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Shallow Nation

July 29th, 2008 at 8:13 am

Video & Photos: Jay-Z at 2008 Pemberton Music Festival 7-27-08

Jay-Z at 2008 Pemberton Music Festival, British Columbia, Canada, July 27, 2008

As he did with his legendary headlining set at Glastonbury 2008, Jay-Z took the inaugural 2008 Pemberton Music Festival in British Columbia, Canada by storm on July 27, 2008.

Explosive back-to-back sets by Jay-Z and Coldplay capped the closing day of the inaugural Pemberton Festival, an ambitious three days of music set in a dusty B.C. mountain valley that, minus a few snags, was a resounding success.

The sun had just set behind the mountains on Sunday evening as Jay-Z took the stage to a roar of cheers - and quickly stole the show.

Jay-Z at 2008 Pemberton Music Festival, British Columbia, Canada, July 27, 2008

Backed by a brass band, the legendary producer and rapper worked the 30,000-person strong crowd into a frenzy. The ground shook as the audience thrust their fists in the air to hit after hit, including “99 Problems” and his breakthrough “A Hard Knock Life.”

“To come up and here and get this much love, don’t think I don’t appreciate it,” Jay-Z shouted to the thundering crowd.

“I appreciate each and every one of y’all out there.”

Source: Pemberton Festival ends on a bang with Coldplay, Jay-Z

Jay-Z at 2008 Pemberton Music Festival, British Columbia, Canada, July 27, 2008
While the Live Nation-produced Pemberton Music Festival itself had logistical problems, widely discussed in the press, Jay-Z got rave reviews in the Canadian press.

Flown in on a chopper, Jay-Z took the stage, pausing to survey his worshipping fans. Gold chains dangling, he hollered, “Canada whatzup!” Rap’s richest man may have 99 Problems, but psyching up a crowd isn’t one of them. People waved their arms and put their thumbs and fingers together in Jay-Z’s signature diamond-shaped symbol. The set included a remix of Amy Winehouses’s Rehab and samples of Crazy in Love and Umbrella. Recently deemed too controversial for Glastonbury, Brooklyn’s pride is welcome back to Pemberton anytime (if there is another Pemberton).

Source: CBC - Day 3: Jay-Z and Coldplay cap a crazy weekend

Photo credit: Photos 1-2, 4-5 WireImage; Photo 3 Sean McMahon/Metro Vancouver

Jay-Z at 2008 Pemberton Music Festival, British Columbia, Canada, July 27, 2008