Jay-Z's Greatest Concert Moments

A look back at Jay-Z's greatest concert moments.

Jay Z – "Meet the Parents" - Jay Z rhymed about a deadbeat father named "Mike" who murders his son. After being absent all of the kid's life, he didn't even recognize that it was his own blood flooding the streets.(Photo: Scott Harrison/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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It's a Hard Knock Life - The year was 1999, and Hov was just beginning his journey to becoming one of the greatest rappers of all time on the Hard Knock Life Tour. (Photo: Scott Harrison/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

His Mic Sounds Nice - Jay-Z decided to hit the road with 50 Cent for the 2003 "Rock the Mic" Tour. Aside from 50 being on this tour, it also included rap heavyweights Missy Elliott, Fabolous, Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg!(Photo: Jason Squires/WireImage)

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His Mic Sounds Nice - Jay-Z decided to hit the road with 50 Cent for the 2003 "Rock the Mic" Tour. Aside from 50 being on this tour, it also included rap heavyweights Missy Elliott, Fabolous, Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg!(Photo: Jason Squires/WireImage)

R. Kelly Freaks Out - What should've been one of Jay-Z's most triumphant onstage moments — he and R. Kelly joining forces at Madison Square Garden for their Best of Both Worlds Tour in 2004 — became one of the most bizarre when Kelly stormed off mid-set, claiming audience-members were waving guns. Right after, Kelly got into an altercation with members of Hov's crew backstage and ended up getting pepper sprayed. Needless to say, the tour collapsed, leaving a trail of lawsuits and salty interviews in its wake. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

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It Was the Best of Times - Although the "Best Of Both Worlds" Tour traveled a rocky road, Jay-Z held down the fort until the bitter end. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

On a Collision Course With Linkin Park - First Aerosmith and Run DMC brought rock and rap together, then Jay-Z and Linkin Park married the two genres on their album Collision Couse. They're pictured here performing hits from that record at the "Music For Relief: Rebuilding South Asia" benefit concert in 2005. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Reuters)

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On a Collision Course With Linkin Park - First Aerosmith and Run DMC brought rock and rap together, then Jay-Z and Linkin Park married the two genres on their album Collision Couse. They're pictured here performing hits from that record at the "Music For Relief: Rebuilding South Asia" benefit concert in 2005. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Reuters)

Without a Doubt - For the 10-year anniversary of the release of Reasonable Doubt, Jay-Z had a special concert at NYC's Radio City Music Hall. It definitely showed anyone that ever doubted him that he is here to stay!  (Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images For Universal Music)

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Without a Doubt - For the 10-year anniversary of the release of Reasonable Doubt, Jay-Z had a special concert at NYC's Radio City Music Hall. It definitely showed anyone that ever doubted him that he is here to stay!  (Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images For Universal Music)

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"Crown" - Hova, meet Yeezus. The distorted bass hits, filtered dancehall sample, creeping cellos and Bon Iver–inspired vocal layers of "Crown" undeniably recall Kanye West's latest — and indeed, Yeezus collaborators Travis Scott and Mike Dean helped produce it. But this song never reaches the delirious heights of madness that make that album so compelling. Like on much of Magna Carta, Jay plays it too safe: His diss to a new rival, sports super-agent Scott Boras, is the edgiest his rhymes get here.  (Photo: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Jay-Z's Five-City Tour - Jay-Z hit L.A., Philly, Baltimore, Chicago and NYC for his "American Gangster" Tour. Yeah, the tour was only five cities, but like all successful people know, sometimes less is more. (Photo: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

2009 – Jay Z - Hov made a triumphant return in 2009 as he elevated from King to God-like status with 2009's The Blueprint 3. Jigga ran the town and had all of his subjects in an "Empire State of Mind" while he killed the auto-tune crutch. In the process, he and Jeter both added another championship feather in the Yankee fitteds.(Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

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Never Forget - On the eighth anniversary of September 11, 2001, Jay-Z headlined the "Answer The Call" benefit concert at MSG. The show raised money to help the widows and children of the fallen first responders. The lesson here: there is no shame in humility or lending a helping hand whenever you can. (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

"Heaven" - Score one for kooky YouTube commenters: "Heaven" is Hov's response to the bizarre but relentless conspiracy theories that he's a member of the Illuminati, the supposedly world-running secret society. But in the end, this song is all about Jay touting atheism, a rare stance for a pop culture icon this big. And somehow, while claiming he's "losing his religion" ala R.E.M., he still manages to floss: "Y'all religion creates division / Like my Maybach partition," he raps. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

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Run This Town - The "Blueprint 3" Tour was nothing but back-to-back hits, including "On to the Next One," "Young Forever," "Run This Town," and more.  Oh, and please believe that the tour was nothing short of a hit either!(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Jay-Z and Eminem Take Over Yankee Stadium  - Resurrecting the magic from their 2001 duet "Renegade," Jay-Z and Eminem conquered the House That Ruth Built in 2010 for their Home & Home mini-tour, which also found them performing at Detroit's Comerica Park. Kanye West, Drake, Rihanna, Swizz Beatz, Dr. Dre, G Unit, Chris Martin from Coldplay and others made guest appearances. (photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

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There's No Place Like Home - The "Home and Home" tour featured Jay-Z and Eminem and was only four shows. Two shows were in Detroit, and two shows in NYC at Yankee Stadium. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but hopefully they'll do it again!(Photo: Kevin Mazur/EM/Getty Images)

The Throne - Jay-Z's and Kanye West's kingly duo is set to rule over the BET Awards with a whopping five nominations: two for Video of the Year (for "Otis" and "Paris"), one for Best Group, one for Best Collaboration (for "Otis"), and one for the Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award (for "Otis").(Photo: Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

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You Are Now Watching The Throne - Last fall Jay-Z and his protege Kanye West embarked on the "Watch The Throne" Tour. There are really no words to describe how amazing the tour was, but best believe that it was hot!Watch 106 & Park on Monday at 6P/5C for your chance to win tickets to see Jigga at Carnegie Hall!(Photo: Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)