2022 FIFA World Cup

Eminem Turned Down $8 Million To Perform With 50 Cent At The FIFA World Cup

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Argentina made history at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, leading to momentous celebrations upon their return to their home fans. Apparently, the only thing missing from this significant sports moment was rap music legend, Eminem. While Nicki Minaj, Maluma, and Myriam teamed up for the official FIFA fan festival anthem, attendees, according to 50 Cent (real name Curtis Jackson), could have been treated to an in-person performance from the Detroit native.

During his visit to REAL 92.3 FM’s show Big Boy’s Neighborhood, the mogul revealed Eminem turned down the opportunity to perform at the FIFA World Cup.

“I got an inquiry about World Cup, and they had a budget of $9 million. I would’ve taken one, and then the other eight would have been for him.” However, it was quickly shot down after sharing the proposal with Eminem’s manager Paul Rosenberg.

“[Paul] like, he’s not gonna do it.” While Jackson has discussed on multiple occasions how he’s walked away from lucrative deals, including a $1.3 million offer from Universal Music Group, he was shocked to hear Eminem’s decision considering he has performed at the Super Bowl with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, and 50 Cent.

Jackson mentioned their Superbowl performance and said, “If you would do a one-off show, maybe you would do the biggest live sporting event in the world,” said Jackson referring to the World Cup.

Although Jackson doesn’t explicitly mention which year his mentor was asked to perform at the sporting competition, the rumor about the league having a hard time booking talent for last year’s series in Qatar may have some truth to it overall.

During the same interview, Jackson shared that he is currently working on a television series honoring Eminem’s life and legacy, “I wanna bring… I’m gonna bring 8 Mile to television,” said Jackson, “We in motion. It’s gonna be big. I’m working. I ain’t got no duds.”

Watch the full interview above.

Lil Baby’s Expansive ‘The World Is Yours To Take’ Video Caps Off A Wild World Cup

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Lil Baby December 2022
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Lil Baby has been on top of the world since releasing his Mount Rushmore-themed It’s Only Me, his third No. 1 album, in October. After Lionel Messi cemented his “GOAT” status by leading Argentina to an instant-classic victory over France in the 2022 men’s World Cup final on Sunday, December 18, Lil Baby and FIFA dropped a video to remind everyone greatness isn’t only reserved for Baby and Messi.

Lil Baby’s “The World Is Yours To Take” with Tears For Fears, dubbed the Budweiser Anthem of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and included on the tournament’s official soundtrack, initially released in September. The accompanying four-minute video finds Baby rapping in the desert, overlooking the endless landscape, spliced with scenes of the World Cup and people enjoying a Budweiser on a beach.

“I think it’s about that time, it’s getting closer,” Baby raps as he jaunts into an empty stadium and tournament highlights start playing. “Whole lotta fingers crossed, a lot of hopin’ / Wishin’ for the best, preparin’ for the worst too / Got out here and bust my ass, I had to work, too.”

“I’m excited to make history with Budweiser and close out the 2022 FIFA World Cup with this unforgettable video,” Lil Baby said in a statement, per Variety. “Working with Director X and the amazing people from around the globe, we’re celebrating what it means to bring the world together and inspire people to chase those dreams.”

Watch the video here.

Drake Bet On Argentina For The World Cup Final, Which Has Fans On Edge

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drake 2022
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Ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup final, Drake has let it be known that he is betting on Argentina to win the closing game against France. Depending on who you’re rooting for, this could be a good thing or a bad thing.

See, Drake doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to making bets or expressing fandom to certain athletes or teams. While he is known to make allusions to professional sports and athletes in his songs, as well as share photos of himself wearing team jerseys. However, his outward support has not always worked out in his favor.

Some examples of teams and athletes who have fallen victim to the “Drake curse” include Conor McGregor, who lost his fight in a fourth-round submission to Russian fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov, after McGregor shared a picture with the rapper in 2018. Just months later, Drake shared a video of him working out while wearing a University Of Alabama hoodie in support of their college football team. Just a week later, the Roll Tide would lose 44-16 to the Clemson Tigers.

Needless to say, Argentina fans are on edge.

Check out some of the hilarious fan reactions above.

The World Cup Final takes place tomorrow at 10 a.m. EST. You can stream the game on Peacock.

French Montana Turned Times Square Into Casablanca To Celebrate Morocco’s World Cup Quarterfinals Win

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French Montana November 2022
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Ronaldo was beside himself after his Portugal squad was stunned 1-0 by Morocco in their the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal match on Saturday, December 10. French Montana does not feel bad for him. The Moroccan-American rapper was already riding high from Morocco’s Cinderella run making it past Spain, but becoming the first-ever African country to compete in a men’s World Cup semifinals (as noted by ESPN) left French Montana in a state of pure euphoria.

French Montana began his celebration by trolling Ronaldo, partially captioning his first Instagram post, “Ronaldo u had your time g … it’s Morocco time lol.” He followed that up by photoshopping himself sitting across from Ronaldo and playing chess with the even more savage caption, “🇲🇦 RONALDOO 😂😆AIRPORT THIS WAY 👉🏻👉🏻”

IRL, French Montana was fully engaged in an overwhelming Times Square celebration. “Hours later after a ig post !MASHALLAHHHHH REAL LOVE ! YOU AINT NEVER SEEN THIS MANY MORROCANS [sic] IN 42nd street 🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦 NYC FEEL LIKE CASABLANCA RN,” the diamond-certified artist caption an Instagram video of cheering fans waving Moroccan flags. In another video, French Montana holds up the flag and says to the camera, “Morocco, we outside!”

French Montana was born in Casablanca, Morocco before his family relocated to the South Bronx in New York City when he was 13. “It was a culture shock at first. It was hard,” he told Esquire earlier this year, noting he only spoke Arabic and French at the time. He added, “I take all the pride in being from the Bronx. You could become a rapper anywhere in the world. Still, to do it in the mecca of hip-hop, where all the pillars come from, makes me even more proud.”

Morocco will try to make him the most proud on Wednesday, December 14, when they go up against the reigning World Cup champion and perennial favorite France in the semifinals. The match begins at 2 p.m. EST on FOX.

Morocco’s World Cup Victory Has French Montana Ready To Head To Qatar And Support His Home Country

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French Montana Morocco
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Morrocco were a major long shot to advance into the knockout stage of the World Cup in Qatar. They were placed in a very tough group with FIFA’s No. 2 team in the world, Belgium, perennial World Cup darlings Croatia, and a stout Canadian squad. But the Moroccan team defied all odds in beating Belgium, advancing into a knockout game against 2010 champion Spain and then beating them in a stunner to advance into the quarterfinal. But they didn’t just beat them, they played to a grueling 0-0 draw and then shut them out in a penalty shootout. It was a triumphant moment, one of the best in the World Cup thus far, and Morocco’s most famous hip-hop personality, French Montana, was beyond hyped.

French Montana was born in Casablanca and while he moved to New York City when he was 13, the South Bronx rapper is undoubtedly a Moroccan immigrant success story. So when the match ended in victory for his homeland’s team, Montana seemed to be ready to speed dial his travel agent and head out to Qatar for their quarterfinal match this coming Saturday. “WOWWWWW [Moroccan flag emojis] Moroccan heroes congratulations I guest we flyin to QATAR,” he wrote in an Instagram post along with three slider images of the victorious squad.

If this World Cup is missing anything, it’s rappers sitting courtside… err… pitchside. Here’s hoping we see styled-out French Montana there for Morocco’s match against the winner of the Portugal/Spain match. Given his prolific trend of making music videos for what seems like every song, he might just need to get a +1 for his director, too.

Lil Baby And Tears For Fears Share The 2022 World Cup Budweiser Anthem ‘The World Is Yours To Take’

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Lil Baby has inarguably reached the biggest milestone in his career as he has released the official, Budweiser-sponsored 2022 World Cup anthem “The World Is Yours To Take” alongside Tears For Fears. This track will appear with multiple others on the official World Cup soundtrack.

The My Turn rapper kicks the record off, spitting “I’m by far one of the hardest workers / Real firm believer in practice makes perfect / You can gather all the water, stay thirsty / Took a lot to get us here, we broke curses.” The rapper also reflects on the effects COVID-19 had on the country, but celebrates that everyone is back outside winning.

Tears For Fears comes in the refrain, singing “Everybody wants to rule the world” repeatedly as Baby ad-libs in between each line.

“The World Is Yours To Take” follows a highly active year for Lil Baby. The Atlanta rapper shared “Detox” earlier this month and appeared twice on DJ Khaled’s 13th studio album God Did, namely the lead single “Staying Alive” with Drake and “Big Time” with Future. The “Freestyle” artist also joined forces with Nav and Travis Scott on “Never Sleep,” the lead single from Nav’s latest album Demons Protected By Angels. At the top of the year, he and Nicki Minaj released back-to-back collaborations with “Do We Have A Problem?” followed by “Bussin.”

As for Tears For Fears, they released “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” and a sped-up version of the record in August. The band shared their latest album The Tipping Point back in February after a nearly two-year hiatus since the “super deluxe” version of The Seeds Of Love came out.

Given Tears For Fears’s skin in the game dating back to the 1980s and Lil Baby arguably being in his prime today, this is literally a collaboration for the ages.

Check out Lil Baby and Tears For Fears on “The World Is Yours To Take,” the official 2022 World Cup song sponsored by Budweiser, above.