Jay-Z Creates YouTube Channel, Streams Final Barclays Performance

The last week featured two auspicious efforts from Jay-Z. First, the rapper performed eight shows in nine days at Brooklyn’s new Barclays Center. Then, the last performance in his series was streamed over his new YouTube channel.

The channel, called Jay-Z’s Life+Times, was launched Saturday at 9:30 p.m. EST, with the live broadcast being the kick-off effort. Jay-Z’s channel is one of several for original content started on YouTube over the past year, and his is expected to not only feature his music but also his perspective on food, fashion, architecture, and other fields of interest. Unlike other YouTube efforts, Life+Times is expected to function like any other television network.

The rapper is collaborating with IconicTV, and about the new YouTube channel, IconicTV’s co-founder and chief creative officer Michael Hirschorn said to the press: "His philosophy has always been to do things out of the box, do them first, do them in a surprising way. I think that's one of the main reasons he has kept his brand as fresh and robust as he has because he's constantly surprising the public with what he's doing."

Aside from being streamed live, Jay-Z’s final Barclays performance was notable for more aspects. First, the rapper arrived via subway, apparently getting on with a team of NYPD officers and his own security personnel at the Canal Street station to take the R train. Then, during the performance, Beyonce came on stage. She performed “Diva” and did “Crazy in Love” and “Young Forever” with the rapper.

For fans that did not catch the live or streamed performance, an eight-song EP, called Live in Brooklyn, will feature audio and video of the show. The release drops on October 9.