Alicia Keys and Jay Z shut down Times Square

Alicia Keys brought traffic in New York's Times Square to a standstill on Sunday night (09Oct16) when she performed a secret show with special guest Jay Z.

The No One hitmaker took over the popular tourist landmark to promote her forthcoming album, Here, and she invited her rap mogul pal to join her onstage, returning to the spot where the pair filmed its promo for the smash hit Empire State of Mind back in 2009.

They belted out the anthem to the delight of the crowds, while Alicia also called on rocker John Mayer to join her for a rendition of her song If I Ain't Got You, and teamed up with Jay-Z's former hip-hop rival Nas for a take on his classic One Love.

Jay Z's appearance took place two days after he joined his wife, superstar Beyonce, for the final date of her Formation World Tour in New Jersey on Friday night (07Oct16), when they performed Drunk In Love together for the first time on the mammoth trek. Kendrick Lamar and tennis star Serena Williams also made unexpected appearances during the closing gig.