Jay-Z Where: The Pearl at Palms Cost: $129 and up When: 8 p.m. July 3-4 Info: (866) 80-SHOWS

Since cementing his status as one of the greatest MCs of all time with 2001's The Blueprint, Jay-Z has turned his attention to an entirely new goal: world domination. The 39-year-old rapper overcame a rough and tumble upbringing in Bed-Stuy's Marcy Projects to become, along with Diddy, one of hip-hop's most successful entrepreneurs. More impressively, he's done it by both buying and selling, cashing in parts of his lucrative Roc-a-Fella Records and Rocawear franchises to found the 40/40 Clubs in New York and Atlantic City and become part owner of the New Jersey Nets, who plan to move to Jay's native Brooklyn for the 2011-12 season.

Between his investments and secret marriage to Beyoncé Knowles last year, Jay is the rare artist who can make headlines in both the Wall Street Journal and Us Weekly. It's nearly overshadowed his music, which is a shame, since he's clearly still at the top of his game. 2007's American Gangster was released to much critical acclaim and buzz is already building for this year's The Blueprint3, set for release in September. In "Death of Auto-Tune," which debuted on New York's Hot 97 in June, he takes proponents of hip-hop's trendy "enhancement" to task. "I know we facing a recession," he raps, "but the music y'all making gonna make it the Great Depression."

Opening for Jay-Z in Vegas is R&anp;B starlet Ciara, whose duet with Justin Timberlake, "Love Sex Magic," has been certified platinum.