Photo: Shirlaine Forrest/WENN
No stranger to the live arena, Jigga’s kept himself busy over the last couple of years, buddying up with Kanye West for their Watch the Throne tour and sharing the limelight with Justin Timberlake on their Legends of the Summer jaunt.
And he’s not alone here, super-producer Timbaland lays down tracks and plays hype man for the night, filling a couple of interludes along the way from his spot on the monolithic – and somewhat theatrical – stage set.
Not that the hype needs amplifying. As the opening bars of ‘Holy Grail’ detonate from the stage, the crowd greet the presence Jay Z with deafening rapture.
But despite the hero’s welcome, there’s a noticeable hesitancy. This doesn’t feel like the same Jay Z - it feels like there’s a score to settle after the mixed response to Magna Carta Holy Grail. And this is a big stage, at times it’s unclear if he can fill it.
Early Magna Carta spots are just the pace setters though, and the likes of 'Crown' and 'Oceans' do help to put the swagger back in the stride.
A relatively early '99 Problems' practically buckles the arena ceiling, while 'Empire State of Mind' straight afterwards blows it clean off. It’s one of the most guaranteed feel-good, sing-along moments from the past couple of years - and it’s terrific. It surely can’t get much better than this?
And then, it does. The enigmatic, relaxed persona has returned and it’s here where Jay Z is at his best. He offers up pure hip hop hits with 'Clique' and 'Big Pimpin’' before launching into a closing medley that shoots the atmosphere into the sky.
'Niggas in Paris' is feral and frenzied while 'Izzo', 'Dirt off Your Shoulder' and 'Jigga What' brim with this inimitable performer’s buoyant attitude.
Requesting a lighters aloft finish for closer 'Young Forever', it’s a dazzling end, proving that the court is in good hands while Jigga holds the throne.
Jay Z played:
1. Holy Grail
2. Crown
3. Fuckwithmeyouknowigotit
4. Beach Is Better
5. Oceans
6. Somewhere in America
7. U Don't Know
8. 99 Problems
9. Where I'm From
10. Empire State of Mind
11. Run This Town
12. Dead Presidents II
13. Big Pimpin'
14. Clique
15. Pound Cake (Drake cover)
16. Who Gon Stop Me (Jay-Z & Kanye West cover)
17. Big Pimpin'
18. Picasso Baby
19. Public Service Announcement
20. No Church in the Wild (Jay-Z & Kanye West cover)
21. Niggas in Paris (Jay-Z & Kanye West cover)
22. Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)
23. Dirt Off Your Shoulder
24. I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)
25. Tom Ford
26. Encore
27. Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
28. Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
29. Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
30. Young Forever
Below: Jay Z live at Manchester's Phones4u Arena
