The rap and hip hop powerhouse Jay-Z’s BluePrint 3 Tour breezed into the United Center on March 18.
The rap and hip hop powerhouse Jay-Z’s BluePrint 3 Tour breezed into the United Center on March 18. As music sales continue to plummet, the third installment of his BluePrint album series debuted at No. 1 on music charts. He arrived on stage Thursday decked in all-black to cheers and the music of his Grammy-winning Run This Town. The crowd proved to be a formidable stand-in for singer Rhianna as it sang the song’s chorus. This energy moved right into the progressive On To The Next One where Jay-Z hints about his future – “I don’t do drops/I drop the label,” he rapped. Rapper Memphis Bleek hyped the crowd as Jay-Z performed 99 Problems and Heart of the City. He used flashing digital backdrops to emphasize his tales. A nod to Chicago came when Jay-Z played a video of President Barack Obama brushing his shoulders off as the concert segued into Dirt Off Your Shouders. Rapper Young Jeezy joined Jay-Z to perform As Real As It Gets and stayed for a 20-minute set that included his gritty street tales Go Getta, Put On, and Soul Survivor. During his 14-year career, Jay-Z has worn many hats, including creating the successful RocaWear clothing line, a S. Carter sneaker line for Reebok, and becoming President/CEO of two major record labels, Def Jam and RocaFella Records. He took the opportunity onstage to not only amp and entertain his fans, but also to thank them for their loyalty. The appreciative Thank You was a shout out to fans: “I’m not jaded…I thank y’all.” The show went into what Jay-Z described as “overtime.” He performed hits from his previous albums, Reasonable Doubt and Hard Knock Life…Vol. 2. The rapper smiled as the audience recited the words to Dead Presidents and Hard Knock Life. Song Cry fulfilled a request made by an audience member. He ended the show with Encore. As the audience began to leave the arena, the strains of Jay-Z’s music could be heard coming from passing automobiles. Proof that his musical impression outlasts a packed arena.