Jay-Z headlines Super Bowl halftime
The rapper and Roc Nation executive will perform on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium, reversing his earlier stance on the role.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
Jay-Z will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, a role he previously declined when negotiating his company's partnership with the NFL. The rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, will headline the event on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The announcement came from the NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation on Monday night.
Roc Nation has worked with the NFL since 2019 to advise on and produce the league's entertainment presentations. During those initial negotiations, Jay-Z told Commissioner Roger Goodell, "If this is about me performing at the Super Bowl, then we can just end this conversation now." Goodell said he had one request when the agreement was first reached: that Jay-Z take the stage "whenever the moment felt right to him."
The performance marks a return to the venue where Jay-Z recently concluded a tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of his 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt. That tour included three sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium, as well as sold-out performances in London and Paris, before a stop at SoFi Stadium over the weekend. The recent concerts featured a rotating cast of guests, including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Eminem, and Nas at Yankee Stadium, while Blue Ivy, Scarface, John Legend, DJ Khaled, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Too $hort appeared at SoFi Stadium.
In a statement, Jay-Z described the move as a continuation of his career. "From 'Reasonable Doubt' to standing on the Super Bowl halftime stage, this has been a journey," he said. "Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world's biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true."
The Brooklyn rapper has won 25 Grammy Awards and received 89 nominations, the second-most in history behind his wife, Beyoncé. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. Reasonable Doubt was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame last year. His catalog includes albums such as The Blueprint and The Black Album, and songs like "99 Problems" and "Empire State of Mind."
Roc Nation will executive produce the upcoming halftime show, with Hamish Hamilton serving as director. The production team follows a string of award-winning performances. Bad Bunny's performance in February won a record seven Emmys, including best variety special live, while Kendrick Lamar's show last year won for music direction.
