How many rappers have headlined the Super Bowl?
Super Bowl halftime shows have been taking place since the 1960s and have slowly evolved into giant spectacles. The shows initially started out with college marching bands, but by the ’90s, some of the biggest artists in the world were involved, including Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Gloria Estefan, Patti LaBelle, and the Blues Brothers. However, only recently have rappers started getting the nod on the big stage.
Throughout the ’00s, halftime shows continued to evolve, with Phil Collins, Aerosmith, U2, Shania Twain, Janet Jackson, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Prince, Tom Petty, and Bruce Springsteen taking on the prestigious slot.
Moving into the 2010s, headliners included The Who, The Black Eyed Peas, Madonna, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, and Maroon 5. Despite rappers occasionally appearing as guests, hip-hop has never really been the focus of the events. Nevertheless, the involvement of Roc Nation, and Jay-Z in particular, has no doubt changed the landscape of the halftime shows.
Hov’s company signed a $25million deal with the NFL in 2019 that would see them “spearhead and advise on the selection of artists for NFL tentpole performances, including the Super Bowl, and will assist in the production and promotion of new music as well as culture- and cause-focused initiatives.”
Jay-Z believes the global reach of the NFL provides the league with the platform to inspire change across the country. “Roc Nation has shown that entertainment and enacting change are not mutually exclusive ideas – instead, we unify them,” he said. “This partnership is an opportunity to strengthen the fabric of communities across America.”
So, how many rappers have headlined the Super Bowl?
Believe it or not, Dr Dre is the only rapper to headline the Super Bowl. His performance in 2022, which welcomed appearances from Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J Blige, and Anderson Paak, was the first complete hip-hop show.
Before that, rappers were sprinkled into performances but have never been at the centre of the shows. Examples include Diddy and Nelly with Janet Jackson in 2004, Nicki Minaj with Madonna in 2012, and Missy Elliott with Katy Perry in 2015. In 2019, Travis Scott and Big Boi joined Maroon 5, while Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri, will.i.am, and Lil Jon and joined Usher in 2024.
Kendrick Lamar will become the second-ever rapper to headline the Super Bowl on February 9th, where SZA will join him. The Compton rapper is expected to perform some of his modern hits alongside music from his new album, GNX, and his Drake diss tracks that dropped last year. A major achievement for an artist who continues to evolve with age.
Topping the Super Bowl bill might be one of the biggest achievements in the entertainment business, but the artists don’t actually get paid for their efforts. An NFL representative said that the football league “covers all costs associated with the show and does pay the halftime performers’ union scale,” putting forth around $10million to put the whole thing together.