Jay-Z, MC, walking brand, and one-half of America’s First Couple, will play the American Airlines Center on Nov. 7 as part of his 4:44 world tour, promoters announced today. No word yet on an opener, although Dallas fans can start praying for a surprise appearance from wife and sometimes artistic collaborator Beyonce, a native Texan.
Tidal subscribers can already get tickets via the rapper’s high-fidelity, low-popularity music streaming service, while Citi credit card holders get the next presale dibs starting at 11 a.m. today. Jay-Z, whose corporate branding tie-ins are manifold, would also like you to become a customer of Sprint, which makes it easier for you to access Jay-Z content on Tidal. You’ll recall that he’s a business, man, not a businessman. The rest of us can buy tickets at 10 a.m. Friday via Live Nation.
Jay-Z’s latest album, 4:44, has been hailed as a late-career gem for the rapper, who in hip-hop terms is practically ancient at 47. It’s also generated chatter as an apparent response to Beyonce’s Lemonade, last year’s breakup-and-reconciliation album with Shawn Carter cast as the adulterer, and for its not-so-veiled digs at former partner Kanye West. Tabloid drama and meticulously controlled media narratives aside, Jay-Z’s music is as ruthless and regal as it’s ever been, and this remains the guy responsible for Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint. All good reasons to look forward to this show.
