Is Jay-Z Sweating The Super Bowl Halftime Show? | TMZ Sports

Welcome to TMZ Sports. Jay-Z is speaking out about his big Super Bowl halftime show. And, well, he's speaking out to us here at TMZ and TMZ Sports. I'm Babcock here with Talonda Dillon and Luka. It has been the topic of conversation for days now since the NFL made it official Monday night. Jay-Z said, I'm just going to go ahead and I'm going to pick myself for that big February 14th performance at SoFi Stadium. it's the biggest stage in the world and with that comes pressure unless maybe you're Jay-Z we saw him out in New York City yesterday and that's exactly what we asked him about Jay, any pressure preparing for the Super Bowl? I don't have pressure. Oh, I know that's right. No pressure. What's the preparation like? Same as always. I know that's right. All right, thank you so much. I'm excited. So same as always, no different than a concert. He's a professional. I don't think anyone that headlines the Super Bowl does anything differently than they do any show. I don't think that they go into a show or a concert or a residency being like, you know, what I'm gonna give this my half, I'm not gonna give it my all, I'm gonna give this just my half, I'm not gonna give it my... when you are artists, they take pride in their craft, they're gonna give you 100 every single time. That's the goal. That's what they aim to do. Why are you smiling? You don't believe it? Jay-Z's been around since the 90s. Three decades. I was just thinking, different, but we do these live hits here. Sometimes you do a smaller station. Okay, fine. It's no big deal. You do maybe something national and you feel a little bit more pressure. It's the same mechanics, but you know the stage is bigger. You do not prep any differently for a live shot with any network than when you prep for this show, when you prep for TMZ Live. I'm always unprepared. Hey, Kyle, so what are we doing? What is this? He got like three things written down on this notepad. Can you read what that is? Let me see. What is it? That's the show. Okay, I can read a little bit. Here's what I was saying here, but that's all right. We don't need that. I think, okay, so if he's not going to face pressure, one of the other conversations has been who he's going to bring out, too. So I had written down some notes there about that, too. But whatever you're talking about. And that's all you got. Your two notes and then you're good to go. Don't you think, though, Tawanda, he should feel just a little bit of pressure just because Bad Bunny was so amazing this last year? He chose Bad Bunny. He knows that. Right, but you're following him up. But on another scale, also, he chose himself for it. You know, I think not all things should be, you know. It's one thing to be chosen for the Super Bowl and have to live up to the expectations of the person choosing you. But when that person is yourself, and the entire narrative around this entire decision has been, Jay-Z chose himself, which I want to be on the record for saying that I think is a great idea. I think Jay-Z will do fantastic. But Jay-Z also isn't a huge theatrics guy at the Super Bowl. He's not going to do the weekend running through the mirror maze or whatever. At least we haven't seen him do that in shows. Well, neither has Rihanna. Rihanna gave a phenomenal show, and all she did was stand on her platform. She was pregnant, but still, that was the highlight of her Super Bowl. He's going to do a fantastic job. I don't think anybody is disputing that. sperm looking things walking around that was literally Rihanna's halftime show loved it actually dressed up as her for Halloween cue the photo right here it was a i actually did i killed it as Rihanna at the Super Bowl we'll be showing that soon but at the end of the day Jay-Z's not a uh an artist who is concerned about having to live up to anybody he's already done it this man has been around and has has literally reached his peak honestly luca probably before you were born and like that's like no shade that's like that's no shade to it's kind of like a little he's older he's up there he's had a career for a very very long time this man is not concerned about living up to Bad Bunny or Rihanna or Lady Gaga or even his wife living up to something that doesn't equate to saying that there's no pressure i think that you actually have to feel when you've done when you've done everything this is the biggest show in the country this is another show for him this is his 30th year anniversary he's been on tour All respect to the Yankees, but this isn't him performing at Yankee Stadium. That was the biggest crowd he had ever seen. Yeah, and now this is going to be that. This summer, which is good prep. And I'm pretty sure there's going to be less people at the Super Bowl, maybe more people watching, but as far as people in the stands there, it's going to be less people. I think there will be more. You think so? Who do we need to stand? We're probably Yankee Stadium. We're probably 55,000. Okay, before we move on, who do we – well, maybe the answer is nobody. Should he bring out anybody, and who will he bring out? i hope he doesn't bring out beyonce why why not because she's like i just said this is her 30th this is this is his 30th year anniversary this is his moment he's on the floor right now he's fresh off of his residency she's done it twice we saw her with her own headlining show in 2013 we saw her again then we saw her again in 2024 when she did the halftime show uh for i think it was netflix i think the christmas game when they stole it was a big They stole Christmas from the NBA, whatever. And all eyes were locked in on her. He does not need to bring her out. I think even if he doesn't need to, I think he will. It's Valentine's Day. They need to be together anyway. It's Valentine's Day. Bring out Blue Ivy. Bring out Blue Ivy. Bring out a daddy-daughter moment. I would rather. How fun? Do we think he brings out more or less than four people? More. It's got to be more. I don't know who, but it's got to be more. The last show Eminem Dr. Dre 50 Cent That's why Because those are all people That he would also bring out They've already done it So it's like You don't want So many people Like so many of his biggest hits Feature those artists You know So I feel like You're gonna have to bring out Some of these people To like collaborate On some of the songs You guys might be too young For this Babcock I know you for sure For sure know this Do we think he's gonna bring out Lil Mama for Empire State of Mind To redeem herself Do you remember what happened When she went on stage Do you guys know what happened I don't but if you pull Alicia Keys is on that Yeah, Alicia Keys. Alicia Keys had that song, yes, or the very iconic. Which she'll be there. I think she'll be there, by the way. There was an iconic moment where Alicia and Jay-Z were performing the song, and little mama, who's from New York, just felt so compelled during the performance that she went on stage with them and tried to crash the performance, and Jay-Z kind of shooed her off. Right. This could be the time where they would be. It ain't like little mama anywhere near that Super Bowl field. But we'll find out February 14th. Oh, now for pressure.