Jay-Z made a surprise appearance at the 2024 Tony Awards in New York on Sunday night, rapping his hit Empire State of Mind with Alicia Keys.
The pair came together to support Hell’s Kitchen, a jukebox musical produced by Keys and featuring her songs.
Empire State of Mind is featured in the musical based on Keys’ early life and music and is nominated for 13 Tony Awards.
Fans were quick to notice that Jay-Z did not perform onstage, instead appearing via video rapping from outside the venue.
‘Jay-Z was like yea I’ll come perform outside the Tonys, I’m not trying to hang out with theatre people….and I don’t blame him,’ one fan jokes.
‘Why didn’t they let Jay-Z in the actual theater??’ another quipped, while another added: ‘Jay-Z at the Tonys was not on my bingo card but I’m into this.’
Before the performance, Keys hit the red carpet with her parents and three sons, Kasseem Jr., 17, Egypt, 13, and Genesis, 9.
Jay-Z makes surprise appearance at Tony Awards with Alicia Keys performing Empire State of Mind
Empire State of Mind is featured in the musical based on Keys’ early life and music and is nominated for 13 Tony Awards
