JAY-Z Returns to the Stage, Pays Tribute to Chester Bennington at V Festival [VIDEO]
It’s been three years since JAY-Z has rock the mic in front of a live audience. But the Roc Nation mogul made a vanglorious return to the stage with headlining performance at the 2017 V Festival in England on Saturday (Aug. 19).
Backed by a 40-foot-tall, metallic Jeff Koons inflatable dog, Hov performed songs off his stellar 13th studio album 4:44 for the first time, including “The Story of O.J.” and "Family Feud" and "Smile." In addition, JAY went down memory lane and performed fan-favorites like “Empire State of Mind,” and “Lucifer.”
But the highlight of the show was JAY-Z's tribute to late Linkin Park member Chester Bennington, who committed suicide in July at the age of 41. JAY performed "Encore/Numb" from their 2004 collaborative EP, Collision Course.
JAY-Z is scheduled to perform at V Festival tonight (Aug. 20). Next month, JAY-Z is set to headline Philadelphia’s Made In America Festival and New York’s Meadows Music and Arts Festival, respectively, and the Austin City Limits Festival in October.
On Oct. 27, JAY-Z will kick off his "4:44 Tour" in Anaheim, Calif. The tour wraps up in Los Angeles on Dec. 21.
Check out JAY-Z's tribute to Chester Bennington above.