Hip-hop superstar Jay-Z will be the first rapper to perform at Carnegie Hall, and it’s all for charity.
Jay-Z. Photo by Ros O'Gorman.
Jay-Z announced that the February 6 and 7 shows at the New York landmark will benefit the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation, which he founded in 2003 with his mother Gloria.
He never finished high school himself, so the Foundation is particularly close to his heart. He said at a press conference, “I’m just providing opportunity for those that want to further their education and be successful, that’s important to me.”
Rolling Stone reports the aim of the charity is to “strengthen their work in classrooms, providing students with after-school tutoring, emotional counseling, college trips and ultimately, full-tuition scholarships to two- and four-year universities.”
There will be special ticket packages going on sale Monday, ranging from $500 all the way up to $2,500, with cheaper, single tickets on offer on January 30 next year.
Jay-Z suggested there wouldn’t be any special guests but the Carnegie Hall shows would be his “most intimate performances in years”, the main hall only seating 2800.
