Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige took the Greensboro Coliseum by storm, literally, last Saturday with their Heart of the City Tour.Through rain many faithful and excited fans trudged along packed parking lots and traffic filled sidewalks and streets to what may be Spring’s biggest concert featuring two of New York’s biggest icons, the self-proclaimed and publicly acknowledged soul hip-hop queen and best rapper alive. As the music started fanatics rushed out of the Coliseum lobby and into the stands, video of what seemed to be a documentary of backstage commentary by the two artists on how the tour came to be.

Lights went down and Mary’s signature “la-dee-daa-da-daa” rang through the building while Jay-Z’s chant, “Roc-A-Fella ya’ll” came in. The lights go up and “Can’t Knock the Hustle” rocked the entire Coliseum.

Smoke, screams and the high energy of the crowd raised the temperature through the coliseum’s roof and this was only the opening song.

Mary congratulated Jay-Z on his nuptials with R&B sensation Beyonce before starting her set.

The couple tied the knot just the day before. Mary opened with “All I Need” with a verse from Jay. After that, she performed an entire set nonstop performing classic hits such as “Love No Limit”, “Real Love”, “Reminisce”, “I’m Goin’ Down”, “Share My World” and “Seven Days”. After performing “Your Child” Mary spoke out on fatherless children and how men should love and appreciate their children and be in their lives. Next she performed “Deep Inside”.

After a short break to wipe her face Mary came back with the lights dim and when the lights went up, the songstress turned around with her classic black lipstick and bossy “haterblockers” and as the crowd went off Mary lulled the crowd with a heartfelt performance of “Not Gon’ Cry” from the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack. “Family Affair” got the crowd hype while “Be Without You”, “Stay Down” and “Fade Away” had the crowd crooning. “Enough Cryin'” quickly turned into “MJB Da MVP” and Mary’s alter ego Brook Lynn reared her head as Mary flowed effortlessly. Partying with “Work That” and “Just Fine”. Mary also tried another song from her newer album, “Growing Pains” where she felt women in a committed relationship should accept nothing less than what they are worth, “Feel Like A Woman.”

Closing out her set with “Take Me as I Am” Jay-Z entered on the same beat with his first single “Dead Presidents.” Shouting out Jadakiss of the Lox, Jay-Z surprised the audience by announcing Memphis Bleek was in the building. The crowd went wild as the beat dropped for “Is That Your Chick.” The suave and debonair Hov then got some crowd participation while he hung out with the DJ and ran through snippets of hits like “Can I Live”, “Feelin’ It”, “Who You Wit”, “Ain’t No N*gga”, “Show Me What You Got” “N*gga What, N*gga Who” and “Can I Get A…”

Performing more party hits like, “Izzo (H.O.V.A)” “Jigga That N*gga” and a snippet of “Big Pimpin” featuring UGK. As the party climaxed wit “Roc Boys (And the Winner Is…)” Jay slowed things down with “Excuse Me Miss” and “Song Cry.” Mary then appeared to sing the hook to “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love).” The night went on with “Dirt off Your Shoulders”, “99 Problems” and “No Hook.”

Hov also performed “Blue Magic” a track from his newer album, “American Gangster” which has the lines, “Money over broads you got it Fuck Bush.” As the words flowed from the New York MC and the crowd’s lips, the teleprompter freeze framed on a picture of president, George W. Bush. He then asked the crowd, “Are you ready for change?” Up pops a picture of the Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama. The crowd roared with approval. After performing “I Know”, “What More Can I Say” and finally, “Encore.” The lights then went down for the finale where the two headliners came together to perform their recent single, “You’re Welcome.”

• LaShawn Parker