Jay-Z Brings Out Blue Ivy, Scarface, DJ Khaled and John Legend to Open Two Nights at SoFi Stadium

Jay-Z opened a two-night stand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Friday with a two-hour, 33-song set and a short list of guests, including his daughter Blue Ivy on keyboards, Billboard and Variety reported.

The shows are part of JAY-Z30, a yearlong celebration of the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, which Roc-A-Fella Records released on June 25, 1996, and of the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint, the Los Angeles Times noted. The run began with a one-off headlining set at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia in late May, followed by three sold-out nights at Yankee Stadium and shows in London and Paris, according to Variety.

Blue Ivy played keys on "The Story of O.J." from 4:44 and "Dead Presidents" from Reasonable Doubt, according to Billboard. Variety noted the change from Yankee Stadium, where she played on "Feelin' It." The Times described Jay-Z beaming as she walked offstage.

Houston rap pioneer Scarface joined Jay-Z for "This Can't Be Life" from The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, then for the Geto Boys classic "Mind Playing Tricks on Me." The two traded compliments before Scarface left, the Times reported: "Jay-Z is a killer," Scarface said, and Jay-Z called him "one of the best writers of any genre."

The night closed with "God Did," the title track from DJ Khaled's album of the same name, with both Khaled and John Legend on stage, Billboard reported. Variety noted the original recording also featured Fridayy, Lil Wayne and Rick Ross. The set opened with "Hovi Baby" and included "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," "Run This Town" and "Empire State of Mind," which Jay-Z introduced by asking the crowd, "Can I take you to my home for a second?" according to Variety.

Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, G-Eazy, Tia Mowry and Omari Hardwick were among those in the audience, according to Billboard. Variety reported that fans spotted Beyoncé with Rowland and Williams in a stadium suite. Beyoncé, who performed with her husband at Yankee Stadium, did not appear on stage Friday, the Times reported.

The guest list was far smaller than in July at Yankee Stadium, where Billboard reported appearances by Beyoncé, Rihanna, Eminem, Alicia Keys and Nas. Variety called the SoFi show "pared-down with purpose." The Times review was more mixed. It called the concert "almost comically overstuffed" and said it "felt a little scattershot," while praising the live band, with its horns and strings, and the stretch of Blueprint songs "Never Change" and "Song Cry," which it called the emotional peak of the night. Jay-Z performed parts of three dozen songs, a fraction of the 152 entries he has placed on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart since 1996, the Times reported.

In September, he released JAY-Z in 8, a docuseries made with producer Rick Rubin, on HBO Max. His most recent solo album, 4:44, came out in 2017, the Times noted.

The Los Angeles shows came amid online speculation that Jay-Z would headline the Super Bowl LXI halftime show, which will be played at SoFi Stadium in February. As of Saturday afternoon, the speculation remained unconfirmed, Billboard reported. The Times noted that booking the halftime show falls under his company, Roc Nation, and wrote that he is expected to announce he will headline. Variety called Friday's concert hard not to see as "a test run." A halftime appearance would be his first on the Super Bowl stage, Billboard reported.

Not yet known: who joined him for Saturday's second and final SoFi show, and when the NFL will announce its halftime headliner.