JAY-Z passed on plentiful plus-ones for his opening night of the JAŸ-Z30 tour in Los Angeles on Friday (October 23). His summer stint across the globe — New York, London, Paris, and now, L.A. — has plenty to celebrate, like the ent-rap-eneur’s debut Reasonable Doubt turning 30 and 25 years of The Blueprint, but the setlist at SoFi was a balanced medley of Hova’s beloved eras.
Legacy is heavy in the air for Jigga’s nostalgic excursion this year, not just for him, but for hip-hop. You hear it in the way he reflects on his past work, as seen in the Rick Rubin-led HBO docuseries JAŸ-Z in 8, and his lyrical delivery on stage. Even the interpolations of rap gems thanks to Hov’s live band 1500 or Nothin’ and previous invitees salute the genre’s history.
This past July, Hov set a sky-high bar for star power with three hometown shows at Yankee Stadium. VIP cameos included Beyoncé, Rihanna, Eminem, Alicia Keys, Usher, Clipse, Nas, and more. JAY-Z then took his talents to London (Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Giggs swung by) and Paris (Justin Timberlake and Pharrell came through) before landing in the entertainment capital of the world.
Jay-Z and Scarface.
Courtesy of Roc Nation
In L.A., more celebrities were scattered on the floor than on stage at SoFi, including close Hov collaborator Memphis Bleek, Grammy-winning producer/artist Hit-Boy, R&B icon Brandy, Malia and Sasha Obama, model/actress Winnie Harlow, and the Combs kids. Some notable names lit up the night as the two-hour concert featured special appearances from Houston MC Scarface, who performed The Dynasty gem “This Can’t Be Life” and the Geto Boys’ classic “Mind Playing Tricks on Me,” as well as DJ Khaled and John Legend for the finale, “GOD DID.”
The brightest highlight was Blue Ivy, who stunted on the Jumbotron with her prowess on the piano. The Carters’ teen daughter, who rocked a Rocawear jacket, tickled the ivories for elite renditions of “The Story of O.J.” and “Dead Presidents.” Papa Hov beamed with pride, calling her “the most incredible” and “multi-talented,” before taking in the moment after performing with his little one. “That’s crazy, I know,” he said.
Hiding his Caesar cut under his signature New York Yankees cap and adorned with a glittery stack of gold chains, JAY-Z kept his setlist as tight as his concert attire of bulletproof vests. But the masterful mash-ups and West Coast flavor added some razzle-dazzle. The Ha-Ya notes courtesy of the Clark Sisters on “Family Feud” crescendoed into the opening lines of “U Don’t Know.” Chef’s kiss for that butter-smooth transition from “Dirt Off Your Shoulders” into “I Know,” too. Homage was also paid to the late great Nipsey Hussle when “Hard Knock Life” blended with “Hussle and Motivate” and the Swizz Beatz-produced “On to the Next One” glided into “Last Time that I Checc’d.” For an extra dose of California love, JAY-Z also sprinkled some Eazy-E into “99 Problems.”
Jay-Z, DJ Khaled, and John Legend.
Courtesy of Roc Nation
Despite being on the West Side, Marcy Project’s very own took the crowd on the express train to Brooklyn from start to finish. Homegrown hits like “Where I’m From,” “Heart of the City,” and “Empire State of Mind” touched the souls of every L.A. transplant rocking Yankee apparel or a pair of crispy Timberland boots. New York landmarks flashed on the big screen alongside images of Black excellence, love, ambition, and struggle, including intimate Knowles-Carter family footage, the White Bronco chase, and Mike Tyson videos, among others.
For those expecting Hov to match the tri-state trifecta at Yankee Stadium, the Los Angeles opener was not a replica. Still, Day Ones and casual listeners got a parade of Hovito hits in Inglewood. “We’ve got millions of these,” the headliner said throughout his mostly solo endeavor at the Rams and Chargers’ home. (It should also be stated that the tour tees up a potential Super Bowl halftime show from JAY in 2027 nicely.) Sure, Destiny’s Child, Rihanna, and Kendrick Lamar were spotted at SoFi and could have been easy layups. But the Roc-Boy-in-Charge has never needed help bringing down the house — he just has to rock the mic. And on night one at SoFi, that’s how he won the West over.
SETLIST
“Hovi Baby”
“I Wanna Be Where You Are” (Michael Jackson snippet)
“Izzo (H.O.V.A.)”
“Beach is Better”
“F*ckwitmeuknowigotit”
“Jigga what, Jigga Who”
“Run This Town”
“The Story of O.J.”
“Dead Presidents”
“Hard Knock Life”
“Hussle and Motivate” (Nipsey Hussle snippet)
“Lucifer”
“Feeling Good” (Nina Simone snippet)
“No Church in the Wild”
“Can I Live”
“Family Feud”
“U Don’t Know”
“On To the Next One”
“Last Time That I Checc’d” (Nipsey Hussle snippet)
“Clique”
“Dirt Off Your Shoulders”
“I Know”
“This Can’t Be Life” featuring Scarface
“Mind Playing Tricks on Me” (Geto Boys)
“Song Cry”
“99 Problems”
“Girls Girls Girls”
“‘03 Bonnie & Clyde”
“Excuse Me Miss”
“La-La-La”
“I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)”
“Jigga”
“Where I’m From”
“Empire State of Mind”
“N-ggas in Paris” x “Big pimpin
“Encore”
Encore: “God Did”