Alfredo Flores, award-winning D.C.-based freelance event photographer

PHOTO STORY

Jay-Z at Verizon Center

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

It’s no secret that President Obama cites Jay-Z as one of his favorite musicians, so you can’t fault HOVA for starting his set a few minutes tardy. “I just came from the White House!" he boasted towards the end of his electrifying two-hour set at a sold-out Verizon Center. And Jay-Z put on a show worthy of such swagger, continuously leaning back, holding his arm out to calm the excited crowd down, and smiling as his fans literally shouted out every lyric from the hit songs that have made him one of the most successful rap artists off all time—40 million albums sold and 10 Grammy Awards and counting. So it was apropos that Jigga started off the night with “Run This Town”—a claim he can brag about in every city he steps into.