What’s up?
Jay-Z: December 29, The Pearl: The East Coast impresario celebrates the opening of his new Vegas nightclub, 40/40, one night early. Cost: $125-$225.
Kanye West: December 31, The Pearl: The 50 Cent-slaying lightning rod performs in Vegas on New Year’s Eve for the second time in three years. Cost: $150-$350.
Wu-Tang Clan: January 3, House of Blues: A rare club performance from one of the most influential groups not just in hip-hop, but in all of contemporary music. Cost: $37-$55.
Current cut
Jay-Z: “Roc Boys,” off American Gangster: Rolling Stone magazine’s horn-infused song of the year name-checks O.J., Britney and Black Bar Mitzvahs, whatever those might be.
Kanye West: “Stronger,” off Graduation: The Daft Punk-sampling robo-rap track remains inside Billboard’s Top 20 some five months after first charting.
Wu-Tang Clan: “The Heart Gently Weeps,” off 8 Diagrams: A murderous, modern update on The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” with help from Erykah Badu, John Frusciante and George Harrison’s son Dhani.
Why go?
Jay-Z: It’s his first post-“retirement” Vegas show, plus with sweetie Beyoncé in town (she plays Mandalay Bay the next night), a collabo could be in the cards.
Kanye West: He’s one of the most dynamic live rappers around—his 2005 Aladdin year-ender earned five stars from Weekly writer Damon Hodge—and besides, you never know what the man might do or say onstage.
Wu-Tang Clan: