Jay-Z performs in hometown of New York to celebrate 30 years in music
Jay-Z is performing three highly anticipated hometown shows in New York to celebrate 30 years in music as fans pack Yankee Stadium.
- A new eight-part HBO documentary series titled “Jaÿ-Z in 8” explores the rapper’s life and career.
- The docuseries, directed by Rick Rubin, features an intimate interview with the music icon.
- Jay-Z is also performing a concert series to celebrate the anniversaries of his albums “Reasonable Doubt” and “The Blueprint.”
- His recent shows have featured surprise appearances from Beyoncé, Rihanna, Eminem, and other stars.
Jay-Z will give fans a deeper view behind the scenes in an all-new HBO documentary series exploring his life, career and musical journey. The official trailer is out now.
The trailer for the upcoming HBO docuseries “Jay-Z in 8” was released Aug. 25, offering fans a first look at the eight-part series, which sees the rapper sit down with longtime friend, producer and director Rick Rubin to reflect on his storied career, music and life.
The eight-part series features an intimate and candid sit-down with Rubin and the rap titan, husband to Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Jay-Z discusses his music, lyrics, life experiences and creative process. The first two episodes of the series will premiere on HBO Max on Sept. 18.
In the trailer, the Grammy-winning rapper, who recently adopted the stylized name JAŸ-Z in a nod to his 1996 debut album “Reasonable Doubt,” said he was around 9 years old when “I caught the bug of being obsessed. I would write everyday.”
The trailer notes that the series will feature songs from “Reasonable Doubt” (1996), “The Black Album” (2003), “The Dynasty: Roc La Familia” (2000), “American Gangster” (2007), “Watch the Throne” (2011), “The Blueprint” (2001), “Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter” (1999), and “4:44” (2017).
The rapper added that “the reason why rap is so loved” is “that feeling of that underdog,” which speaks to how people are really living.
“That’s why it hit them somewhere,” he added.
The new release comes as Jay-Z is making a major comeback to the stage for a concert series commemorating the 30th anniversary of his debut album, “Reasonable Doubt,” released June 25, 1996. The series also celebrates the 25th anniversary of his sixth studio album, “The Blueprint,” released Sept. 11, 2001.
The “I Know” rapper delivered three massive shows at Yankee Stadium in his hometown of New York City on July 10, July 11 and July 12. The shows featured a star-studded lineup of surprise guests including his wife Beyoncé, daughter Blue Ivy Carter, Rihanna, Swizz Beatz, Usher, Eminem, Fat Joe, Pharrell Williams, Slick Rick, Jeezy, Teyana Taylor, Clipse, The Dream, Jadakiss, Jermaine Dupri and others.
He is set to take the stage at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Oct. 23 and 24.
Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network’s Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.