Rihanna has a major career moment coming up: On February 12, she will be playing the halftime show at Super Bowl LVII, held at Arizona’s State Farm Stadium. Since that news was revealed, there hasn’t been much in the way of info regarding what to expect from the performance. Now, though, there’s a new trailer.
It begins with Rihanna in a dramatically lit room, her hair done up in a tall and wiry style. All the while, overlapping voiceovers from various speakers make not of how long Rihanna has been away from music, saying things like, “Dude, Rihanna, we’ve waited for you,” and, “It’s been six years since the nine-time Grammy-winner dropped an album.”
The video ends with Rihanna shushing the camera as a brief snippet of her 2016 song “Needed Me” plays.
Meanwhile, Rihanna is fresh off an appearance at the 2023 Golden Globe Awards, where her Black Panther: Wakanda Forever song “Lift Me Up” was nominated for Best Original Song, Motion Picture. That award ended up going to Kala Bhairava, M. M. Keeravani, and Rahul Sipligunj’s “Naatu Naatu,” a Telugu-language song from the 2022 Indian movie RRR. Rihanna got multiple shout-outs during the broadcast, though, including a funny one from host Jerrod Carmichael.
Even if you don’t care about the outcome of the Super Bowl, there’s always excitement surrounding the multi-million dollar ad campaigns behind the event. After all, it’s basically the most-viewed event in America every single year. This year, some of the biggest corporations are preparing to debut star-powered trailer, such as Doritos. The chip brand enlisted Jack Harlow for their Super Bowl ad.
A brief trailer of Jack Harlow’s ad for Doritos debuted on YouTube this week, and it appears that the man became a victim of misinformation. Caught up in a supposed love triangle, the Louisville spitter enters an SUV surrounded by a fleet of adoring fans and paparazzi. He enters the vehicle holding a bag of Doritos BBQ, before a paparazzo screams, “Is it true about the love triangle?”
Harlow looks down at his bag of chips and slyly responds, “Maybe.” Unfortunately, the photographer heard “baby,” and the snippet ends. It looks like we’ll have to wait to see the full commercial during the Super Bowl.
“The real love triangle is us, @jackharlow, and Doritos BBQ,” Doritos captioned the Instagram post with the snippet.
Jack Harlow’s upcoming ad in the Super Bowl follows a highly successful year in 2022. The release of Come Home The Kids Miss You cemented his commercial success. The project debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 with 113K. Towards the end of the year, he hosted Saturday Night Live and then, announced his Las Vegas residency in 2023. Needless to say, this year is already shaping up to be a busy one for the “Churchill Downs” rapper.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 03: Jack Harlow speaks onstage during Variety’s Hitmakers Brunch at City Market Social House on December 03, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Variety via Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVII takes place on Feb. 12th in Glendale, AZ’s State Farm Stadium. Non-regular season-watching fans are particularly excited for this one as Rihanna will perform at the Half Time show. This will mark her first performance in five years.
Cardi B and Offset appear in a Valentine’s Day-themed commercial for McDonald’s for this year’s Superbowl. This marks Offset’s first Super Bowl commercial as Cardi appeared in a Super Bowl / Pepsi Ad in 2019. Offset & Cardi Featured In McDonald’s Ad After A-list celebrities such as Saweetie, Pusha T, and Travis Scott took over […]
Additionally, there are some powerhouses that are looking to keep their amazing seasons alive. Among those teams are the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and the San Francisco 49ers. Furthermore, teams like the Bengals and Cowboys are looking to upset teams that appear just a tad more menacing.
Quarterback Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills waves as he walks onto the field wearing a Damar Hamlin shirt prior to the game against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Bets
As one can imagine, numerous people will be betting on the big game this year. There is a lot of money to be made, and a whole lot of money to be lost. That said, fans are looking to cash in on their fandom on the sport’s biggest stage.
According to DraftKings Sportsbooks, the odds for the Super Bowl are in. As it turns out, the Chiefs are the favorites at +330. Essentially, this means you will win $330 if you bet $100. The next best odds are the Bills at +400, while the Eagles and 49ers are +600. Moreover, the Bengals are at +800 while the Cowboys clocked in at +1100. As you go deeper, the odds become almost insurmountable with Seahawks and Jaguars reaching +5000 and the Dolphins hitting +6000. The Chargers, Bucs, Ravens, and Vikings are all between the +2000 and +3500 range, which makes them solid darkhorse picks. Overall, picking the Super Bowl right now is a fool’s errand.
Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles passes the ball against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on January 8, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
There are a lot of variables that go into picking a winner. From injuries to luck to weather conditions, anything can happen. For now, however, it does seem like the Chiefs and the Bills are the two clear favorites.
Let us know who you think is going to win the Super Bowl, in the comments down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news from around the sports world.
While the team matchup may not be known yet, one thing is certain: this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, which features Rihanna as the leading performer, will be spectacular.
Rihanna took to social media to tease her upcoming appearance and show off a limited edition Super Bowl-inspired piece from her Fenty collection earlier this week.
Both NFL and Apple Music shared a short clip on their Instagrams of Rihanna in her Super Bowl-themed black hoodie with the photo of her arm holding a football. (It’s the same photo she used to announce her Super Bowl halftime performance.)
The caption reads, “5 weeks from today,” followed by two fire emojis.
Rihanna has also added a new Game Day Collection to her Fenty brand, complete with sweatshirts, t-shirts, boxers, loungewear, and more to commemorate her halftime performance.
This is the first year Apple Music will sponsor the iconic halftime show. DPS is producing the halftime show with Roc Nation,
Cardi B and her husband, Offset, will be starring in a Super Bowl commercial for McDonald’s. According to TMZ, the two filmed the advertisement with a small crew around Christmas.
The commercial is reportedly Valentine’s Day themed and doesn’t feature their children.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 27: (L-R) Cardi B and Offset of Migos perform onstage at the BET Awards 2021 at Microsoft Theater on June 27, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for BET)
Working with McDonald’s will be Cardi’s second time appearing in a Super Bowl commercial. She also starred in a Pepsi ad a few years back.
While she will have now appeared in two Super Bowl commercials, Cardi has yet to perform during the event. Back in 2019, she told The Associated Press that the NFL offered to have her take the stage in Atlanta, but she declined. She explained at the time that she felt obligated to “stand behind” Kaepernick.
“My husband, he loves football. His kids play football. It’s really hard for him. … He really wants to go to the Super Bowl, but he can’t go to the Super Bowl, because he’s got to stand for something,” Cardi told the outlet.
“You have to sacrifice that,” she added. “I got to sacrifice a lot of money to perform. But there’s a man who sacrificed his job for us, so we got to stand behind him.”
As for this year’s Super Bowl, Rihanna will be headlining the halftime show performance. In support of the event, Rihanna released Super Bowl-themed Savage X Fenty merch, earlier this week. The collection features layered sweatpants, cropped jerseys, as well as a beanie.
Check out Cardi B’s previous advertisement with Pepsi below and be on the lookout for her McDonald’s commercial on February 12.
2022 was a big year in Hip-Hop, and The SOURCE was along with all the news as it broke. Kanye West, YSL, Tory Lanez, Rap Lyrics, and Super Bowl are just the tip of the iceberg. Below are The SOURCE’s Top Hip-Hop Stories of the year.
S7 2
Ye Cancelled in 48 Hours and Loses Billionaire Status
As year-end honors are being handed out, Kanye West may have one that he wishes to sidestep. Ye has been named Antisemite of the Year by a watchdog group. StopAntisemitism named Ye “the most problematic person of 2022” regarding the group’s mission, corraling 10,000 votes from members. For the last half of 2022, Ye found himself in an endless war with the Jewish community, where he hinged his comments in anti-semitic rhetoric. Ye received the dishonor by announcing love for Hitler, launching attacks on the Jewish community, and also having disparaging remarks about George Floyd. What did that get him? Cut from Adidas, Balenciaga, and other deals resulting in the loss of billions.
Hip-Hop on Trial: YSL Rico & Tory Lanez Trial
Thug and the Young Stoner Life record label members are currently awaiting trial or taking plea deals. At the close of 2022, one trial will be over, and another will stretch into the new year. Young Thug is headed to trial in January on a state RICO case. The team is facing accusations of guns, murder, and more, dominating headliners for the better part of the year.
In addition, Tory Lanez also ran headlines for the second straight year as he approached trial for three separate charges concerning the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. Lanez faces up to 22 years in prison with these pending convictions. His sentencing is set for January, and he is currently behind bars in Los Angeles.
California Restricts the Use of Rap Lyrics in Court
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed The Decriminalizing Artistic Expression Act, prohibiting songs from being used against defendants. The bill, known as AB 2799, was unanimously approved by the California Senate and Assembly in August. Rap lyrics will no longer be able to be used as evidence in court in the state of California. Rappers Killer Mike, Meek Mill, Too $hort, Ty Dolla $ign, YG, E-40, and Tyga spoke at a virtual bill signing ceremony on the significance of the law, along with CEO of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason Jr. Leaders from Songwriters of North America and the Black Music Action Coalition also attended the signing ceremony. More on this here.
Latin Hip-Hop Rises and Bad Bunny is the Artist of the Year
Daddy Yankee did a victory lap retirement tour grossing nearly $198 million, Anuel AA is rising, and then there is the titan of Bad Bunny. To show you why Bad Bunny is the hottest on the planet, his Un Verano Sin Ti album sat at the top of the Billboard 200 for 11 non-consecutive weeks. Bad Bunny has the most week at No. 1 in nearly six years, matching Drake’s Views effort of 2016. Bad Bunny was named the year’s Artist of the Year on Apple Music. Un Verano Sin Ti, Bad Bunny’s sixth project in four years and one of the most streamed albums on Apple Music in 2022. More than 18.5 billion plays of Bad Bunny music have been created on Spotify this year, and his album “Un Verano Sin Ti” was the No. 1 most streamed album globally. In 2022, Bad Bunny’s concerts grossed $393.3 million globally, and his North American tour grossed $356.5 million this year.
Dr. Dre & Hip Hop’s Super Bowl
The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show was an instant historic moment in Hip-Hop history. The set kicked off with Dr. Dre sitting at an enormous mixing board before “The Next Episode” kicked off, sending the stadium into an uproar. Following his group that featured Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, and special guests 50 Cent and Anderson. Paak, Dre received an increase of nearly 185% in the first hour following the game. Tracks from the halftime show also witnessed a significant rise in global Spotify streams after the show. Including in the surge was a nearly 520% increase in Mary J. Blige’s “No More Drama,” more than a 270% increase in Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg’s “The Next Episode,” plus more than a 245% increase in “Still D.R.E.” and 250% increase of Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright.”
Rihanna was officially confirmed as the headliner for the NFL’s 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show over the weekend. Following the announcement, fans were understandably excited for her to make a musical return in a massive way — her last album dropped in 2016. Still, Rihanna has countless hits spanning several records, which sparked a divisive question online: what would (or should) her setlist look like?
While it’s currently unclear if Rihanna will be playing solo for the halftime show’s entirety or be considering special guests, it seems that the NFL might be pushing her to bring some surprise stars on stage. According to TMZ, there is currently a list of over 50 performers that could join her, but nothing has been confirmed. Rihanna’s collaborations — which include Drake, Jay-Z, Britney Spears, Paul McCartney, and Kanye West — could find themselves making a potential appearance as well.
After Billboard published a piece about what they think Rihanna’s set should be, many fans were confused by some clear omissions, including “Kiss It Better” and her debut single “Pon De Replay.” On social media, other publications asked Rihanna’s Navy fan base directly on what songs they think she should perform. Continue scrolling to see some of the fan reactions, which include everything from her massive hits to some hidden gems meant for the fans.
What songs do you want Rihanna to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Yesterday, Rihanna announced that she is performing for the 2023 Super Bowl’s Halftime Show, with none other than a cryptic Instagram post of her hand holding a football. The news was eventually confirmed by the NFL, both on social media and in statements.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rihanna to the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show stage,” NFL Head of Music Seth Dudowsky said in a statement. “Rihanna is a once-in-a-generation artist who has been a cultural force throughout her career. We look forward to collaborating with Rihanna, Roc Nation, and Apple Music to bring fans another historic Halftime Show performance.”
However, Rihanna actually had an opportunity to play the halftime show years earlier — and turned it down. She was originally considered to play in February 2019, instead of Maroon 5. She declined the deal to stand in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, who protested racial injustice as a 49ers player in 2016. (According to The Guardian, he settled a case with the NFL after claiming he was “blackballed” following his kneeling peaceful protest. He left the team in 2017.)
“Absolutely,” she told Vogue in an interview from October 2019, after being asked if that’s why she declined. “I couldn’t dare do that. For what? Who gains from that? Not my people. I just couldn’t be a sellout. I couldn’t be an enabler. There’s things within that organization that I do not agree with at all, and I was not about to go and be of service to them in any way.”
A few years later, Rihanna finally accepted the offer. She also returned to Voguein April for a cover story, ahead of the birth of her first child. The interview seems to hint at why she accepted the halftime show — and might even say yes to putting new music out. “I think I even say yes to more now,” Rihanna said, “because I know it will be different on the other side of this. At first, I expected some magical change, but really I remain who I am.”
Super Bowl LVII will take place on 2/12/2023 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
🅽🅳🆁🅴🆆 
#HoldMeCloser (@andrew_pako_) 
