Jay-Z to headline Super Bowl halftime show in Inglewood
The rapper will perform on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium, ending a seven-year run of speculation after his label agreed to produce the event.
By Avery Brooks ·
Jay-Z will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation announced the decision on Monday night. This marks the first time the rapper will headline the event, a role he previously dismissed as unlikely.
The arrangement stems from a partnership that began in 2019. Roc Nation agreed to advise on and produce the league's entertainment presentations. At that time, Jay-Z told NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that if the deal was about him performing, the conversation should end. Goodell recalled having one condition: Jay-Z should take the stage whenever the moment felt right to him.
That moment arrived after Jay-Z recently closed his 30th anniversary tour for his 1996 debut album, “Reasonable Doubt.” The tour included sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium, as well as performances in London and Paris. The final stop was at SoFi Stadium over the weekend. It is the same venue where he will now perform for the Super Bowl.
In a statement, Jay-Z described the career path from his first album to the Super Bowl stage as a journey of 30 years of music and culture. He called the achievement a dream come true. The performance will be executive produced by Roc Nation, with Hamish Hamilton serving as the director.
Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has won 25 Grammy Awards and received 89 nominations. He is the second most nominated artist in history, behind his wife, Beyoncé. Beyoncé has previously performed at two Super Bowls. Jay-Z is also a four-time Emmy winner and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
His recent tour featured a wide range of guests. At SoFi Stadium, his daughter Blue Ivy played piano on two tracks, while Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Too $hort appeared during the finale. Earlier in the tour, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Eminem, and Nas joined him at Yankee Stadium.
The halftime show has gained recent attention for its quality, with Bad Bunny's February performance winning a record seven Emmys. Kendrick Lamar's show last year won for music direction. Jay-Z's upcoming appearance will be the next major installment in that series of events.
Source: Newsday · original report published
