Jay-Z Opens Three-Night Yankee Stadium Run With Surprise Guests

Jay-Z opened the first of three nights at Yankee Stadium on Friday with a show billed around his landmark 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt. He performed with a live band and brought out a string of surprise guests that kept the crowd off balance throughout the night.

According to Billboard, Beyoncé joined him to sing the hook on "Can't Knock the Hustle," and the couple's eldest daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, took to the piano for a rendition of "Feelin' It." The family appearance came early in the show before Jay shifted into a more combative mode.

He delivered a freestyle aimed at critics of his recent Target deal, then leaned back into nostalgia. He brought out Memphis Bleek for "Coming of Age" and Jaz-O for "Bring It On," two collaborators from deep in his catalog. Both were figures from the Reasonable Doubt era, and their appearances fit the night's theme.

The biggest surprise came when former rival Nas walked out. The two performed a mash-up of "Dead Presidents" and "New York State of Mind," a pairing that would have seemed unthinkable during their well-documented feud in the early 2000s. Alicia Keys then closed out one of the night's final moments with "Empire State of Mind," their Billboard Hot 100 number one hit.

The crowd included LeBron James, Megan Thee Stallion, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, DJ Khaled, Swizz Beatz, and New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby, among others.

The full setlist ran through much of the Reasonable Doubt album, including "Politics As Usual," "D'evils," "Can I Live," "22 Two's," "Friend or Foe," "Regrets," and "Cashmere Thoughts." The show closed with a medley that pulled from across his career, including "N---as in Paris" and "Big Pimpin."

Two more nights at Yankee Stadium remain. No details on themes or guests for those shows have been announced.