Hip-hop has moved the group at numerous sporting occasions throughout its wealthy historical past.
Queen Latifah holds the excellence of being the primary rapper to carry out at a halftime present. The hip-hop icon rocked the mic at Super Bowl XXXII in January 1998. Although Latifah sung throughout her set, she left an indelible impression on the NFL, which allowed different rappers to grace future halftime phases.
For instance, Missy Elliott delivered a show-stopping efficiency at Super Bowl XLIX in February 2015—and she or he wasn’t even the headliner. The veteran rhymer was a visitor performer for Katy Perry and rapped a medley of her greatest hits, together with “Get Ur Freak On,” “Work It” and “Lose Control.”
Another memorable halftime efficiency occurred in February 2022, when Dr. Dre headlined the Super Bowl LVI’s Pepsi Halftime Show and introduced out Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige. Everyone introduced their A-game and every artist delivered an electrifying efficiency.
Outside of soccer, rappers hit the stage at different sporting occasions as nicely. In 2011, Rihanna introduced out Drake and Kanye West to carry out throughout her headlining set at NBA All-Star Weekend. In 2013, Ludacris was tapped to be the musical ambassador throughout the NCAA Final Four video games, which happened at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. Luda was on the invoice for a halftime present that additionally featured fellow rapper Flo Rida.
XXL determined to make a journey down reminiscence lane and compiled a listing of 13 of essentially the most memorable halftime performances throughout a sporting contest. Check it out beneath.
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Queen Latifah Performs During Super Bowl XXXII
In 1998, Queen Latifah was considered one of a slew of performers chosen to pay homage to the legacy of Motown Records throughout the Super Bowl XXXII halftime present. Performing her music “Paper,” which contains a pattern of the Motown basic “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” Latifah made historical past as the primary rapper to hit the stage on the Super Bowl, opening yet one more door for hip-hop.
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Nelly Performs During Super Bowl XXXV
Coming off the heels off his wildly profitable debut album Country Grammar, Nelly joined music royalty throughout the Super Bowl XXXV halftime Show. In the midst of ‘N Sync, Britney Spears and Mary J. Blige becoming a member of Aerosmith on stage for a rendition of their hit “Walk This Way,” Nelly got here out of nowhere, dropping the opening verse from his personal hit single “E.I.” over Steven Tyler’s rollicking guitar riffs.
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P. Diddy and Nelly Perform During Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show
Diddy and Nelly co-starred alongside the likes of Jessica Simpson, Janet Jackson, Kid Rock, and Justin Timberlake throughout the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime present in 2004. Performing a medley of Bad Boy’s greatest hits, together with “Bad Boy for Life,” “Diddy” and “Mo Money Mo Problems,” Diddy was joined by Nelly, who lit the group on fireplace with a quickstrike from his 2002 hit, “Hot in Herre.” It was a historic second that is sadly been overshadowed by Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s Nipplegate controversy.
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The Black Eyed Peas Perform During Super Bowl XLV Halftime Show
“Boom Boom Pow,” “Pump It,” “Let’s Get It Started” and “Where Is The Love?” are just some of the picks The Black Eyed Peas carried out throughout their headlining efficiency throughout the Super Bowl XLV halftime present at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In addition to rockers like Slash, The Black Eyed Peas had been additionally joined by Usher, who popped as much as carry out his will.i.am collaboration “OMG” earlier than the Peas closed issues on a excessive notice with a reprise of their sing-along smash, “I Gotta Feeling.”
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Drake and Kanye West Perform at 2011 NBA All-Star Weekend
In 2011, Rihanna carried out throughout the NBA All-Star Game halftime and introduced alongside a number of shock visitors to show up the vitality. Drake was the primary shock—he spit his verse from her Rih’s single, “What’s My Name.” The Bajan singer later summoned Kanye West for a efficiency of “All Of The Lights.”
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Nicki Minaj Performs During Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show
In 2012, Nicki Minaj appeared alongside Madonna and M.I.A. for a rendition of “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” their collaboration from Madonna’s MDNA album, throughout the Super Bowl XLVI halftime present.
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Ludacris and Flo Rida Perform at NCAA Final Four 2013
Atlanta consultant Ludacris served as a musical ambassador for his stomping grounds throughout the NCAA Final Four 2013, which was held at Centennial Olympic Park. Billed alongside a various checklist of acts that included Sting and Dave Matthews Band, Ludacris pulled out all the stops, turning up with signature cuts like (*13*) “What’s Your Fantasy” and “Roll Out,” displaying the attendees a little bit of southern hospitality in a giant method.
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Missy Elliott Performs During Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show
During the Super Bowl XLIX halftime present at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Katy Perry gave the group and viewers a nice shock when she introduced out Missy Elliott. The rap legend had been comparatively quiet on the music entrance for a lot of the earlier decade, carried out a medley of her greatest fan favorites, with songs like “Get Ur Freak On,” “Work It” and “Lose Control.”
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Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell Williams Perform at 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend
Hip-hop was in full power throughout the 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend, as Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell Williams had been tapped to hit the stage and participate within the festivities. Kendrick, who headlined the Saturday evening of the All-Star Weekend, carried out a medley of hits, together with “M.A.A.D. City” and “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” previous to the Sprite Slam Dunk, whereas Pharrell Williams joined Janelle Monae and Earth, Wind & Fire throughout All-Star Game participant introductions.
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E-40 Performs During Game 1 of 2015 NBA Finals
In 2015, legendary spitter E-40 placed on for The Bay by performing throughout halftime of the collection opening match-up between his hometown squad’s Golden State Warriors and LeBron’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Hitting the group with bangers like “Tell Me When To Go” and “Choices,” E-40 sprinkled his swagger everywhere in the court docket, maybe offering an vitality enhance that helped Steph Curry’s squad to win the collection in six video games, giving the workforce its first NBA title in a long time.
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Desiigner Performs at Rucker Park
Brooklyn rapper Desiigner took his skills Uptown when he carried out at Rucker Park in 2016 throughout the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic. With a standing-room-only crowd flocking to the court docket, the G.O.O.D. Music signee delivered a charged-up efficiency of his breakout hit “Panda.”
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Flo Rida Performs During Game 2 of 2017 NBA Finals
Flo Rida might have made his bones popping out of the Florida rap scene, however the rapper confirmed Golden State Warriors followers time by delving right into a set that ran the gamut of his greatest hits throughout the second recreation of the 2017 NBA Finals. “My House,” “Good Feeling” and his Sage the Gemini collab “Game Time” had been among the many tracks that Flo Rida pulled out of his seize bag of hits throughout his efficiency, which acquired everybody from children to the Warriors cheerleaders concerned.
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Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and More Perform During Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show
Dr. Dre unfold California love throughout his headlining set on the 2022 Super Bowl. The hip-hop icon together with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige delivered memorable performances on the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show on the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
Among the highlights included Eminem kneeling after performing his Oscar-winning music “Lose Yourself” in honor of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Of course, we won’t overlook Ok-Dot’s militant efficiency of “Alright.”
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