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It’s finally here — Beyonce and Jay Z kick off their On the Run collaborative tour tonight in Miami, which should see them reprise their chart-topping duets among their solo hits.
PHOTOS Beyonce Onstage: Mrs. Carter’s Top Performances, From ‘Crazy in Love’ to ‘Drunk in Love’
Ahead of the tour’s inaugural show, The Hollywood Reporter looks back on the hit-making couple’s notable moments — onstage, on the red carpet and in that infamous NYC elevator.
“03 Bonnie and Clyde” (2002)
The two hit hip-hop musicians first discovered and debuted their romantic harmony in the cinematic music video for “03 Bonnie and Clyde,” off Jay’s album, The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse. While the two then continued on to keep their relationship incredibly private, they refer to each other in the heist-themed song as “boyfriend” and “girlfriend.” Watch the video below.
“Crazy” Chemistry Onstage (2003)
Beyonce made sure her MTV VMA performance of her debut solo singles was nothing short of a spectacle, so after dropping down from the ceiling upside down for “Baby Boy,” she launched into “Crazy in Love” with Jay Z, which the two wrote together. Their chemistry radiated onstage as they performed the hit romance-themed track. Watch it below.
Official on the Red Carpet (2004)
The rumored romance was confirmed when the two made their first red carpet appearance together, once again at the MTV VMAs in 2004. They arrived in corresponding gold outfits, as Jay weaved the shades of Bey’s blazer and shorts into the details of his white suit.
PHOTOS Beyonce’s ‘Mrs. Carter Show’ Tour in Pictures
Josephine Baker at Fashion Rocks (2006)
Another unforgettable performance of the hit-makers came in 2006, as Beyonce paid tribute to the late Josephine Baker during her onstage moment at the 2006 Fashion Rocks broadcast, which kicked off New York Fashion Week and raised money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. As she filled the Radio City Music Hall stage with smoke, Jay emerged in a sleek white tux for his rap interlude. Watch the performance below.
Saying “I Do” in Secret (2008)
The couple secretly exchanged vows in April 2008, with a low-key but lavish afterparty at Jay’s NYC apartment in Tribeca. A source told People at the time, “It happened earlier this evening. Jay wanted it to be a really private affair — close friends and family,” adding that Beyonce’s parents, Destiny’s Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams and their friend Gwyneth Paltrow were in attendance.
Behind the Scenes on Broadway (2010)
Years before the On the Run tour, the Carters collaborated for another full-fledged production: Fela!, the Broadway show they produced alongside Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith. The musical, narrating the life story of Nigerian singer Fela Kuti, earned 11 Tony nominations and took home three awards. Watch the company perform below.
“Love on Top” and Expecting (2011)
Beyonce and Jay Z introduced the world to their not-yet-born baby in 2011, when Beyonce took the stage to perform “Love on Top” at the 2011 MTV VMAs. After championing the key-changing hit, she unbuttoned her purple sequined jacket and rubbed her belly, with a huge grin on her face. The cameras then cut to Jay, who was clearly elated over the move as he was getting cheered on by his Watch the Throne collaborator Kanye West. Daughter Blue Ivy Carter was born in January 2012 in NYC. Watch the performance — and the belly-rubbing moment — below.
“Drunk” at the Grammys (2014)
After dropping her surprise self-titled album in December 2013, Beyonce kicked off the Grammys with Jay Z with a steamy performance of her single “Drunk in Love,” making good on the rumors that swirled just before the broadcast. At two points, the audio cut out, censoring risque song lyrics. And during the audience shots, the unlikeliest person was caught grooving to the beat: former Beatles singer Paul McCartney. Watch the hot duet below.
Messy at the Met Ball (2014)
Amid of slew of high notes, a low — and very public — moment of Jay Z and Beyonce’s relationship came earlier this year, as video emerged online of her sister Solange Knowles fighting with the rapper in an elevator after leaving a Met Gala afterparty in New York, while Beyonce stood motionless. The puzzling moment triggered a handful of theories on Twitter and provided prime material for late-night hosts, but in the end, they released a statement that read: “Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred. They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family.” Watch the TMZ-obtained footage below:
On the Run (2014)
Like a bookend to the heist-themed track that first united the two performers, the trailer that the two released for their upcoming On the Run tour touted the stage collaboration as a big-screen thriller, co-starring Blake Lively, Sean Penn, Don Cheadle, Guillermo Diaz, Emmy Rossum, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rashida Jones and Kidada Jones. It was a clever move that not only made Jay and Bey fans vie for tickets, but also triggered a Change.org petition to actually get the feature film made. Watch “Run” below.
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