July 4, 2008 10:47

Jay-Z plays greatest hits set at O2 Wireless Festival Jay-Z Tickets

Plus Lily Allen joins Mark Ronson onstage at the London bash

Photo Gallery: Jay-Z
Photo: Pa Photos

Jay-Z played a greatest hits set at the O2 Wireless Festival last night (July 3), during which he called the UK his "second home".

Earlier in the day Lily Allen had joined Mark Ronson on stage during his evening slot at the festival in Hyde Park, London.

Unlike Jay-Z's Glastonbury headline set last Saturday (June 28), there were no Oasis-baiting antics during the rapper's set.

Instead he blazed through most of his own better-known songs, including '99 Problems', 'U Don't Know', 'Dirt Off Your Shoulder', 'Oh My God', 'Big Pimpin' and 'Hard Knock Life'.

Backed by a band in 1930s-style jazz club outfits, Jay-Z rapped over snatches of Amy Winehouse's 'Rehab', The Prodigy's 'Smack My Bitch Up' and U2's 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'.

Jay-Z called London his "second home" during the show, and even used his big screen to display a fluttering Union Jack during 'Public Service Announcement'.

With 30,000 fans chanting "HOVA!" and making Roc-A-Fella diamond hand signs, it was a far cry from his first gig in the capital at the Hammersmith Palais in 2001, which almost caused a riot.

Earlier in the day Mark Ronson introduced a procession of guest vocalists for his O2 Wireless set of cover versions, including The Charlatans' Tim Burgess, rappers Plastic Little and Charlie Waller of The Rumble Strips

Wiley also guested with Ronson, choosing to perform 'Wearing My Rolex' with Ronson rather than with Hot Chip, as he did at Glastonbury.

Inevitably all eyes were on Lily Allen when she appeared with Ronson for two songs.

Despite fluffing the intro to 'Littlest Things' the singer seemed in good spirits, dedicating the song to "Nanny Allen", who recently passed away.

Festival organisers had feared a washout when thunderstorms lashed Hyde Park yesterday afternoon. However by the time of Hot Chip's sprightly early evening set the clouds had parted and it remained dry for the rest of the night.

Morrissey is due to headline Wireless tonight (July 4) - see NME.COM for a full report.