At first glance, he may seem to be your typical hip-hop artist, ticking all the usual boxes: a love of flashy jewellery, a tendency to wear sunglasses at night, plenty of gun and drug-based lyrics and an extremely high opinion of himself.

But Jay-Z showed last night that he fully deserves his extraordinary rise from humble beginnings as a Brooklyn crack dealer to all-time-great status as a rapper, as well as becoming half of hip-hop's premier power couple alongside Beyoncé Knowles, who drove the crowd berserk when she joined her man on stage.

Opening with What More Can I Say? - one of the older favourites from the huge body of work he's delivered over the last 15 years - he showed off his crisp, tight rap flow and poised showmanship, rendering-Wembley Arena's seats bum-free throughout an electrifying show lasting just under two hours.

Always a favourite with UK audiences, Jay-Z's hip-hop version of Beware Of The Boys, the classic British Asian bhangra track, created a storm, provoking a particularly strong response with the line "Leave Iraq alone!"

Confusion briefly took over as the DJ threw on the unmistakable beat of Made You Look, a track by fellow New York rapper, Nas. This turn of events was especially puzzling, since Jay-Z and Nas have engaged in bitter verbal warfare over the last few years. As the wonderful truth dawned on the crowd, a deafening cheer and frenzied foot-stomping ensued, and Jay-Z welcomed his former foe on stage to perform his hit.

Those of us who were aware that Jay-Z, who is CEO of Def Jam Recordings, signed Nas to the label this year were slightly less surprised by this rapprochement, but watching these all-time greats share the stage was a thrilling experience nonetheless.

Perhaps keen not to be seen as the poor relation of his new label boss, Nas went for the ever-popular hiphop tactic of overkill, sporting a diamond-encrusted medallion the size of a child's head, suspended from a gold necklace thick enough to moor a ship.

Nas went on to perform If I Ruled The World, whose uplifting chorus was only slightly marred for me by the recollection that the last time I heard the track played live, someone decided to show their appreciation with a burst of gunfire.

Nas's interlude ended by engaging in a nimble rhyme-swapping session with Jay-Z that delighted the fans.

When the crowd heard the opening chords of the Jay-Z/Beyoncé hit Crazy In Love, they knew what to expect, and they were not let down.

Jay-Z's other half blazed on stage with four dancers for the duet, incorporating an energetic, booty-bouncing workout that raised massive cheers. The strong sexual tension between the pair continued for a slick rendition of Déjà Vu.

After this highlight, there could be no doubt in anyone's mind that whatever part he plays - lover, thug, lyricist, or showman - Jay-Z is at the top of his game.