Jay-Z surprised travellers in New York after taking the subway to his own gig.

The rap maestro was performing at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday (October 6) and he decided to take public transport to the venue.

Surrounded by his hefty entourage, Jay-Z navigated his way through the station before sitting down next to a woman on the train.

He then exited the subway station and walked to the venue amid excited fans trying to take photos of the rap star.

The Roc Nation man isn't the first music celebrity to take the subway to their own gig, with Rihanna boarding the London tube before a gig at the city's O2 Arena in 2011.