ACL 2017: Jay-Z Setlist Thoughts

Hard to believe we are only a few weeks from the Festival.  The past few weeks have flown by, with work cranking up and kids in school and hurricanes screwing up everything on the coast.  But I woke up today wondering if I could figure out what songs we'll likely hear from the Chilis and Jay-Z, so that I could mentally prepare myself if either of them are going to leave the stage without playing their best tracks.  As I noted in my insanely long Jay-Z post, he failed to play "Big Pimpin'" or "99 Problems" at a recent show, and I'd be hard pressed not to incite a riot if that appeared to be ready to happen again.  Jay isn't on tour, so we've got limited information here, unlike when I saw Van Halen a year or two ago and their setlist was 100% the same from show to show.  Here is data from his most recent two shows, first at something called the V Festival in England, and then at the Made in America Festival in Philly.

Aug. 19		Sept. 3
Stafford, England		Philadelphia
Kill Jay Z	4:44	Bam	4:44
The Story of O.J.	4:44	Public Service Announcement	The Black Album
Niggas in Paris	Watch the Throne	Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)	The Blueprint
Smile	4:44	Caught Their Eyes	4:44
Where I'm From	Vol. 1	No Church in the Wild	Watch the Throne
Public Service Announcement	The Black Album	Lucifer	The Black Album
Bam	4:44	Run This Town	Blueprint 3
No Church in the Wild	Watch the Throne	Where I'm From	Vol. 1
Family Feud	4:44	Marcy Me	4:44
I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)	The Dynasty: Roc	Empire State of Mind	Blueprint 3
Big Pimpin'	Vol. 3	Fuckwithmeyouknowigotit	Magna Carta
On to the Next One	Blueprint 3	Beach Is Better	Magna Carta
Empire State of Mind	Blueprint 3	Family Feud	4:44
Run This Town	Blueprint 3	U Don't Know	The Blueprint
Fuckwithmeyouknowigotit	Magna Carta	Moonlight	4:44
Beach Is Better	Magna Carta	The Story of O.J.	4:44
Lucifer	The Black Album	Niggas in Paris	Watch the Throne
Jigga My Nigga	Vol. 3	Jigga My Nigga	Vol. 3
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)	The Blueprint	Izzo (H.O.V.A.)	The Blueprint
Dirt Off Your Shoulder	The Black Album	Dirt Off Your Shoulder	The Black Album
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)	Vol. 2	On to the Next One	Blueprint 3
Empire State of Mind	Blueprint 3	I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)	The Dynasty: Roc
99 Problems	The Black Album	Big Pimpin'	Vol. 3
Numb / Encore	The Black Album	99 Problems	The Black Album
		Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)	Vol. 2
		Numb / Encore	The Black Album

Let's unpack that.  First, sadly (in my opinion) we are going to be treated to a considerable number of the 4:44 tracks.  5 in England and 6 in Philly, making it the most represented album in either show.  In England, The Black Album also had 5 tracks (if you count "Numb/Encore" as just being "Encore"), and then Blueprint 3 was second with four.  In Philly, you get the same five Black Album tracks, so it comes in second place, and both The Blueprint and Blueprint 3 get three songs a piece.  Nothing from Kingdom Come (smart), but somehow two from Magna Carta Holy Grail, including (for some strange reason) "Beach is Better" at both shows, which is a pretty lame track from Magna Carta Holy Grail.  You probably don't care that much, but here are the lyrics to that track:

Hit ya ass on the celly, cause I ain't got time
To be arguing with your ass, if you ain't really ready
Girl, why you never ready? For as long as you took
You better look like Halle Berry...or Beyoncé
Shit then we getting married
I brought sand to the beach cause my beach is better
You can keep ya beach cause that beach whatever
Started out at The Darby, ended up at 1 Oak
Left the house with 100 grand, ended up near broke
Don't get mad at me, I'm buying bucket after bucket
When it's gone I'm like fuck it, I replace it with another one
Can't take this money with you
Burn this shit up like I'm Richard
Niggas asking is the oven on.

Uh, wut?  It is like 50 second long.  And while I understand portions of what he is saying why waste the time on this tune in the middle of every show?  Just seems odd.  Here is the Genius lyrics list for it, so that you can read how people theorize that it is short because it is representative of a failed vacation in which the protagonist worries about having left the oven on.

That aside though, you are going to get the goods at this show.  "Hard Knock Life," "99 Problems," "Big Pimpin',"N****s in Paris," "Public Service Announcement," "Izzo (HOVA)," hell, and I'll even admit that I like "The Story of OJ."  This will be a good show.