Jay-Z and Kanye West are bona fide superstars in their own
right, both capable, with a flurry of their own enormo-hits, to headline arenas
like this on their own, night after night; but in celebration of their Watch
The Throne album, their hugely 2011 successful collaboration, tonight is the
closing night of their world tour, which sees them strut the boards together,
in a marriage of two of the biggest stars in the rap game.
They are unstoppable. Tonight is no exception, a 120 minute plus
showcase proving just why they are the icons they are and also why together,
they are the perfect fit. They are, without doubt, the best in the world at
what they do.
Tonight is not only a celebration of the music they have
expertly crafted, but large portions of the set are also dedicated to their own
(extensive) back catalogue; couple that with the fact that this is the end of
an extensive tour, there is a big night feel about this evening, confirmed even
moreso by the appearance of the other halves of both rappers, Kim Kardashian
and Beyonce, taking their seats in the arena to see their respective beaus in
action.
With no support in tow, by the time they take to the stage,
the anticipation is palpable. The packed out arena is close to boiling point,
particularly in the far reaches of the seated area, which is clearly struggling
to contain the excitement of the thousands in attendance; either that, or there
is seriously an issue with the air conditioning unit, which will cause mayhem
as the evening progresses – with a centred plinth on the arena floor for Jay-Z
and Kanye to get in the middle closer to the fans, the security really struggle
with a no exit policy at times, which causes real anger amongst the punters,
particularly when the temperature goes up a notch.
The opening exchange between Hova and Yeezy sees Kanye up
front, while Jay-Z tackles the centre stage, both stages rising high above the
audience as the boys trade lyrics blow for blow, and send the crowd into a veritable
frenzy. The setlist is a “greatest hits” of modern day rap music, with Watch
The Throne material airing early, the likes of H.A.M, Who Gon’ Stop Me, Otis
and Welcome To The Jungle really getting the crowd going.
Hova takes the first solo segment, breaking out a massive
Jigga What, Jigga Who, but it is ‘Ye who has the first extended section,
cracking out the likes of Flashing Lights, Jesus Walks and a pulsating Diamonds
From Sierra Leone. An enormous Public Service Announcement from Jay-Z is
venomous, and a powerhouse Run This Town once more outlines the duo’s credentials.
It is high energy, backed up by some of the greatest rap songs ever written.
The crowd laps up every moment.
Kanye and Jay team up for a blistering run through of
Monster, still possessing arguably the greatest lyric every written in “. . .
have you ever had sex with a pharaoh, I put the pussy in a sarcophagus, now she
claiming that I bruise her oesophagus”, with Jay following on shortly
thereafter with massive versions of Izzo (H.O.V.A) and Empire State of Mind,
prompting one of the loudest crowd sing alongs of the entire evening.
As Kanye returns to the centre stage for a further section
that includes a brilliant and fascinating extended version of Runaway,
Heartless and Stronger, you see his genius at work, as he stalks the stage like
a predator, ensuring that you simply cannot take your eyes off him. They are
simply brilliant, whether alone or together, highlights coming left right and
centre, and although the temperature continues to increase in the far regions
of the cavernous LG Arena, the sweat is just the price we all have to pay. This
is a showing of sheer class, which epitomizes everything these two rappers are
about, and proves once again their irrepressible genius.
Big Pimpin’ is gangsta as hell; Touch The Sky is as life
affirming as usual; but the real jewel in the crown is the enormous All Of The
Lights, which sees Kanye hit top gear and soar into the stratosphere – Gold
Digger is no less exciting, the entire arena refusing to stand still and
obliging in getting down. The mega powers close things off in unison, with a
send off of ‘Throne shit’ following on from a scintillating 99 Problems.
Aone-two of the No Church In The Wild and Lift Off, sets the tone, and leads in
to one of the most incredible closers in living memory.
Niggas in Paris is a tune . . . a massive tune; and all tour
they have played this beast of a song twice, and then returned for two more
renditions as their encore, working the crowd into a sweaty frenzy, before
exiting. However, on this night, as it is the final night of the tour, the song
gets an airing five times, each time bringing the house down more emphatically than
the last. It is a sight to behold. Diamonds get thrown left right and centre,
circle pits, walls of death and everything else in between kick off, and as
they exit the stage, it is clear that all in attendance have just witnessed something
very fucking special indeed.
This ain’t no Slayer show – it’s just one, if not, the, tour
of the year, and it just ripped the LG Arena a new one here tonight.
Unforgettable.
Setlist - Throne Music / H•A•M / Who Gon Stop Me / Otis / Welcome to the Jungle / Gotta Have It / Where I'm From / Jigga What, Jigga Who (Originator '99) / Can't Tell Me Nothing / Flashing Lights / Jesus Walks / Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix) / Public Service Announcement / U Don't Know / Run This Town / Monster / Power / New Day / Hard Knock Life (The Ghetto Anthem) / Izzo (H.O.V.A.) / Empire State of Mind / Runaway / Heartless / Stronger / On to the Next One / Dirt Off Your Shoulder / I Just Wanna Love U / That’s My Bitch / Good Life / Touch the Sky / All of the Lights / Big Pimpin' / Gold Digger / 99 Problems / No Church in the Wild / Lift Off / Niggas in Paris / Niggas in Paris / Encore: Niggas in Paris / Niggas in Paris / Niggas in Paris
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