Jay-Z Celebrates 40/40 Club Opening With Rihanna, J. Cole & More — Photos

Before Jay-Z takes the stage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. tonight, kicking off more than a week of headlining shows, he celebrated the launch of his 40/40 club in his hometown borough Thursday night (Sept. 27).

Hov, decked out in a black tux and bowtie, welcomed celebrity friends to take part in the evening's festivities. The Roots' Questlove, J. Cole, Rihanna and Adrienne Bailon, among others, graced the red carpet in formal attire and took in the site of the veteran rhymer's new establishment.

The Reasonable Doubt creator, who is also an owner of the Brooklyn Nets, took time out to speak with the workers who were busy preparing the Barclays Center for his set of shows.

"I walked around here earlier and I just seen everybody busy and at work trying to finish up and it was a great feeling," Jay-Z told MTV News. "A guy stopped me in the hallway and said, 'Man this is a great thing for New York City.' And that's what the whole thing was about."

After performing tonight, Jay-Z will move through seven more shows at the Barclays Center, closing out on Oct. 6.

%VIRTUAL-MultiGallery-167008|165636|162483%