Memphis Bleek Says Jay-Z 'Wasn't Talking to Nobody' During Concert Delay

Memphis Bleek recently shared what went on behind the scenes during the chaotic delay at the third and final night of the Jay-Z concert series at Yankee Stadium. On July 12, large crowds without tickets stormed the security checkpoints at the venue. This incident forced officials to lock down all entry gates for several hours to maintain the safety of ticketholders already inside.

Bleek described his friend as a stone-faced figure backstage while the security team and local law enforcement managed the crowd control situation. Jay-Z remained focused on the safety concerns caused by the thousands of people stuck outside. According to Bleek, the legendary rapper stayed silent throughout the standoff, relying on his DJ and engineer Young Guru to relay messages and maintain calm among the crew.

The concert, which was meant to start at 8 P.M., did not open its doors until 10 P.M. Jay-Z eventually took the stage at 12:20 A.M. to a crowd that had waited over four hours. He addressed the situation directly, noting that he held back the start of the music to prevent a stampede among the 10,000 fans still gathered outside the gates. Once the performance began, the show continued into the early hours, concluding with fireworks around 2:45 A.M.

Roc Nation issued a joint statement with the New York Yankees and Live Nation to confirm that the security breach was caused by large groups storming the gates. The statement credited the NYPD and stadium security for their direction in reopening the gates cautiously once the threat had passed. Despite the delay, the show featured appearances from Beyoncé, Rihanna, Usher, and other notable guests as the final celebration of the landmark album anniversaries.