US rap star Jay-Z has admitted he encountered nerves ahead of his show-stopping performance at this weekend's Glastonbury music festival in Somerset, England.

The controversial rapper had faced a tidal wave of criticism from festival traditionalists who were opposed to the King of Hip Hop performing at one of the UK's more traditional rock festivals.

"It was a historic night for Glastonbury and for myself. It's the first time a hip-hop act had headlined," Jay-Z explains. "It was one of those nervous moments right before I went on, and I haven't had that feeling in a long time. In front of [100,000] people, it was this great thing."

But the critics were forced to eat their words after the American played out his set in front of the largest audience of the weekend. And Jay-Z says he would love to do it all again another year.

"It was incredible. I'm glad it went that way, 'cause the world was watching. ... We get sounds from all over the world. It's the universal language."