Jay-Z Locks In Super Bowl Halftime Performance

Shawn Carter is set to command the center stage of the 2026 Super Bowl, a confirmation that resolves a debate that has persisted since the rapper predicted the year would focus on offense in a March GQ cover story. Although the competing teams have not yet been determined, Jay-Z will be positioned at the 50-yard line to deliver his set when the teams arrive.

The performance is expected to feature his signature hits alongside extensive references to sports figures. ESPN writers David Dennis Jr. and Justin Tinsley analyzed the artist's catalog to rank his ten most notable sports-related lyrics. Their list includes a 2007 line from "Party Life" where he claims he deserves an ESPY, and a 2004 verse from "Never Let Me Down" in which he labels himself the Jeff Gordon of rap. That specific line was released during his brief retirement period, serving as a statement that he was returning to the forefront of the industry.

The ranking also draws on specific historical moments and athletic comparisons. A 1997 track called "I Love The Dough" places the artist in the 1500 seats watching Mike Tyson, recalling a 1995 trip to Las Vegas to see Tyson's first post-prison fight against Peter McNeely. In a 2008 song titled "Blow The Whistle," he compares himself to LeBron James, a comparison he later defended against critics including DeShawn Stevenson and Soulja Boy. Another entry from 2001, "Heart of the City," compares his scrambling style to Randall Cunningham, a player who starred for the Philadelphia Eagles and the 1998 Minnesota Vikings alongside Cris Carter and Randy Moss.

New York pride and nostalgia feature in the middle of the list. A 1997 verse in "Who You Wit II" references Lil' Penny, the Chris Rock voiced figurine associated with Penny Hardaway. A 2005 remix of "Go Crazy" with Young Jeezy compares the rapper to Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. The third spot is held by a 2003 freestyle over Joe Budden's beat, where Jay-Z calls himself the Michael Jordan of the mic while comparing Budden to Harold Miner, JR Rider, and Pervis Ellis.

The top two selections rely on obscure basketball references. Second place goes to a 2001 line from "Lyrical Exercise" that compares the rapper to Diesel when lifting the number 8, a reference to a photo of Shaq lifting Kobe Bryant that the internet took more than a decade to decipher. The number one spot belongs to "Hola Hovito" from 2001, where Jay-Z tells rivals they are Sam Bowie and adds that his fadeaway is perfect. The line alludes to the 1984 NBA draft, where the Portland Trail Blazers selected Bowie over Michael Jordan, a decision widely regarded as one of the league's biggest mistakes.