Jay-Z has marked 30 years in music with a return to the London stage, performing his biggest hits during a two-night run at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The 56-year-old rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, performed on September 4 and 5 as part of his JAY-Z30 anniversary tour, marking his first solo UK shows in nearly a decade.

The concerts celebrate 30 years since the release of his debut album Reasonable Doubt and 25 years since The Blueprint, two projects that helped define his career.

His London return began with a series of high-profile appearances, including actor Idris Elba, British rapper Giggs and members of the Fugees, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean.

Hill and Jean reunited on stage to perform several Fugees classics, including “Ready or Not” and “Killing Me Softly”, while Jay-Z recalled the group’s role in his early career.

He also performed “Talkin’ Da Hardest” with Giggs, while DJ Khaled was among the other notable appearances during the show.

One of the night’s personal moments came when Jay-Z led the stadium audience in singing “Happy Birthday” to his wife, Beyoncé, who turned 45 on September 4.

Beyoncé watched from the stands as the crowd sang along, with fireworks lighting up the stadium during the celebration.

Jay-Z’s set also featured several of his best-known songs, including “99 Problems”, “Empire State of Mind”, “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” and “No Church in the Wild”.

For the second London show, Jay-Z relied more heavily on his catalogue, with British singer Sampha and rapper Dave joining him on stage.

Sampha performed “No Church in the Wild”, while Dave delivered “Raindance”, with Jay-Z describing the London rapper as a “young legend”.

The concerts followed Jay-Z’s three-night run at Yankee Stadium in New York in July, where he celebrated his musical legacy with appearances from artists including Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Usher, Eminem, Nas, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna and Slick Rick.

Jay-Z’s relationship with the UK dates back decades. He first visited London in 1989 with his mentor Jaz-O and later performed at Notting Hill Carnival in 1997.

He returned to the UK stage in 2008 to headline Glastonbury Festival and last performed in the country with Beyoncé during their 2018 On the Run II tour.

The JAY-Z30 tour continues the rapper’s celebration of a career spanning three decades and a catalogue that has remained influential across hip-hop and popular culture. (Arise News)