S. Samuel
Rap mogul Jay-Z may be one of Forbes' biggest hip-hop money-makers, however, the New York native showed he is not too big for public transportation by taking the subway to his final Barclays Center concert.
Photos and reports of Jay’s one-stop weekend ride to Brooklyn hit the Internet early Monday (October 8).
R you going my way? Rapper Jay-Z had subway riders gawking in New York on Saturday as he took the R train from Manhattan to Brooklyn for the last of eight shows at the new Barclays Center. If the stadium takes off, it deserves to be known as the House that H.O.V.A. built. The Brooklyn born-and-bred hip-hop prince arrived for his concert via public transportation escorted by police and other security personnel, and waiting fans swooned for the man who has become the public face for the new home of the Nets, even though he owns only one-fifteenth of one percent of the team. (The Daily Beast)
According to reports, Young Hov hopped on the train from lower Manhattan.
The move had many New Yorkers startled by the sight of the rap mogul standing on the subway platform at Canal Street, riding to the Atlantic Avenue/Barclays Center stop–yes, the subway stop even has a new name, partly thanks to his efforts. While Jay-Z owns just 0.067 percent of the Nets and less than 0.2 percent of the Barclays Center, he has put his stamp on the new space more than any other figure–and probably more than any musician has ever connected himself to an arena. (Atlanta Black Star)
Reports also claim Jigga did not have to drop a dime to board the subway train.
The Bed-Stuy-born star surprised city straphangers Saturday when he walked into the Canal Street station at around 6 p.m. Escorted by plainclothes police officers and his own security, Hova didn’t seem to pay for the ride and attracted a loud band of followers that made him look like the Pied Piper, a source who followed Jay-Z told the Daily News. On the platform, the rapper waited for one train to pass before getting onto the Brooklyn-bound R. (New York Daily News)
Following his ride, Jay gave Barclays Center concertgoers a night to remember when his wife Beyoncé Knowles-Carter joined him on stage.
Jay-Z probably regretted inviting his wife onstage when he missed his cue to join in with their duet as he ogled her enviable curves at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn on Saturday. Dressed all in black, the mum-of-one teamed her skin-tight leather trousers with a matching biker jacket as she worked the stage alongside her hubby, who swigged from a champagne bottle as Bey belted out her hit Crazy In Love. The rapper was caught off-guard as he watched his sexy lady strut her stuff on the monitors backstage. (Metro)
Check out the NYC transit footage below:
