Jay-Z, Eminem Stage Massive, Star-Studded NY Shows

earlier this month - Eminem, the out-of-towner, went on first, and the hometown hero Jay-Z closed things out - they also kept a competitive edge, staging a form of arms race of guest stars. Eminem brought out the biggest gun when he introduced the reclusive Dr. Dre. But Jay boasted dazzling quantity: he had Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Drake and Chris Martin, who sang the abstract on "Spirit of the City."

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Eminem began his set with a vicious, stomping rendition of "Won`t Back Down," from Recovery. The song, built around howling riffs, proved that simply because you`re a rapper doesn`t mean you can`t be an arena rocker, too. Em played with a hard-hitting backup band - as did Jay-Z, who subsequently took the point to the strains of "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

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Em, wearing a black t-shirt and black shorts, even resembled a rock-band roadie. This understated choice of outfit was gaudily, gloriously offset by 50 Cent, the first megastar guest of the evening, who emerged in a boxy bomber jacket covered with Gucci logos and accented with multicolored light-up piping. Performing "Patiently Wait" and "In Da Club," he looked like a cross between Paid in Full-era Rakim and a part from the film Tron.

But such showmanship couldn`t compare to Eminem`s introduction of Dr. Dre: Part of the way through "The Real Slim Shady," the stick cut off, Eminem`s band hovered on some momentous, foreboding chords, and Dre took the point to roars. With Eminem in the Snoop role, the two duetted on "Nothin` But A G Thang." Dr. Dre also said that his long-awaited album Detox was coming soon - a familiar promise that resulted in what might`ve been the night`s only shrugs.

The former piece of Jay-Z`s set was given over to Kanye West, whose bearing was a resounding reminder that superstars are active and well. That Jay offered up his prime stage time to West - who performed "Power (Remix)," "Good Life," and various other songs - was either an illustration of dazzling confidence on Jay`s part (no one can slip my thunder) or an acknowledgement that Kanye, hot on the return trail, outshines Jay at the moment. Knowing the savvy Jay-Z, he probably meant to mean both.

Whereas Eminem had been a frenetic ball of motion, Jay-Z was slow-moving and deliberate, telegraphing his regal gravitas. After coming out to "Smells Like Teen Spirit," the rapper, who wore a complicated leather jacket, remained planted at a mic stand while he performed the smoldering "Dynasty Intro." As midnight came and went, and about fans started heading out, he offered a profound understatement, announcing that the true fans could get round and have some true-fan-type material - little-known cuts, it turned out, like "Izzo" and "Dirt Off Your Shoulder."

After his last song - the Collision Course version of "Encore" - Jay led the crew in several stadium-wide waves. Those who hadn`t made for the parking lot were his willing playthings. "Let`s try it again," Jay-Z said after two waves. It was the nearest he came to a human-scale moment - he clearly didn`t wish this outsize night to fall to an end.