Friday night, the private problems between Jay-Z and R.Kelly bubbled over publicly as Kelly abruptly left the highly touted hometown Best of Both Worlds tour date at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Many rumors and mixed feelings have surfaced since R. Kelly’s now infamous departure.
Jay-Z cited that Kelly had trouble with the lighting but went on to vent his frustrations to Angie Martinez on air.
“This is just disrespectful, [leaving the New York date]. Everybody better grab their Best of Both Worlds albums, because that’s it. It’s too much. Certain things aren’t meant to be. It looks good on paper,” Hov said to Martinez. “I went way outta my way. The first night [in Chicago] was terrible. I’m waiting in my white suit for two hours. The guy don’t come downstairs…you don’t do that. I’m like, ‘I don’t work for you, B. I gave him that leeway, because that’s his town.”
“I did my best, I put [my show] together in 5 minutes,” he said of the Kelly-less New York show
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“We had to cancel Milwaukee, then we had to cancel Connecticut, we cancelled St. Louis and then we cancelled Cincinnati,” said Jay-Z, running down the already cancelled dates. “This is just disrespectful man.”
Even with Kelly disappearing from the show Jay-Z took over the rest of the show with guest performers including Mary J. Blige. “I had five outfits under the bed crispy waiting for New York City… and this is what I get,” said Jay-Z. Jay also vowed on air there would be no more Best of Both Worlds albums, except a possible future collaboration with Mary J. Blige. “It’s to much… certain things are not meant to be. It looks wonderful on paper… but it can’t happen.”
Since then Jay-Z and his promoter have decided to cancel the series in lieu of continuing with R.Kelly in New York, according to reps from the rapper’s camp. Instead, Jay-Z has decided to offer fans a “Jay-Z and Special Guests” show at the Continental Airlines Arena on Oct. 30, 31 and Nov. 1. The show will offer numerous unnamed celebrities. Last night, Mary J. Blige, Usher and Ja Rule performed at Madison Square Garden.
Fans that don’t want the present package, minus Kelly, can get a full refund by going to the place where they purchased their ticket.
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Through a statement, publicist Jana Fleishman stated, “Jay-Z wants to make sure he doesn’t disappoint his fans and gives them the best show possible.” No word how this will affect the rest of the tour.
