In the eight years since the World Trade Center collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001, it's been a steady process of rebuilding New York City both emotionally and physically. For rapper and Brooklyn native Jay-Z, the recovery of New York is something personal. "We should always move past it and be strong but never forget," he said in a recent interview.On Friday night, Jay-Z marked the anniversary in his own way: organizing and headlining the "Answer the Call 9/11" concert at Madison Square Garden. The sold-out concert paid tribute to the police officers and firefighters who died responding to the Sept. 11 attacks.

The show began with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by an electric guitar arrangement of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Jay-Z began the show with his own New York anthems, including "Empire State of Mind"; "Where I'm From," a song about his childhood in the Marcy housing projects; and "Brooklyn Go Hard." The concert aired on Fuse TV, and all proceeds will be donated to the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund.

In addition to Jay-Z, myriad other artists came out to benefit the concert. John Mayer rocked out "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," Mary J. Blige brought some gritty soul to "Can't Knock the Hustle" and Beyoncé took the stage and dominated with her hit song "Diva," complete with dance routine. Rihanna performed "Run This Town" with Kanye West, her first performance since her domestic altercation with Chris Brown last February, and showed the crowd she's more than ready to return to the stage.

Despite the uplifting message of the concert itself, the performers set a serious tone, wearing black and gray onstage. The audience members, who chanted Jay-Z's nickname, "Hova," between each song, never took their seats from the beginning of the first song until the end of the concert.

Jay-Z held a moment of silence three-quarters of the way into the show, but the most emotional moment of the night came later when a montage of the faces of the men and women who died on 9/11 was shown. The headshots of the fallen appeared on a backdrop of buildings while Jay-Z's "Young Forever" played in the background.

"Make some noise for everybody that lost their lives so that we can live ours," he said as the concert came to a close.