Super Bowl LVIII

Drake’s Super Bowl Bet Earned Him $1 Million — More Than Enough To Replace His Ruined Watch Party Meal

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At Super Bowl LVIII, not only did the Kansas City Chiefs break the dreaded “Drake curse,” but they also won him $1 million after his 2:1 bet on them paid off big time. Drake’s partnership with betting app Stake has notoriously earned — and lost — him a lot of money, but this time around, he had a good reason for putting his money on the eventual winners: “I can’t bet against the Swifties,” he wrote in the caption of his Instagram post declaring the bet.

Later, after all was said and done and the 49ers’ defensive coach failed a simple pattern recognition test in overtime, Drake posted his celebration to his Instagram Story, revealing that he and his friends had accidentally broken a plate in their excitement, ruining some “good crepes” in the process. Drake also teased his mans about taking credit for the win, correcting him for saying “we won a million dollars” with a quick, “I won a million dollars.”

This marks the second time Drake has won over a million betting on the Super Bowl; last year, even he couldn’t believe his bet on Kansas City Chiefs, calling it “psychotic.” Maybe the curse only applies to non-Super Bowl sporting events — or Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes are simply immune.

Swizz Beatz Isn’t Fazed By Alicia Keys & Usher’s Embrace During The Super Bowl Halftime Show Despite The Memes

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Usher’s incredible Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show performance gave viewers 25+ years worth of hits crammed into the 15-minute set. It also delivered a banger of a new meme for fans online who couldn’t help but swoon at a tender moment he shared with guest artist Alicia Keys. Fittingly, she had joined him onstage to perform their 2004 hit “My Boo” which led to a tender embrace.

Naturally, their chemistry sent fans into a tizzy, resulting in a number of jokes at the expense of the stars’ spouses, Swizz Beats and Jennifer Goicoechea — especially Swizz. Check out some samples below.

Swizz, however, is holding it together — or, at least, trying to make it look that way. In an Instagram post with shots from the performance, the producer wrote, “Y’all talking about the wrong damn thing!!! y’all don’t see that amazing dress covering the entire stadium? Tonight’s performance was nothing but amazing with 2 amazing giants. Congrats @usher and my love @aliciakeys that song is a classic. We don’t do negative vibes on this side we make history.”

And, look, we get why the smoldering moment would get fans’ attention. After all, Usher did once sing, “Don’t leave your girl ’round me, true playa for real.” Swizz is probably safe. Probably.

Did Usher Get Paid For The Super Bowl Halftime Show In 2024?

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Nope. Usher didn’t get paid for his stellar Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, no matter how good it was.

Stars who perform the Super Bowl Halftime Show are usually given a budget with which to stage the show so they aren’t coming out of pocket, but they also don’t get a check at the end of the night (or up front) as they would for a normal concert.

So, why do they do it? Because, simply put, it’s an opportunity to get their faces and work in front of the biggest television audience in pop culture today. For instance, going into this show, some fans were actively questioning whether Usher was someone who should be doing the Super Bowl, wondering if he was “big enough” for TV’s biggest moment.

Now, after the performance, not only have those skeptics largely been converted, but many of them will also be checking out Usher’s catalog, or checking for him in the future. To paraphrase Shaq: They weren’t familiar with his game, but they are now.

In the past, stars have seen enormous streaming increases as curious viewers do their research, including Dr. Dre, Rihanna, and even Spongebob Squarepants. So, even if Usher didn’t get paid, it’s still extremely worth it, as those streaming bumps can result in big payouts when those royalty checks roll in. The Super Bowl is one time that getting paid in exposure is worth just as much as a check.

Check out more of our Super Bowl coverage here.

Who Performed With Usher At The Super Bowl Halftime Show?

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Usher 2024 Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show
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Usher has been a premier showman for decades now, so it’s not surprising that he put on quite the performance for his Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show yesterday (February 11). Some surprises, though, came via the guests that Usher recruited to join him on the field. So, let’s run through who Usher performed alongside for his big moment (aside from the hundreds and dancers and backing musicians who were also involved).

Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show: Alicia Keys

Usher started off solo, performing at least portions of “Caught Up,” “U Don’t Have To Call,” “Superstar,” and “Love In This Club.” Then, Alicia Keys emerged as the first guest, playing piano as she and Usher sang “If I Ain’t Got You” before transitioning into their chart-topping 2004 duet “My Boo.”

Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show: Jermaine Dupri

Next was “Confessions Part II,” which featured an introduction from Jermaine Dupri.

Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show: HER

Usher ran through “Nice & Slow” and “Burn” by himself before HER played guitar (and absolutely shredded) on “U Got It Bad” and “Bad Girl.”

Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show: will.i.am

Immediately after HER was will.i.am’s turn, who emerged for a quick portion of “OMG,” his and Usher’s No. 1 hit from 2010.

Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show: Lil Jon

Then it was onto Lil Jon, whose distinctive gravely yell introduced a snippet of his and DJ Snake’s “Turn Down For What.”

Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show: Ludacris

Lil Jon stuck around for the next song as the performance headed into the finale. “Turn Down For What” transitioned into “Yeah!,” so naturally, this was Ludacris’ turn to pop up.

Revisit the full halftime show performance here.

Killer Mike, Diplo, E 40, Hit Boy And Big Hit Join Apple Music Live From Las Vegas To Talk All Things Super Bowl

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Killer Mike, E 40, Diplo, Hit-Boy and Big Hit join Apple Music 1 live from Las Vegas to talk about all things USHER and Super Bowl.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Killer Mike talks about his recent GRAMMY wins, the support he’s received from his peers, his admiration for Big Boi, his circuitous route to success, his advice for the younger generation, and how he wants his next album to be his best yet.

When speaking on Usher and celebrating Atlanta, the Grammy Award winner said, “I’m proud. In Atlanta, we proud of each other. Like Usher hit me, Jeezy hit me, Tip hit me…congratulating me. And I’m the same way. Whether it was his residency or the Super Bowl halftime or the tour afterwards, my wifey danced with him. Dance, dance damn it. Dance with him.”

He went on to say, “I’m happy because Atlanta is a city where it celebrates culture and creativity. It especially celebrates Black culture and creativity. So if you want opportunity, man, it’s a great place to be because people going to be cheering for you. It doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy, doesn’t mean it’s not a journey. But you’re going to have some people cheering for you.”

Then, Diplo drops by the studio to talk about working with USHER on the newly-Platinum record “Climax,” his experience with Apple Vision Pro, the Las Vegas musical landscape, and how maintaining a balanced lifestyle helped him to not burn out during his aggressive touring years.

Hit-Boy and his father Big Hit stop into the studio to talk about what it’s been like to work together since Big Hit’s recent release from prison, and Bay area legend E 40 discusses his love for the 49ers, recognizing Kendrick Lamar’s talent when he was just starting out, what Hip Hop 50 means to him, and USHER’s talent.

The post Killer Mike, Diplo, E 40, Hit Boy And Big Hit Join Apple Music Live From Las Vegas To Talk All Things Super Bowl first appeared on The Source.

The post Killer Mike, Diplo, E 40, Hit Boy And Big Hit Join Apple Music Live From Las Vegas To Talk All Things Super Bowl appeared first on The Source.

Billie Eelish (Not A Typo) And Doja Catfish Prove Nickelodeon Clearly Had The Most Fun Super Bowl LVIII Broadcast

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Jim Nantz and Tony Romo are two of the best in the business when it comes to football broadcasting, which is why they were tasked with calling Super Bowl LVIII for CBS this weekend. So, all due respect to them and everybody else involved in the CBS broadcast, but Nickelodeon’s Super Bowl coverage was so clearly the most fun way to watch the big game.

Need proof? Take a look at the celebrities who were in attendance on the Nick broadcast. Offering some shots of CGI fish characters made to look like famous folks, Nick showed off aquatic music stars like Billie Eelish, Doja Catfish, and Herring Styles in the Bikini Bottom stands, along with other celebs like LePrawn James, Clamuel L. Jackson, and Fin Diesel.

Nick had a ton of fun beyond that, too. “Sweet Victory” finally made its first appearance at the big game. On top of that, SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star were on hand to provide in-game commentary, alongside Noah Eagle and Nate Burleson. At one point during the game, the camera cut to Leonardi DiCaprio in attendance, and Tom Kenny (voicing SpongeBob as he has since 1999) had a great quip: “Leonardo DiCaprio, 25. That was about his dating history,” a perfect reference to this classic SpongeBob scene.

Beyoncé Launched Her Country Era During The Super Bowl With Two New Singles, ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ And ’16 Carriages’

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Music is always a huge part of the Super Bowl, but that was especially true this weekend. Post Malone, Reba McEntire, and Andra Day sang pre-game; Kaskade was the in-game DJ; Usher crushed it with his halftime show; and Taylor Swift was in attendance to watch the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime.

Then there was Beyoncé, who decided to make the big game her moment by announcing new music with a commercial. Not only did she tease “Act II,” but she also dropped two new songs, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.”

Both tunes indicate that “Act II” is Beyoncé’s country era. “Texas Hold ‘Em” has a bit of a “Home” by Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros energy but with more twang, meaning it’s a jaunty and catchy folk-leaning number. “16 Carriages,” meanwhile, is more of a slow and dynamic country ballad. While neither song sounds like most of what Beyoncé has done lately, she’s a pro and she sounds as comfortable in this space as one might expect from a performer of her caliber.

Renaissance, Beyoncé’s previous album, is sometimes referred to as Act I: Renaissance, so it remains to be seen what the full title of “Act II” is (or if it does just end up being Act II). Whatever the case, it appears to be coming out soon.

Listen to “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” above.

Is Beyoncé Dropping A Country Album In 2024?

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For months, fans have been begging Beyoncé for the visuals for her Grammy Award-winning album, Renaissance. Today (February 11), during Super Bowl LVIII, the “Thique” singer finally delivered something for supporters to sink their teeth into.

Although the commercial wasn’t quite the visual the public was looking forward to, it confirms that the “Renaissance Era” is far from over. As Beyoncé takes a road trip back to her home state, Texas, she teases that something special is on the way.

So, what exactly should the Beyhive expect from their Queen Bey?

Is Beyoncé Dropping A Country Album In 2024?

Following the Easter eggs sprinkled into her 2024 Grammys wardrobe, it appears that Beyoncé is gearing up to drop a country album. But will it be released this year? Again, it seems that the answer is yes.

Based on the artwork, Renaissance Act II is scheduled to be released on March 29.

According to Pop Crave, the forthcoming album will feature 16 tracks. Of the records rumored to hit streaming platforms, the platform believes two songs are titled “Texas Hold’ Em” and “16 Carriages.” This wouldn’t be Beyoncé’s first venture into country music if you think back to her 2016 collaboration “Daddy Lessons” with The Chicks.

Beyoncé is known for her pop, R&B, and even rap records. But it looks like country music should brace itself for Bey’s formal entry.

Ben Affleck Launches His Music Career In A Super Bowl Ad For Dunkin – To The Dismay Of J-Lo, Fat Joe, And Jack Harlow

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Ben Affleck Super Bowl Commerical 2024
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Ben Affleck is trying his hand at being a pop star. The Air actor has let the “bored man in the world” headline get to him. To get his feet wet in the industry, Affleck didn’t have to travel far, given that his wife is pop music star Jennifer Lopez.

But as his “voice of reason,” Jack Harlow attempts to stop him from crashing Lopez’s studio session. However, as the Dunkin Super Bowl LVIII commercial shows, Affleck is too far gone. As Affleck interrupts what appears to be Lopez’s time in the office, working on This Is Me…Now, he’s met with hilarious stares of disapproval from Fat Joe, Matt Damon, and more. But Tom Brady approves.

Ultimately, the bulldozing didn’t work out in his favor, but Affleck isn’t going to give up without a fight.

So far, Lopez has shared two records from the forthcoming project, including the title track and “Can’t Get Enough” featuring Latto. Although Affleck hasn’t made an appearance on either, there are still eleven tracks to come from the body of work. Who knows, maybe Affleck made the final cut.

Watch Dunkin’s full commercial below.

This Is Me…Now is out 2/16 via Nuyorican Productions. Find more information here.

Jack Harlow is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Beyoncé Teased Releasing New Music In An Internet-Breaking Super Bowl Commercial

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A few days ago, Verizon released a video showing Tony Hale of Arrested Development and Veep fame talking to a silver horse. “So should we be in a Super Bowl commercial? Yay or neigh” he asked the equine. Leaving aside the pun, Beyoncé fans, recognizing the horse, got excited. Would she appear in an ad during Super Bowl LVIII? We now have an answer: not only did Beyoncé star in an “internet-breaking” Super Bowl ad, she also teased new music.

You can watch the commercial below.

Speaking of Beyoncé and Las Vegas, where the Super Bowl is held this year, she’s rumored to be the next act booked at the Sphere. Last year, the New York Post reported that “the ‘Single Ladies’ singer’s manager-mom, Tina Knowles, as well as Bey’s husband, Jay-Z, have taken separate tours of the $2.3 billion venue on the Las Vegas Strip. But to put a ring on Beyonce’s finger to seal the deal, her team is asking for about $10 million to produce the diva’s high-tech stage show, a source said — roughly the same amount of money the Sphere paid U2 to put on its spectacle.”

Beyoncé also released an album teaser on her Instagram:

Is a Beyoncé country album coming on March 29th?