You ever feel like you’re just part of a moment? Not in the pretentiously philosophical way, but in the sense that you’re witnessing history as its happening?
Thats how everyone at Terminal 5 felt thanks to Jay Z.
Last night (May 16), only the purest of hip-hop heads were treated to a two hour show at New York City’s Terminal 5 put on by Jay Z and Roc Nation. Tidal X: Jaÿ-Z B-Sides was to promote Jay’s recently launched and much debated music streaming service. Advertised as only “the deep cuts,” B-Sides was meant to cater to the true Jay Z fan who was with the Brooklyn boy back when he was slinging rock in ’96.
The energy was electric. Despite the rainy humidity of the outside world, once inside, wet shoes be damned, everyone just vibed. All three floors of Terminal 5 were packed wall to wall and yet not a single fight or scuffle broke out. This rare occurrence of instant crowd camaraderie was because everyone knew they were about to be a part of something special. Whether you won your tickets by submitting a playlist on Tidal or bought your way in, everyone in the spot knew they pulled the right finesse to be a part of the moment.
As promised, HOV delivered a set full of decade-spanning B-side cuts to appease his audience of diehards. Strolling on stage promptly at 9 p.m., he was welcomed by burning blunts and chants of “HO-VA” almost instantly. Jay started off strong with “Intro” from 2000′s The Dynasty: Roc La Familia and the front row rapped every word right along with him.
After taking to Twitter a few weeks ago to defend Tidal, Jay also took this opportunity to deliver a one-two punch to his business critics in the form of a monologue and brand new freestyle.
“Don’t go with the flow, be the flow,” HOVA said to cheers. Going on to reference the early pioneering moments in his career, he explained, “When The Source was the number one magazine out here…I was the first one on the cover of XXL.”
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