott Wilson broke the news and other insiders confirmed their appearance. While we can't say their relationship is back on, Brown’s statement that he broke up with Karrueche to stay friends with RiRi is a strong sign that something else is going on.
It's Jay-Z's Proudest Performance Moment
Hov has performed on some of the biggest stages in the world. In 2010, he shared a headlining bill with Eminem at Yankee Stadium. He's sold out Madison Square Garden multiple times. Back in February, he performed at Carnegie Hall.
According to Jay-Z, those achievements can't match his homecoming. He’s been instrumental in moving the franchise from New Jersey and played a major role in the logo design, so it makes sense. His opening night words summed up the feeling: “I've been on many stages. Been all around the world. Nothing feels like tonight.”
Biggie Did Not Show Up in Hologram Form
Contrary to popular belief, Jay-Z did not pull a Coachella stunt and bring back Biggie as a hologram. On night one, he played classics “Juicy” and “Kick in the Door” with a high-def projection of the legendary rapper displayed above him. According to Miss Info, Hov’s stage cost a whopping $400,000.
Jay-Z's New Verse Showed He's Still Sharp
On opening night, Jay-Z paused his set to rap a brand new verse that had a nice line about his home team. “Money and the murder/Rapper or the trapper, either way I'm gon serve ya/Shooters on my team, no really, I got shooters on my team/Juan or Deron."
Beyoncé Is Still Ride or Die
There have been plenty of celebs hitting the VIP section of Hov’s shows. One important person, though, his wife Beyonce, was near the front taking in her husband’s set. From the photos, she looked to be having a lot fun. Other friends—Queen Latifah, Taraji P. Henson, Angie Martinez—were seen at one of Jay’s eight shows kicking it with B, too.
Jay-Z Brought Out Special Guests Anyway
Days before his string of concerts kicked off, Jay told Rolling Stone that no guests would be joining him. He argued: “This is my one chance to be selfish. Can't I? Can't I be selfish?” Still, Jay couldn’t help but share the moment with a few close friends.
The first night featured a performance by Brooklyn legend Big Daddy Kane, who ran through a short list of classics. He was even joined by backup dancers Scoob Lover and Scrap Lover for a throwback routine.
On the second night, Jay brought out Memphis Bleek. The pair performed "Do My" and "You, Me, Him and Her.”
Everyone Will Get a Chance to Watch the Concert
Did you miss out on the Barclays Center shows? Well, Jay's got you. The final concert will be streaming live, in full, on his website, Life+Times.This way, you can go H.A.M. in the comfort of your home without the crowds and long lines. No fan gets left behind.
