Jay-Z is making a long-awaited return to the stage.
In an announcement on Tuesday (March 17), HOV will hit the stage for the first time since 2018, along with The Roots. The show will be held at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia
Shawn Gee, Roots manager and Live Nation Urban president, described JAY-Z’s upcoming performance as a “bucket-list moment” for the team.
“After meeting with Mayor Cherelle Parker and hearing her vision for Philadelphia 250, she truly inspired us to dream even bigger. ‘And we’re grateful to her, Commissioner Susan Slawson, Jazelle Jones and everyone who helped make it happen,” Gee’s statement read. “We can’t wait to see everyone in May at the Plat.”
JAY-Z’s last live performance was with his wife Beyoncé at the final “Cowboy Carter” international tour date in Paris back in June 2025. During the performance, HOV performed “Crazy in Love,” “N—s in Paris,” and “Drunk in Love.”
JAY-Z HAS STRONG TIES TO PHILLY
Throughout his career, JAY-Z has had strong ties to Philly. He also founded the Made in America Festival, a two-day music festival that was held on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway every Labor Day between 2012 and 2022, except for 2020, in which it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although his last album, 4:44, was released in 2017, rumors have been spreading about interviews with the Alchemist, Memphis Bleek, and Cash Cobain.
Recently, JAY-Z has been celebrating the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt. Released in 1996, the LP features tracks “Dead Presidents II” to the untouchable chemistry with Biggie Smalls on “Brooklyn’s Finest.
Presale tickets for the two-day Roots Picnic festival, taking place on May 30-31, are available now. General on-sale starts on March 18 at 10 a.m. ET. Details on the rest of the lineup are expected to be announced this week.