Jay-Z and Mary J.

NEWS & VIEWS

A review of last Saturday night's festivities

By Raymond Tyler

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted May. 8, 2008

Last weekend was one of the busiest weekends of the year so far in Atlantic City. Especially if you're a fan of urban music, as two of the genre's top performers, Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z, were live in concert at Boardwalk Hall for their cross-country Heart of the City Tour.

This will easily be one of the most talked about urban tours of the year. The crowd at the Hall included people of all ages, all excited about witnessing this historic pairing.

Admittedly, even as a professional writer, there are some shows you just get excited about and this was one of them.

Like so many people of my generation, I kind of came of age with Mary J. Blige. While she was singing back up for Father MC, I was enjoying success as a telemarketing rep at one of the casinos in town. By the time Mary J. was recording solo and sporting the mini-skirt, combat boots and baseball cap, I was DJ'ing and covering the entertainment scene for a small local paper. I can literally chart my own success and accomplishments with the many looks and sounds of Mary J. Blige.

Saturday night, Mary J. brought her past -as well as her modern-day success with her on stage. What's always made her special is that she makes you feel like she's singing directly to you. Saturday was no different. Mary J. tells you what each song means to her.

Talking and singing throughout her setlist, Mary J -- "The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and the godmother of Beyoncé, Ciara and a whole list of popular urban women singers doing their thing -- still comes off in concert as real as your aunt or your sister. She brings with her a show that touches a little on James Brown, a little on Aretha, and a little on Nina Simone. Despite all the money, the sold-out concerts and the fame, one gets the feeling that Mary J. still gets as much from the women cheering her on as she gives. And as Saturday proved, Mary gives a lot.

To be fair and honest, I spoke with a couple of people after the show that enjoyed Jay-Z's part of the performance. I say that most reviewers, including myself, talk too much and don't leave it to the people to give their impressions. The people who paid their money for Saturday night's show enjoyed it as far as I can tell. I wish I could have heard a few more Jay-Z classics and less of his "Hey, Love Collection."

Jay performed his lines from Beyoncé's "Upgrade U," but passed on performing his segment from "Crazy in Love," passed on performing "Who You Wit," passed on performing "Hard Knock Life." Instead he questionably chose to do "Big Pimpin'." Why not perform "Sunshine" and break out the yellow suit? He and Mary J. did perform together, but not the expected, "Can't Knock the Hustle." Somebody on his tour bus should've told Jay-Z that "Song Cry" was not a hit record.

Also, Memphis Bleak was OK, but if you're Jay-Z, is that the best "guest star" you can get for the show? I'll give him a pass since Foxy Brown is still in jail, but Jay-Z was the head of Def Jam. Shoot, you could've stopped the bus in Philly and picked up the Young Gunz.

This time Jay-Z's show had almost nothing to write home about. I have seen him four times previously and absolutely crush the venue with his talent. This time, it seemed maybe his ego got in the way.

The After-Show Party

Shout out to the staff at the 40/40 Club in Atlantic City for doing a pretty good job after the concert. The line to get in the concert after-party was crazy, a solid line from Atlantic to Pacific avenues of people looking to get in for $200 per person. Now this was my first time at a $200-a person party. It was very interesting to see the people who put up that kind of cash standing around in the club waiting for Jay-Z to arrive and then just stare at him for most of the night.

After I left the 40/40 and went to the Déj� vu club on the Boardwalk, it was packed with people who wanted to dance, dance, dance. DJ Swoosh kept them moving from the time the concert wrapped up until five in the morning.

Raymond Tyler hosts Let's Talk About It on Fridays from 7-8pm on WOND 1400AM and Alternative Soul Fridays from 2-4pm on WLFR 91.7FM.