So far, Super Bowl LVIII hasn’t been a note. Most of the action has come from the evening’s entertainment starting with Post Malone’s rendition of “America The Beautiful.” But let’s be real: everyone was really tuned in for Usher’s highly anticipated halftime performance.
Given how many details were leaked, including Alicia Keys’ cameo, not much was left to the imagination. However, Usher still managed to deliver a notable set (and yes, it did feature his love of roller skating). Throughout the performance starring guest cameos from HER, Lil Jon, and Ludacris, Usher jumped across his multiple decade-long career. He even squeezed in some of the biggest hits of others on the stage.
Continue below to view Usher’s full setlist for the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show.
Usher’s Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Setlist
1. “Caught Up”
2. “U Don’t Have To Call”
3. “Superstar”
4. “Love In This Club”
5. “If I Ain’t Got You” With Alicia Keys
6. “My Boo” With Alicia Keys
7. “Confessions Part II” With Jermaine Dupri
8. “Nice & Slow”
9. “Burn”
10. “U Got It Bad” With HER
11. “Bad Girl” With HER
12. “OMG” With Will.I.Am
13. “Turn Down for What” With Lil Jon
14. “Yeah” With Lil Jon & Ludacris
Watch the full performance presented by Apple Music below.
It feels a bit ridiculous to even type these words, but going into Usher’s Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show performance, there was a certain amount of skepticism about whether he was a “Super Bowl caliber” artist from some fans (you can probably guess which ones). Of course, once the veteran hitmaker hit the stage, he obliterated all doubts about his worthiness for the moment, reminding those fans that he’s got 25+ years of pop-R&B excellence under his belt.
The results of Usher’s preparations were on full display as he performed pop culture mainstays like “Caught Up,” “U Don’t Have To Call,” and “Superstar” over the course of the 15-minute set. After coming out to “Caught Up” flanked by dancers dressed in Roaring ’20s regalia, he ran through a progression of 2000s hits before bringing out Alicia Keys for a rendition of their duet “My Boo.” Usher then launched into a retrospective of his slow-burners like “Nice & Slow” and “U Got It Bad.” Naturally, he came out of his shirt during the latter. H.E.R. joined him onstage to play the guitar solo, he broke out the roller skates for a breakdown, and Lil Jon played part of “Shots” before they went into everybody’s favorite Usher song, “Yeah,” joined (of course) by Ludacris.
Usher, Alicia Keys, H. E. R., Lil Jon, and Ludacris.
And just in case the performance itself wasn’t enough to turn those fans‘ expectations around, the inevitable streaming bump that’s sure to follow certainly should. After last year’s performance, Rihanna topped the streaming charts. The year before, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s 1999 hit “Still D.R.E.” reached over a billion views on YouTube, and in 2019, even the meme-baiting stunt performance of Spongebob Squarepants‘ “Sweet Victory” prompted a 500% increase in streams for the cartoon’s soundtrack.
Alicia Keys will reportedly join Usher during the Super Bowl halftime performance. According to TMZ, eyewitnesses have seen Alicia Keys rehearsing with Usher inside Allegiant Stadium, signaling a performance of “My Boo.”
Additional rumored guests include Justin Bieber, Ludacris, and Lil Jon. Luda and Lil Jon are featured in an Apple Music film hyping the performance. Apple Music dropped the Where’s Usher? film earlier in the year.
In addition to the aforementioned hip-hop stars, Taraji P. Henson stars in the film. Also making cameos in the film are J Balvin, Anderson .Paak, Wesley Snipes, and more.
You can see it below.
Usher is hitting the road to celebrate his illustrious 30-year career and the release of his upcoming album Coming Home. Following the success of his Las Vegas residency, the global icon will embark on the Usher: Past Present Future tour, produced by Live Nation.
The 24-city tour kicks off on Aug. 20 at the Capital One Arena in Washington DC, with stops in major cities, including Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Atlanta, before concluding in Chicago on Oct. 29.
Tickets will be available starting with Citi and Verizon presales, offering exclusive access to cardmembers and Verizon customers. Additional presales will follow throughout the week, with general on-sale beginning on February 12 at 10 am local time on LiveNation.com.
Fans can also elevate their concert experience with VIP packages, including premium tickets, meet-and-greet opportunities with Usher, pre-show VIP lounges, and exclusive merchandise.
Usher’s tour promises to celebrate his iconic career, featuring his signature smooth R&B tracks and electrifying performances. With the anticipation building for his new album release, fans can expect an unforgettable experience at every show.
Will Ludacris perform with Usher at the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show this weekend? What about Justin Bieber? We don’t know for sure about either of them yet, but speculation has been flying. Now, we have our first report that claims to confirm a guest is joining in on the fun.
According to a report from TMZ, Alicia Keys is set to join Usher during his big performance this weekend, on February 11. The publication notes, “Sources close to the production confirm eyewitness accounts that AK rehearsed with Usher inside Allegiant Stadium on Thursday.”
This follows a February 8 tweet from Las Vegas Locally, a popular X (formerly Twitter) account that covers Vegas-related news, that said, “Lil Jon, Alicia Keys, and Usher are at Allegiant Stadium practicing their Super Bowl performances.” So, if that tweet is accurate, Lil Jon is involved, too, not just Keys.
Lil Jon, Alicia Keys, and Usher are at Allegiant Stadium practicing their Super Bowl performances.
Keys and Usher, of course, collaborated on “My Boo,” which was a No. 1 hit in 2004. So, presumably, the song made Usher’s Super Bowl setlist. Usher and Jon, meanwhile, linked up (along with Ludacris) on “Yeah!,” another No. 1 single from 2004, so it appears we can expect to hear that classic song in Las Vegas, too.
Learn more about how to watch Usher’s (and Keys’, it looks like) performance here.
More rising artists are utilizing the power of social media like never before, including Foggieraw. Emerging as an online sensation, Foggieraw’s is a story of an artist capitalizing on our technology-driven culture. The rapper-singer has been long taking over TikTok For You Pages worldwide with his viral tracks and captivating videos that have been shared and stitched by the millions.
The Maryland star made waves with his popular track “Psalms 62,” where he spoke the religious text over an instrumental to Alicia Keys’s “You Don’t Know My Name.” The Grammy winner also caught wind of Foggieraw’s interpretation of her production and cosigned his talents. Keys would later appear in a video alongside the rapper while playing the piano as he performed his record. Moreover, this marked the first time Keys cleared “You Don’t Know My Name” for any artist.
As more artists like Ari Lennox, idk, and SZA praise Foggieraw’s skills, he returns with his latest single, “Destiny.” Of course, as with any Foggie release, the vibes are unmatched as he speaks about stepping into his greatness. Further, with a delivery and cadence that is unlike any other on the scene currently, “Destiny” once again sets Foggieraw apart—and up the ladder of success in this industry.
Check out “Destiny” by Foggieraw and let us know what you think of the DMV star’s latest release.
Quotable Lyrics
I got the hottest chick up in the game like Natalie Portman Think I’m married to the game and never divorcin’ Vibrations, baritone, releasin’ endorphins I fathered all these clowns, I’m leavin’ ’em orphans, damn, I’m leavin’ ’em, mm
“Been holding this incredible news close to the chest,” the two wrote in a joint caption. “Now, it’s our pleasure to officially announce GIANTS: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys opening on February 10 @brooklynmuseum! Tickets to #GiantsBkM available now!!!!!! A MUST SEE SHOW. Link in bio… Let’s get 2024 started!! A BIG special thank you to all the GIANTS in the show!!! @TheDeanCollection.”
The couple have continued to build a presence in the art world. Swizz Beatz, according to Complex, has served on the museum’s board since 2015.
“There is great brand recognition with the Deans,” Kimberli Gant, a contemporary art curator who helped on the exhibit, told The New York Times. “People love Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, but they don’t know them as collectors.” Gant had previously assisted the Spike Lee show at the Brooklyn Museum.
In total, there is supposed to be over 100 artworks in the collection. Dean first started collecting art as a teenager in the ’90s and has since estimated he has thousands of pieces. “The reason why we doubled down on African American art is because people weren’t collecting it,” Dean told the publication.
The exhibit will open on February 10, and more information can be found here.
Check out Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys’ announcement of the exhibit above.
Alicia Keys’ vocal talent is one of a kind, which is exactly why her hits like “Girl On Fire” and “No One” have appeared in a handful of shows and movies throughout her career. More recently, the New Yorker found herself involved with Oprah Winfrey’s remake of The Color Purple, contributing a beautiful song called “Lifeline” to the historic film’s soundtrack. On Thursday (December 21), Keys unleashed the song’s accompanying music video, for which she reconnected with director Diane Martel, HipHopDX reports.
In the past, the duo collaborated on visuals for songs like “If I Ain’t Got You” and “Like You’ll Never See Me Again.” Their working relationship seems to only grow stronger with each joint effort, and the visual story they tell for “Lifeline” marks some of their best creative planning yet. “I can be your lifeline / Stay with you ‘til the sunrise / When you’re low / It don’t mean you’re alone,” the mother of two’s voice beautifully rings out.
Alicia Keys Shares Her Stunning Contribution to The Color Purple Film
“I’ll be by your side / Oh, I can be the reason / That you don’t feel your demons / When you’re low / It don’t mean you’re alone / I’ll be by your side,” Keys soothes listeners. Now that “Lifeline” is here, we’re even more eager to see The Color Purple when it hits theatres on Christmas Day. Ciara, H.E.R. and Halle Bailey all star in the project, though Oprah recently shared that the studio was hoping to see Beyonce or Rihanna cast in the film.
We’re just days away from The Color Purple officially arriving in theatres, and movie buffs are already eager to see how the classic story’s retelling will go over with audiences. Earlier this fall, Bailey described the atmosphere of being on set as comparable to a “cookout,” making her and her co-stars feel incredibly comfortable and at home together. Read everything the Atlanta native had to say at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Alicia Keys is set to captivate audiences with a Broadway show centered around her own life. Titled Hell’s Kitchen, with new arrangements of her biggest hits and original songs, the Grammy-awarded singer-songwriter’s Broadway debut is eagerly anticipated.
‘Hell’s Kitchen’
The announcement of Alicia Keys bringing her life story to Broadway has sent excitement throughout the entertainment industry. Keys made the revelation during a Public Theater fundraiser, where she shared her joy in fulfilling her ultimate dream. She stated:
“We get to announce the ultimate dream — the dream that my mother chased from a little girl, that brought her here, which is the reason why I’m here, which is the reason why this city raised me, and the reason why I can even tell this story.”
Alicia Keys Musical ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ to Open on Broadway This Spring https://t.co/YOf2iXMSdd
In addition to her groundbreaking venture into Broadway, Alicia Keys continues to explore new opportunities outside of her musical abilities. Most recently, she filed a trademark for her upcoming teas, aptly named ‘Alicia Tea.’
Alicia’s Story
Hell’s Kitchen offers a glimpse into a chapter of Keys’s life as a 17-year-old growing up in a New York housing development surrounded by artists.
The story follows the protagonist, a girl raised by her single mother, as she discovers her love for piano and grapples with an attraction to an older man. Despite the challenges of a gritty neighborhood, she yearns for independence and self-expression. The musical explores themes of resilience, passion, and inner strength.
Directed by Michael Greif and choreographed by Camille A. Brown, the downtown cast boasts a talented lineup. Maleah Joi Moon takes on the protagonist role, while Shoshana Bean portrays her mother. Brandon Victor Dixon plays the absentee father, and Kecia Lewis shines as the piano teacher.
Exclusive Songs?
The Broadway cast has yet to be announced, adding to the anticipation surrounding the production.
Featuring newly arranged versions of Keys’s chart-topping hits like “Fallin’,” “Girl on Fire,” “No One,” and “Empire State of Mind,” the musical promises to be a captivating blend of nostalgia and fresh interpretations. Additionally, Keys has penned several new songs exclusively for Hell’s Kitchen, showcasing her prowess as a songwriter beyond her iconic discography.
Collaborating with playwright Kristoffer Diaz over the past decade, Keys has meticulously crafted a narrative that resonates with her personal experiences. Opening night is scheduled for April 20, 2024, at the prestigious Shubert Theater, where the show’s first preview is set for March 28.
A Tribe Called Quest Goes To Broadway
The fusion of R&B and hip-hop with Broadway is not a new concept. Q-Tip, a member of “A Tribe Called Quest,” is making his mark in the theater world as the musical producer, co-lyricist, and cast album producer for an upcomingBroadway musical, based on the late and great Muhammad Ali.
The incomparable Alicia Keys joins Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 to discuss the 20th Anniversary of her Grammy-winning multi-platinum sophomore album, The Diary of Alicia Keys. She opens up about collaboration over the years, dives into the process of creating ‘Diary’ fresh off the heels of her Grammy-winning first album, and reflects on how she kept that momentum going. Keys also opens up about how her husband Swizz Beatz helps her celebrate her wins and shares how Clive Davis has impacted her career.
“I’m reflecting back to “The Diary of Alicia Keys”. I’m reflecting back to this being my second offering to the world. There was so much that changed for me. There was so much that was different than it had ever been before in my life. Obviously a girl born and raised in Hell’s Kitchen in Harlem, never had travelled like that. You don’t travel like that. Where do you go? You go to Jersey. Maybe you’re going to get to Connecticut. There’s not really a tonne of places that I had gone at the time, but thanks to the Songs in A Minor. I travelled the whole world.” -Alicia Keys
On Christmas Day, The Color Purple is set to dazzle another generation of filmgoers. In the new adaptation of the musical version of Alice Walker’s beloved novel, Fantasia will reprise the role she played on Broadway. But the all-star cast doesn’t stop there. Halle Bailey, Jon Batiste, HER, Ciara, and more will appear. Given the film’s musical legacy, the soundtrack has enormous shoes to fill.
On Monday, November 27, it was revealed that a jam-packed lineup of musicians set to appear on the album. Two of the film’s stars, HER and Halle Bailey, will lend their voice to the soundtrack, which is executive produced by Quincy Jones and Scott Sanders. It will also include Alicia Keys, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Megan Thee Stallion, Jennifer Hudson, Keyshia Cole, Jorja Smith, Coco Jones, Ciara, Mary Mary, and Missy Elliott.
The soundtrack’s first taste came from Alicia Keys’ song “Lifeline.” You can listen to the single below. The soundtrack will be shared on December 15 via WaterTower Music and Gamma.
Walker’s novel was first filmed by Steven Spielberg in 1985, with a cast that included Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, and Margaret Avery. It was a hit that earned 10 Academy Award nominations.
The Color Purple will hit theaters on December 25.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
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