Relive Jay-Z's epic Yankee Stadium show celebrating 25 years of The Blueprint, with special guests Slick Rick and Eminem.
- July 12, 2026
AceShowbiz - Jay-Z delivered a memorable performance during the second night of his three-show residency at Yankee Stadium, honoring the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking album, The Blueprint.
The Brooklyn rapper opened the evening with “The Ruler’s Back,” setting the tone for a night dedicated entirely to this classic album. Early on, he brought out Slick Rick to join him for renditions of “La Di Da Di” and “Children’s Story,” helping to build momentum for a show closely following the original tracklist crafted with Kanye West, Bink, and Just Blaze in 2001.
Next, Eminem took the stage to perform “Renegade,” the album’s only featured collaboration, a track that has sparked debate ever since Nas challenged it with his 2001 diss track “Ether.” Eminem then wowed the audience with a performance of his hit “Lose Yourself.”
Following Eminem’s set, Jay-Z continued with iconic Blueprint songs including “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” “Song Cry,” and “Takeover,” faithfully moving through the album’s sequence.
Later in the show, Pharrell Williams appeared to perform several of his hits, including “Excuse Me Miss,” “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me),” “Frontin’,” and “Allure,” giving the crowd a series of fan favorites.
The evening wrapped with Jay-Z closing out on a high note with performances of “Empire State of Mind,” “N##### in Paris,” “Public Service Announcement,” and “Encore.” He also took a moment to reflect on the album’s release coinciding with the events of September 11, 2001, sharing how close he came to shelving the project due to the city’s tragic circumstances at that time.
This second night reportedly drew the most demand among the three shows, largely due to the star-studded guest appearances and the significance of the “Renegade” performance. Fans who attended the first night, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt with appearances by Beyoncé, Nas, and Blue Ivy, experienced a different but equally powerful show focused on a more stripped-down, Blueprint-centered set.
The final concert of the New York run, dubbed “Extra Innings,” is scheduled for Sunday, after which the celebration will move internationally. Upcoming dates include performances at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on September 4, Stade de France in Paris on September 10, and SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on October 23, continuing the global tribute to Jay-Z's influential work.
This article is based on reporting originally published by AllHipHop.