Jay-Z brings the hype to South By Southwest

By Chris Talbott

Associated Press

Published: Monday, March 12 2012 9:05 p.m. MDT

FILE - In this Jan. 19, 2012 file photo, Jay-Z attends the grand re-opening of his 40/40 Club, in New York. Jay-Z will kick off the South By Southwest festival with a performance on Monday, March 12, in Austin, Texas.

Charles Sykes, file, Associated Press

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Summary

Jay-Z may have 99 problems, but getting to the venue ain't one.

AUSTIN, Texas — Jay-Z may have 99 problems, but getting to the venue ain't one.

The rapper brought the beat to South By Southwest, but not before he needed a police escort to make it from the airport to the show on time.

Jay-Z played a hits-filled set for a standing room-only crowd after flying in late Monday afternoon. He was on the town with his wife, Beyonce, in New York City the night before to see fellow SXSW participant The-Dream, perhaps explaining his late arrival in Texas.

The show at the Austin City Limits Live venue marked the end of South By Southwest's interactive conference and an unofficial start to South By Southwest's music conference, which gets under way on Tuesday.

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