Jay-Z and Alicia Keys reunited for his or her first efficiency of “Empire State of Thoughts” since 2016, and Lil Mama was nowhere in sight. Hov and Keys took the stage for his or her Huge Apple anthem — which turns 15 later this 12 months — on Sunday night time (June 16) of their hometown on the 2024 Tony Awards inside Lincoln Heart’s David H. Koch Theater.
Keys kicked off the efficiency in a Gucci jacket and matching bottoms on the piano whereas turning the monitor right into a extra slow-paced, soulful ballad. She was joined on stage for a duet by Hell’s Kitchen — a musical loosely based mostly on Keys’ life — actress Maleah Joi Moon. (The musical took dwelling two awards.)
The “No One” singer then walked into the gang, which, by this level was standing, and teased, “I needed to do one thing loopy — it’s my hometown.” Hov’s visitor look drew a pop from the viewers and turned the noise up just a few ranges. Singer-actress Nicole Scherzinger seemed shocked and speechless by Jay-Z’s cameo when the digicam panned to her.
Jay took it again to the early days of his Corridor of Fame profession with a classic NYC outfit geared up with a Black do-rag, a leather-based jacket over his white tee and dishevelled denim denims to go together with the signature brown Timberland boots.
“Yeah, Brooklyn [and] New York Metropolis on the Tonys tonight,” Jay mentioned to place a bow on the efficiency.
“Empire State of Thoughts” arrived in 2009 as a single main into Jigga’s The Blueprint 3 album. The NYC anthem is inching nearer to diamond standing because it sits at 9x-platinum. “Empire” additionally topped the Billboard Sizzling 100 for 5 weeks that 12 months.
It’s been a busy final week for Jay-Z with regards to his return to the stage. He additionally carried out “Public Service Announcement (Interlude)” to open up Tom Brady’s Patriots Corridor of Fame induction at Gillette Stadium days earlier on June 12.
Watch the efficiency beneath.
