Jay-Z Said 5 A.M. He Meant It.

Some concerts are shows. Some are reunions. The last night of Jay-Z's three-night stand at Yankee Stadium this July was a cookout with a stage.

He came out late. Real late. Fans were still stuck in lines outside the stadium when he started, and not long into the set he told the ones inside not to worry: we're going to go until like 5 a.m., so don't be scared. That is a man who owns the building for the night and plans to use every minute.

Then the doors started opening. Beyoncé walked out for Drunk in Love and did the whole thing with the extra sauce she saves for New York. Rihanna took the hook on Run This Town and then ran through her own B.B.H.M.M. like she had never left. Usher did the hook on Heart of the City and then sang Throwback. Pharrell. Clipse. Jermaine Dupri. Swizz Beatz. Jeezy. Fat Joe. Jadakiss. The-Dream. Every time the lights dipped somebody else's intro started.

The moment people are still talking about: Teyana Taylor came out and sang Mary J. Blige's part on Can't Knock the Hustle. Mary's part. On Reasonable Doubt. In the Bronx. Teyana posted afterward to thank Jay for inviting her, and honestly, we thank him too.

He did Dear Summer with no beat, just the words, and then closed with Encore as fireworks went up over the stadium. Fireworks. Over Yankee Stadium. For a rapper from Marcy. If you need the short version of the last thirty years of hip-hop, that is it.