They were waiting on HOVA, and were slow to fill into the seats. Vic did an adequate job of warming the crowd up with his positive vibes, but the crowd wasn’t quite there yet. Vic Mensa kicked off the show with his bandmates They were positioned dead center of the stage, and Vic made his way around the sides to spit his lyrics to the crowd as they were filling in. Huge video screen angled downward from the ceiling on all sides of the stage and his musicians were positioned around the corners of the stage in their own pit area.
![jay z 444 tour setlist jay z 444 tour setlist](https://hiphopcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/jay-z-tour-edmonton-450w-6.jpg)
Any time I see a stage in the round, I know we are going to get an up close and personal experience with the artist. Walking into the area and seeing the stage setup, it was evident that we were going to have an amazing show. It’s been a long time since Jay-Z came out of the Marcy Projects in Brooklyn, and he certainly is a man who took the things he learned there and turned himself into a billionaire mogul. It didn’t take much to move them from a state of frustration to a state of excitement to see the man himself. Once the doors did open, the smiles lit up on everyone’s face.
![jay z 444 tour setlist jay z 444 tour setlist](https://www.rollingstone.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/29/09/beyonce-jay-z-berlin-gettyimages-968691030-1024x682.jpg)
I was in good company on Thursday night for sure. I know I had mine on pulled down real low showing support to the Big City of Dreams. The number one fashion statement being sported was the NY Yankees cap. The people came out to ride with Jay one more time, just like they have many times over the last 25 years of his career. Security was earning their money managing the lines as the doors were an hour late opening. They wrapped around and then double wrapped around the building, sliding in between the benches and trees outside the entrances. The doors didn’t open at their expected time, and people began crowding into the tight sidewalks around the Spectrum Center.
![jay z 444 tour setlist jay z 444 tour setlist](https://66.media.tumblr.com/290c49db0ddbd6517a88daeeff6cdbd6/tumblr_p0gmrsQ6kx1vyhkzfo1_640.jpg)
The light rail dropped the masses of fans off right at the front door of the arena. What was going on you may ask? Arguably the best MC ever was in town to showcase music from his 13th studio album, 4:44. Between 5th and Trade Street, Uptown Charlotte was buzzing on Thursday night.