Jay-Z to Headline Super Bowl Halftime Show at SoFi Stadium
The rapper will perform on February 14 in Inglewood, marking his first solo set at the event after a seven-year partnership with the NFL.
By Hugo Cook ·
Jay-Z will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show on February 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation confirmed the announcement on Monday night. This marks the first time the rapper has taken the stage as the featured artist. For the past seven years, his company Roc Nation has handled production and advisory roles for the league's entertainment presentations. Jay-Z previously told NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that if the partnership was about him performing, they should end the conversation.
Goodell stated he had one request when the league first agreed to work with Roc Nation: that Jay-Z perform whenever the moment felt right to him. That moment arrived on Monday. "From 'Reasonable Doubt' to standing on the Super Bowl halftime stage, this has been a journey," Jay-Z said in a statement. "Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world's biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true."
The selection follows a recent concert series celebrating the 30th anniversary of his 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt. The tour included three sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium, as well as performances in London and Paris. The run concluded with shows at SoFi Stadium over the weekend. The venue holds particular significance for Jay-Z, as it was the site where he closed that specific anniversary celebration.
Guests at the recent SoFi Stadium shows included his daughter Blue Ivy, who played piano on tracks like "The Story of O.J." and "Dead Presidents." Other performers during the weekend events included Scarface, John Legend, DJ Khaled, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Too $hort. Earlier in the tour, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Eminem, and Nas joined him at Yankee Stadium.
Roc Nation will executive produce the upcoming halftime show, with Hamish Hamilton directing the production. The event is part of a trend of high-profile musical performances at the Super Bowl. Bad Bunny's performance in February won a record seven Emmys, including best variety special (live). Kendrick Lamar's show last year received an Emmy for music direction.
Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, has won 25 Grammy Awards and received 89 nominations. He co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records and founded Roc Nation in 2008. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. His catalog includes albums such as The Blueprint and The Black Album, and songs like "99 Problems" and "Empire State of Mind."
Source: Newsday
