Mary J. Blige & Jay-Z: Heart of the City

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Mary J. Blige & Jay-Z: Heart of the City

Hip-hop stars Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige perform together at sold-out Philips Arena in Atlanta Tuesday night on the Heart of the City tour. Movie producer Tyler Perry, Record producer Jazze Pha, and Monica were in the house.

Hip-hop stars Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige perform together at sold-out Philips Arena Tuesday night for the Heart of the City tour.

The co-headlining tour, which is dubbed 'Mary J. Blige & Jay-Z: Heart of the City,' was touted in a press release as 'the first time in more than 15 years that African American male/female [artists] of this stature have co-headlined a national concert tour,' apparently referring to an Luther Vandross/ Anita Baker tour some years back.

Jay-Z was born Shawn Carter on Dec 4, 1970, in the rough Marcy Projects of Brooklyn. As a youth, the fledgling rapper was known as 'Jazzy' in his neighborhood. He shortened his nickname to Jay-Z and set out to break into the rap industry.

Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige are longtime friends and collaborators.

Mary Jane Blige was born on Jan. 11, 1971, in Yonkers, N.Y. The singer-producer-actress is a hip-hop icon who has sold more than 40 million records and more than 10 million singles worldwide.

Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige sing 'Say Hello' at sold out Philips Arena Tuesday night.

Jay-Z has won three Grammies and numerous Billboard, BET, Soul Train and American Music Awards and has sold more than 20 million albums. Apart from having been President and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, Jay-Z is also one of the owners and founders of the Roc-A-Fella empire, which includes Roc-A-Fella Records, Roc-La-Familia, Roc-A-Fella Films and Rocawear. He recently married longtime girlfriend Beyonce.

For the recent Grammy Awards, Mary J. Blige was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, for 'Just Fine'; Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, for the duet 'Disrespectful,' with Chaka Khan; and for Best Gospel Performance, for the duet 'Never Gonna Break My Faith,' with Aretha Franklin, featuring The Harlem Boys Choir. She won the latter two.

Many celebrities came out for the show, including movie producer Tyler Perry.

Record producer Jazze Pha was in the house.

Atlanta's own R&B songstress Monica attended with rapper Rocko, who has the hit single "Umma Do Me."

Upcoming Philips Arena concerts include Avril Lavigne, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Katt Williams, Alicia Keys, and George Michael.

The Atlanta set list, with duets by the two artists in red. Their tour travels to New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Oakland and Detroit.

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Hip-hop stars Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige perform together at sold-out Philips Arena Tuesday night for the Heart of the City tour.

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