Beyonce makes waves wherever she goes. She has made a career out of shattering glass ceilings, whether it be for women, Black performers, or R&B stars. She has transcended the mediums in which she has dabbled, and she did it again on Wednesday. The NFL confirmed that Beyonce will be given special treatment during her upcoming Halftime performance on Christmas Day. Most artists have a specific amount of time to regal football fans. Beyonce, however, will get more time.
TMZ confirmed the NFL’s decision on December 11. The outlet reported that a typical Halftime set runs 12-15 minutes. Beyonce, however, will be given a much larger chunk of time to play with. The Queen Bey will reportedly be given 20 minutes to perform songs from her new album, Cowboy Carter. This is a very big decision on the part of the NFL, but one that makes sense given Beyonce’s prestige. She is among the most revered musical acts in the world. She’s also nominated for a staggering nine Grammy Awards for the aforementioned Cowboy Carter.
Beyonce fans have been waiting for the singer to announce a Cowboy Carter tour. She has yet to, which means that the Christmas Day Halftime Show will mark the first time she will be performing songs from her current album. An album that has a very good chance of winning Album of the Year at the Grammys. Beyonce’s involvement with the NFL should come as no surprise, given that her husband, Jay-Z, works with the league on a regular basis. Hov’s Roc Nation has taken a central role in selecting the acts who’ll perform during football events. Beyonce herself, was chosen to appear the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2016.
Beyonce and Jay-Z have been linked to controversy in the months since Christmas Day Halftime Show was announced. The latter was accused of raping an underage girl alongside Diddy in the year 2000. He has denied these allegations, and vowed to clear his name. Beyonce has not commented on the lawsuit currently being filed against her husband. Sources close to the singer, however, claim that she will stand by him during this difficult time.
“Ok, I don’t know what’s going on, but are we gonna still have the Super Bowl? I’m just asking for a friend!” That was the question that 50 Cent was demanding answer to following Jay-Z’s rape allegations. It came across as kind of a joke, but to be fair, a lot of people have been wondering the same. Moreover, some fans of the NFL have even been calling for them to sever their ties with Hov. “Hey @NFL Jay Z got a weird case why he’s still around?” one Twitter user quipped. “As a conservative white woman and mother of ten, I am not comfortable watching the Super Bowl this year knowing that Jay Z is so heavily involved with the @NFL as an organization,” another added.
It’s now been four days since the lawsuit initially only against Diddy was amended by the Jane Doe and her rep, Tony Buzbee. To recap, the woman is accusing Jay-Z of raping her back at an after-party following the 2000 MTV Music Video Awards. He’s since vehemently denied the allegations and has also called out Buzbee for these “heinous” acts. It’s worth noting that additional allegations have been coming in since December 8 as well.
AP Sources Clear Up The Questions Swirling Around Jay-Z’s Future With The NFL
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – JUNE 1: rapper Jay-Z looks up ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final 2023/24 match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid CF at Wembley Stadium on June 1, 2024 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
With that said, what does all of this mean for Jay-Z’s Roc Nation partnership with the NFL? Will they actually drop their contract? Or will they stand pat and subsequently back him during this shocking series of events? Well, we now have an answer courtesy of AP sources close to matter.
“With the ongoing legal process, there’s no change to the relationship with Roc Nation and that includes the Super Bowl.” The person is remaining nameless due to it being a legal issue. With that now confirmed, it’s going to depend greatly on who you ask if this is good news or not. If things do come out about these allegations being true, then we could be having a very different discussion moving forward. But for the time being, Jay-Z’s ties with the NFL are safe, for now.
Get ready Beyonce fans because she’s going to be hitting the stage very soon. The one we are referring to is the one that the Houston Texans will be providing for her on Christmas Day. Back in mid-November, Netflix announced that they were able to snag Queen Bey for the halftime show at NRG Stadium. That’s where her hometown team will be when they welcome the Baltimore Ravens. The game will be on the streaming service at 4:30 p.m. ET. It will be the second of a double header, with the Kansas City Chiefs traveling to Pittsburgh for a showdown with the Steelers at 1 p.m. ET. This is the first time ever that Netlfix will be housing any NFL game as well.
As you may remember, they hosted the stream for the Jake Paul and Mike Tyson fight. That didn’t go so well, with users having issues keeping the match on their devices. Given how big the NFL is, it will be interesting to see how this goes. But as for Beyonce, no one was sure what part of her catalog she would be using for this performance. Well, those questions have now been answered thanks to a new teaser for the halftime show that just dropped, courtesy of Billboard.
At the start of the 30-second trailer, bells are ringing as the video fades in to reveal a cactus with white ornaments on it. The camera then pans up further to reveal Beyonce hanging a football ornament on the Texas “Christmas tree.” Then, it rapidly zooms out to show the singer extraordinaire’s get-up. She’s fittingly wearing an all-white ensemble. More specifically, it’s combination of leather pants, a long, fuzzy coat and oversized cowboy hat.
After that, the lights shine bright, she fires some air bullets into the snowy night sky, blows out the smoke, and winks to the camera. She walks off to reveal a red title card that reads, “Halftime Show This Christmas Houston, TX. Given what she wore in the trailer, there’s a strong chance we will hear a medley of tracks from her commercial smash, COWBOY CARTER. It was also hinted that this would be the album to get play time based on the initial announcement playing the opening cut, “AMERICAN REQUIEM.” With all that being said, saddle up Beyonce and NFL fans, it’s going to be wild, wild ride.
The magic of Inside the NBA is that the crew is never afraid to go places that no other show would be willing to. The all-time example is Charles Barkley making jokes about the Jussie Smollett case and explaining to America that you should “not commit crimes with checks.”
Kenny amended his example to Kendrick Lamar, while Chuck had the same grin on his face as he did when he was able to make his Jussie jokes, as no one is more proud of themselves when they get to tiptoe up to the line than Barkley. It’s rare Chuck gets to both be the jokester and voice of reason at the same time, but in this instance he was probably right that using Jay-Z as an example right now wasn’t the best timed reference, while also accomplishing his constant goal of getting Shaq to lose it.
After doing its absolute darnedest to kill cable, Netflix has finally moved into the “replacement” phase of its master plan, embracing live sports as the first beachhead in its efforts to depose the old regime and take over America’s television sets. To that end, it’s launching its NFL On Netflix imperative on Christmas, and who better to help draw eyes (and ears) than one of pop music’s most ubiquitous forces? Beyoncé will be performing at halftime of the Ravens vs. Texans game, and the Houstonian will be there to support her team and promote her Cowboy Carter album in the process.
At least, that’s the takeaway from Bey’s teaser for the performance, which Netflix shared on its social channels just a few minutes ago. In it, Beyoncé lights up a Christmas tree — err, cactus — while sporting a massive cowboy hat and bedazzled in a fuzzy coat and a collar of diamonds. Fanfare blares as the title card announces the performance and the kickoff time for the game, 4:30 PM ET.
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter era has seen her pop up in all sorts of unusual places, but for her, an NFL halftime performance may just feel like a homecoming (heh), after she performed at the Super Bowl halftime show twice, in 2013 and 2016. However, what sets this apart is that it’s the first time the NFL has played on Christmas (traditionally, the NBA’s territory), which warrants her all-star presence — which, again, is backed by Netflix, which probably issued a big-ass check, its own tradition when it comes to “disrupting” established industries.
You can watch the teaser up top and the performance at 4:30 ET on Christmas day on Netflix.
The truth is, the NFL is agnostic when it comes to believing in anything other than making the most money possible, but it did make for a lot of funny jokes on social media when the Kendrick announcement dropped. We got further confirmation of that fact on Tuesday, when Drake’s October’s Very Own label announced it’s latest upcoming merchandise collaboration with the NFL, teasing a pair of Starter-esque jackets on Instagram with a release date of December 13.
Instagram
It’s not the first time the NFL has partnered with OVO, as they’ve done a handful of collaborations in the past, but the timing on this one certainly will generate plenty of buzz given the upcoming Kendrick Lamar performance. That said, it’s probably safe to assume this has been in the works for quite some time, likely before Lamar’s announcement as the Super Bowl halftime act. In any case, the NFL always seems to find a way to come out on top, no matter what side of most any issue people find themselves on. I will say the funniest outcome to all of this would be for Kendrick to wear one of these jackets at his Super Bowl halftime performance.
Drake and Kendrick Lamar engaged in one of the most jaw-dropping beefs in the history of hip-hop. Overall, this is a feud that is going to go down in history, especially with the way it ended. Kendrick ultimately got the win, and he did so in a brutal fashion. His mastery of tone and strategy were second to none, and Drizzy didn’t really have an answer. In the aftermath of Lamar’s win, he was even awarded the Super Bowl Halftime Show, which has proven to be a controversial decision.
Despite the league’s newfound association with Kendrick, it would appear as though Drake is still in business with the league. Over the years, Drake has dropped a few collaborations alongside the NFL, through his OVO brand. The OVO imprint is mostly known for its impressive streetwear designs. Overall, these collaborations draw a ton of hype, and most importantly, they look good. Now, OVO and the NFL are teaming up for a brand-new collection.
As you can see in the tweet above, it would appear as though this new collaboration is going to bring the OVO aesthetic to some unique jackets. In fact, these jackets seem to be in the same style as those iconic Starter jackets that were popular decades ago. As for the release date of the collaboration, you can expect the new pieces to arrive on Friday, December 13th. Essentially, these are coming out right in time for the Christmas holiday.
It will be interesting to see what else Drake will do with the NFL, in the future. There were rumblings that Drake had been asked to perform the Super Bowl Halftime Show twice. However, on both occasions, Drake decided that it would be best to just politely decline. One has to wonder if the artist will change his tune on that in the future. After all, performing at the Super Bowl is one of the biggest things you can do as a legacy act.
Many NFL fans on social media have been calling for the league to suspend its business ties with Jay-Z after a woman accused him of allegedly raping her at an afterparty for the 2000 MTV VMAs when she was just 13 years old. She brought the allegation in an amendment to a previous lawsuit she filed against Diddy. While both Jay-Z and Diddy have already denied the story, some NFL fans have been calling for action.
“Hey @NFL Jay Z got a weird case why he’s still around?” one user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote on Sunday. Another wrote: “Jay Z should lose his job with the @NFL which means all his decisions should be reversed so no Kendrick Super Bowl.” One more posted: “As a conservative white woman and mother of ten, I am not comfortable watching the Super Bowl this year knowing that Jay Z is so heavily involved with the @NFL as an organization.”
US rapper Jay-Z arrives to Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on February 12, 2023. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
Jay-Z has already denied the allegations, posting a fiery statement on X calling out attorney Tony Buzbee. “What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle,” his statement reads in part. “No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!” He concluded: “Only your network of conspiracy theorists, fake physics, will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable. I look forward to showing you just how different I am.”
NFL Fans Condemn Jay-Z
Jay-Z and his Roc Nation company have consulted with the NFL on the Super Bowl Halftime Show and other events for years now. They helped select Kendrick Lamar as the headliner for this year’s game. Check out the responses from NFL fans regarding the allegations below.
Hey @NFL Jay Z got a weird case why he’s still around?
As a conservative white woman and mother of ten, I am not comfortable watching the Super Bowl this year knowing that Jay Z is so heavily involved with the @NFL as an organization.
Jay-Z was tryna have Not Like Us played at the Super Bowl, now he’s got a pedophilia case on his name. Karma is a real thing man https://t.co/K9kED3ul3G
Trae Young, the Atlanta Hawks’ three-time NBA All-Star, has officially joined the Jordan Brand family. In his seventh season, Young makes the highly anticipated transition after parting ways with adidas earlier this year. This move solidifies his status as one of the league’s premier athletes and brings fresh excitement to the Jordan Brand roster. Speculation about Young’s next sneaker deal began when he was spotted sporting a mix of brands during preseason workouts. His rotations included his former adidas signature models, the Air Jordan 39, and even ANTA sneakers.
However, in recent weeks, he has exclusively laced up in the Air Jordan 39 during games, signaling a clear shift toward the Jumpman. Off the court, Young has also embraced Jordan Brand apparel, including a standout moment featuring the Air Jordan 11 “Legend Blue.” Jordan Brand’s announcement marks a significant addition to its roster, which already includes stars like Luka Dončić, Jayson Tatum, and Zion Williamson. While there’s no confirmation yet of a Trae Young signature sneaker under the brand, the possibility of such a release has already sparked excitement among fans. Known for his electrifying playstyle and cultural impact, Young is poised to bring a unique energy to the Jordan Brand lineup.
Young shared his enthusiasm about joining the iconic brand, calling it a “full circle moment.” Reflecting on his childhood, he recalled feeling invincible every time he laced up a pair of Jordans, saying, “As a kid, I always puffed out my chest a bit more when I had my Jordans on.” Now, as an official member of the Jordan family, he described the opportunity as both an honor and a dream come true.
This partnership not only boosts Jordan Brand’s presence in the NBA but also reinforces Young’s influence in both basketball and sneaker culture. Fans will be watching closely to see what comes next in this exciting new chapter for Trae Young and Jordan Brand.
Kevin Durant has been one of the best players in the NBA basically since he arrived in the league in 2008, but due to his overlap with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry, he hasn’t ever really gotten to carry the title of being the face of the league. For that reason, Durant isn’t quite as ubiquitous a figure when it comes to references in music and pop culture as the others, despite his immense talent and the way he changed the game.
That said, there was a period of time when Durant had a claim to being the best basketball player on the planet. That stretch from 2012-2019 saw him get name-dropped pretty frequently in rap lyrics, particularly after he joined the Warriors budding dynasty in 2016. Here, we’ll look at a dozen of the biggest tracks that reference Durant (most frequently as KD, as that’s much easier to rhyme).
“Pop That” — French Montana ft. Rick Ross, Drake, and Lil Wayne (2012)
Gettin cheddar packs like K.D., OKC that’s player s**t
Drake is always good for a few sports references on a song, and in his feature on the 2012 smash hit “Pop That” he shouts out KD while he was on the Thunder.
“Crown” — Jay-Z ft. Travis Scott (2013)
Scott Boras, you over baby/Robinson Cano, you coming with me/These n****s like rotary phones/It’s a new day, hit up KD
After launching his own sports agency in 2013, Jay-Z boasted about his growing client list on “Crown” (taking a shot at baseball superagent Scott Boras along the way), highlighting how Roc Nation Sports had already landed Robinson Cano and Kevin Durant (KD would leave Roc Nation in 2019).
“F**k KD” — Lil B (2014)
F**k Kevin Durant/F**k Kevin Durant/F**k Kevin Durant/F**k Kevin Durant
That is the entire chorus for this song, which has a lengthy backstory. After Durant tweeted about not liking Lil B’s music, TheBasedGod placed a curse on KD in 2011 and even dropped a whole diss track on the then-Thunder star in 2014. For awhile, there was compelling evidence that the curse was working as Durant and the Thunder couldn’t get over the hump to win a title, with KD ultimately breaking through after joining the Warriors — which is, ironically, Lil B’s favorite team.
“White Iverson” — Post Malone (2015)
Double OT like I’m KD, smokin’ OG
Post Malone had a ton of hoops references on his breakout hit (before his pivot to pop and, most recently, pivot to country), including this KD line — also, if this came out in 2019, this could’ve worked for a double-entendre about OG Anunoby.
“Good Drank” — 2 Chainz ft. Quavo and Gucci Mane (2016)
Oh, you in a slump/I’m headed to Oakland like Kevin Durant/What is your point?/Square with the stamp, for Kevin Durant
One of Gucci’s first features after his release from prison, the Atlanta rapper doubles up on his Durant references, both to Durant’s move to the Warriors and as a fill in for the number 35.
“Draco” — Future (2017)
35 b**ches at the St. Reg/Fall back shoot it like KD/Back in the kitchen with the Curry
This song is Future at the height of his powers, deftly pulling together Durant’s number 35 into a line about his fadeaway jumper and continues it with a nod to Durant’s then-Warriors teammate Stephen Curry.
“Save Me” — Meek Mill (2017)
I see n****s switchin’ sides like they KD/I can’t let it kill my vibe ’cause I’m too wavy
Durant’s move from the Thunder to the Warriors made him the poster boy for bailing on your team and switching sides, as Meek Mill references in this 2017 song.
“Ganja Burn” — Nicki Minaj (2018)
Still every team’s number one pick in the draft/You could bring anybody, weatherman, pick a day/I’m Kobe, KD, Kyrie, pick a K
Nicki Minaj uses this line about KD (along with Kobe Bryant and Kyrie Irving) to hammer home her place as the best woman in the rap game, which doubles as a reference to a famous Jay-Z line about a few guys named Mike.
“My Name Is” — Cordae (2018)
The best thing from PG since Kevin Durant
In Cordae’s first single, rapping over the beat from Eminem’s iconic “My Name Is”, he shouts out his fellow Prince George County native.
“Gold Roses” — Rick Ross ft. Drake (2019)
All smiles, Kevin Durant trials/Had to blow it on the court, I must have blew a milli’/I’m walkin’ on all charges, that’s my new Achilles
Drake references Durant and his torn Achilles in the 2019 Finals (suffered against Drake’s beloved Raptors) in this track with Rick Ross that released a month after the fact.
“Burner” — Lil Wayne (2020)
I keep a burner like Kevin Durant/I keep a burner like Kevin Durant
Lil Wayne might be the king of sports references in tracks, and in this 2020 song, he makes note of Durant’s infamous Twitter burner accounts in the chorus.
“go crazy” — Gunna (2023)
I been talking to my accountant a lot, tryna make what I got stack tall like KD
For decades, rappers have been comparing their stacks to the height of NBA big men — Shaq and Yao Ming are the gold standards for this in rap — but in this 2023 track Gunna uses KD. That’s a good choice, because KD is tall as hell, but it’s also a bit funny because Durant has been fighting the visual evidence that he’s actually a 7-footer his whole career, as he didn’t want to be a big man when he came into the league.
I’m just asking for a friend!” That was the 
