Jay Z thrills UAE fans with brilliant set

When Jay Z, real name Shawn Carter, announced his retirement as a recording artist 10 years ago, it made perfect sense.
He was on an admirable winning streak with his previous trio of records - including the 2001 modern hip-hop classic The Blueprint - garnering something that is rare for hip-hop: critical acclaim and rave reviews.
With a 2003 farewell concert in New York City featuring the cream of hip-hop, Jay Z was perfectly placed to sail into the musical sunset and focus on buying a basketball team or two.
While fans rejoiced at his return three years later, even the most hardcore would admit the solo material released since is not up to scratch.
While Jay Z's swagger and ear for innovative beats hasn't failed him, plush success removed the sting and hunger of Jay Z's earlier albums.
His latest release, Magna Carta Holy Grail was symptomatic of this. It contained the best beats money can buy but Jay Z also seemed lazy and disinterested, casting a been-there done-that feel over the recording.
Where does one go when success pins you into a fluffy corner? For Jay Z, the answer is back to basics.
His Abu Dhabi performance last night was part of his first solo world tour in over three years.
With the exception of the strobe lights and LED screens, Jay Z's stage presence was deliberately stripped down.
Only four musicians - including special guest and music giant in his own right, Timbaland, on the keys and beat machine - stood behind on an elevated stage.
Jay Z, who on previous tours has warmed up the crowd for U2 and vocally jousted with Justin Timberlake and Kanye West, had the floor to himself.
With such a relatively simple set-up the only way Jay Z could engage the large Du Arena field was through pure energy.
This is what the 43-year-old did brilliantly, with a kinetic set that had the crowd on their toes.
Swaggering on stage to the symphonic backdrop of Higher, Jay Z tore into the thumping You Don't Know.
It was a statement of intent. The Blueprint track has no real chorus, just straight out rapping and Jay Z delivered those trademark braggadocio rhymes (I sell ice in the winter, I sell fire in hell/ I am a hustler baby, I'll sell water to a well) with intensity.
The fierceness rose with the mercurial On To The Next One with Jay Z tossing off put downs and boasts before locking in with the band in the career highlight 99 Problems.
A regional flavour was introduced courtesy of his Punjabi MC collaborations Beware of The Boys, its Bhangra hip-hop fusion eliciting mass shaking of hips.
Jay Z's explosive performance then turned literal, as the generator blew out during a souped version of Tom Ford.
After a 10-minute stage black-out Timbaland took the decks and warmed up the crowd once again with a selection of hit productions including Missy Elliot's Get Your Freak On and The Rain.
Jay Z returned to the stage with Dirt Off Your Shoulder and regular service resumed. He rounded off the set with Run This Town, Encore, Izzo and the street anthems Hard Knock Life and Empire State of Mind.
It was a stand-out performance, proving that hip-hop can play an big part in revving up Formula One party-goers.
It also put rest to doubts that success hasn't totally softened Jay Z. The intensity displayed live on stage cements his reputation as being one of the leading MC's in the game.
Now if he can just apply that same live focus to the studio, then everyone wins.
sasaeed@thenational.ae