Jay-Z performed for more than two hours at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday in his first UK headline solo show in more than a decade. The performance featured surprise appearances from Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and British rapper Giggs alongside hits including 99 Problems, Empire State of Mind and Dead Presidents.
The London show is the first of two performances this weekend as part of Jay-Z's 30 tour, marking the 30th anniversary of his debut album Reasonable Doubt. British actor Idris Elba opened the show by performing the intro track from Jay-Z's 2007 album American Gangster.
Beyoncé, Jay-Z's wife, attended the show from a private box while celebrating her 45th birthday. Jay-Z acknowledged the occasion by asking the crowd to sing Happy Birthday to her as sparkler-like fireworks erupted in the stadium. He joked that he could not make her perform on her birthday.
Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, from the 90s hip-hop collective Fugees, reunited to perform Ready or Not, Killing Me Softly With His Song and Fu-Gee-La. Jay-Z recalled supporting them on their European tour. Giggs performed Talkin Da Hardest alongside Jay-Z, while US DJ Khaled appeared briefly during a stage change.
Jay-Z closed the show with Public Service Announcement (Interlude) and Numb/Encore. He thanked fans who had been with him from the beginning, saying "music saved my life," and hailed the performance a "legendary night" he would "never forget." Thousands in the crowd held up his signature diamond hand gesture in response.
