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Her biggest fan! A$AP Rocky dished on just how much he’s looking forward to Rihanna‘s Super Bowl Halftime Show in a new interview on Wednesday (Jan. 18), and teased that she’s going to impress.
“Oh, man. I’m just as excited as you guys, if not more,” he told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1. “Yeah, I’m super excited. This is huge. This is incredible. I’m so glad that my lady’s back making music again and whatnot, and getting back out there.”
“It’s just incredible,” the rapper continued. “Especially for both of us — it is a good year for both of us to be more active and be out there. But the Super Bowl is huge, and her being the creative she is, she going to bring it, man. I’m excited. I’m more excited than everybody else, honestly.”
RiRi’s big game-day performance may still be a few weeks away, but she’s already released a teaser for the show as well as a limited edition Savage X Fenty Game Day collection filled with merch for fans to wear as they watch her return to the stage after a six-year hiatus.
During the interview, Rocky also opened up about what it’s been like becoming a father. “I’m a member of our club now, like the dad club. You see a dad, you see me. I’m playing on, I’m a full dad now,” said the rapper, who welcomed a son with Rihanna in May. “Being outside and working and being creative, it drives more energy for you to obviously to think and soak things up like a sponge now that I’m a dad, because I have a whole ‘nother perspective. But it honestly helps you get home to your family and get home to your baby. And I can’t even explain it, man. You come home to heaven every day. I’m so thankful. God is good, man.”
The Super Bowl Halftime Show has come a long way over the years, growing from a quaint marching band-centric affair to a blockbuster concert that draws in the biggest names in music — not to mention millions of eyeballs.
When it debuted in 1967, the halftime show featured, among other things, the University of Arizona Symphonic Marching Band performing “The Sound of Music” and “When the Saints Go Marching In,” nothing you wouldn’t be surprised to see at any ordinary college football game. As the years went on, however, it expanded — but it wasn’t quite A-list. Mid-game breaks featured everything from an Elvis Presley-impersonating magician (Elvis Presto, obviously) to the New Mouseketeers.
But when Michael Jackson headlined the halftime show in 1993, everything changed. Audiences grew accustomed to the idea of seeing the biggest pop star in the world performing at the biggest game in America, and before long, the modern halftime show took hold. It became not only an offering of live music and entertainment for football fans waiting patiently for third quarter to start, but also a badge of honor for the artists invited to perform. Playing the Super Bowl is one of the greatest milestones you can achieve as a musician, a singular marker of a star who’s earned their stripes as a bona fide legend.
From MJ’s game-changer to Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson’s culture-shifting slipup, and from Beyonce’s 2013 show-stopper to Dr. Dre’s 2022 hip-hop extravaganza, keep reading to see Billboard‘s 13 best Super Bowl Halftime Show performances of all time.
Suga had quite the night when he attended the Los Angeles Lakers game at Crytpo.com Arena on Thursday (Jan. 12).
Not only did the BTS rapper get a courtside seat to watch the Lakers face off against the Dallas Mavericks, he was also gifted a custom Lakers jersey from the team with his name inscribed above the number three. “Jump up to the top, LeBron,” the official NBA Instagram account captioned a snap of the K-pop idol holding his jersey, quoting the line Jung Kook croons in the first verse of the band’s No. 1 hit “Dynamite.”
Ahead of the game, which the Lakers ultimately lost 119 to 115 in overtime, Suga also posed on the court for a photo with Mavericks point guard Luka Dončić. For the occasion, the boy band member wore an oversized black blazer, matching wide-leg trousers and silver hoops in his ears, with his long hair slicked back.
Naturally, ARMY couldn’t get enough of Suga’s night out at the game, with several commenting on the photo posted by the NBA. “Thanks yoongi for creating basketball,” one fan wrote. Another chimed in, “He would be a better player than all of em starters lmaoo.”
In other BTS-related news, Suga’s bandmate Jimin just dropped “Vibe,” his new collaboration with BIGBANG’s Taeyang. Prior to its Friday (Jan. 13) release, the track had already topped Billboard‘s Hot Trending Songs chart — which is powered by Twitter — thanks to the chatter and anticipation surrounding its premiere.
Check out Suga’s photo op with Dončić as well as his brand-new Lakers jersey below.
Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks poses with Suga of BTS before the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena on January 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Kevork Djansezian/GI
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We’re one step closer to the Super Bowl! The 2023 NFL playoffs start Saturday (Jan. 14) with six games on the roster.
Keep reading for a breakdown of the playoffs schedule and ways to watch and stream NFL games from anywhere.
How to Watch & Stream the 2023 NFL Playoffs
Wild Card Weekend kicks off Saturday with the Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT on Fox and Fox Deportes.
Also on Saturday, the Los Angeles Chargers will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars at 8:15 p.m. ET/5:15 p.m. PT. The game will air on NBC and stream on Peacock.
The Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills are scheduled to face off on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. Watch live or stream the game on CBS and Paramount+.
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Later in the day, the New York Giants will go head-to-head with the Minnesota Vikings at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. on Fox and Fox Deportes. Wrapping things up for Sunday will be the Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals game at 8:15 p.m. ET/5:15 p.m. PT on NBC and NBC Sports.
The Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers game is scheduled for Monday (Jan. 16) at 8:15 p.m. ET/5:15 p.m. PT on ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
When it comes to watching the NFL playoffs, there are a bunch of great streaming options for football fans who don’t have access to local and cable channels.
DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and Sling TV are some of the platforms that offer live and local channels for less than $75 a month and you can watch games on multiple devices, including your TV or computer.
Looking for a free trial? Get up to a week free when you join DirecTV Stream or Fubo. Livestream playoff games from outside the U.S. with ExpressVPN.
DirecTV Stream $from $59.99/month (for 5 months) $69.99/month 14% off% OFF
Other platforms, such as Paramount+ and Peacock, let subscribers watch live television — but you’re restricted to certain channels. If you’re subscribed to one of the two aforementioned platforms, you might be able to stream certain playoff games throughout the weekend.
To stream them all in one place, subscribe to NFL+. New subscribers can enjoy a free trial for the first week and then $4.99/month ($12.99/season) to watch NFL games from anywhere. Upgrade to the $9.99 monthly plan ($29.99/season) for commercial-free streaming and full replays.
See the NFL playoff schedule below.
Wild Card Weekend: 2023 NFL Playoffs Schedule
Seahawks vs. 49ers – Saturday, Jan. 14 at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 PT
Chargers vs. Jaguars – Saturday, Jan. 14 at 8:15 p.m. ET/5:15 PT
Dolphins vs. Bills – Sunday, Jan. 15 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
Giants vs. Vikings – Sunday, Jan. 15 at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT
Ravens vs. Bengals – Sunday, Jan. 15 at 8:15 p.m. ET/5:15 p.m. PT
Cowboys vs. Buccaneers – Monday, Jan. 16 at 8:15 p.m. ET/5:15 p.m. PT
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After withdrawing from the upcoming Australian Open, Naomi Osaka announced that she was expecting her first child with boyfriend Cordae.
On Wednesday (Jan. 11), the tennis star shared a statement in Japanese and English through social media accompanied by a photo of an ultrasound with the caption, “Can’t wait to get back on the court but here’s a little life update for 2023.” In the statement shared from her notes app, the four-time Grand Slam champion said: “These few months away from the sport has really given me a new love and appreciation for the game I’ve dedicated my life to.”
She continued: “I realize that life is so short, and I don’t take any moments for granted, every day is a new blessing and adventure. I know that I have so much to look forward to in the future, one thing I’m looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, ‘that’s my mom’, haha. 2023 will be a year that’ll be full of lessons for me, and I hope I’ll see you guys in the start of the next one cause I’ll be at Aus 2024.” Osaka signed off, “Love you all infinitely.”
Osaka withdrew from this year’s Australian Open, an event she has won twice in her career. She has been highly open about her mental health struggles in the past, at one point taking an indefinite break from tennis in 2021. The 25-year-old only played 11 tournaments in 2022 and hadn’t played a full match since the U.S. Open last August. Off the court, she’s been busy as the highest-paid female athlete, which included starting her own talent agency last year which signed Nick Krygios as a client.
She has been dating Cordae since 2019, with the rapper being a prominent fixture by her side since. Osaka dedicated a loving post of acknowledgment after her 2020 U.S. Open finals win, expressing how he dropped everything to support her even though she was “still convinced he doesn’t understand the rules of tennis lol.”
Cordae and Naomi Osaka are going to be parents. In a surprise Wednesday (Jan. 11) announcement on social media, the 25-year-old pro tennis player revealed that she is expecting a baby with the 25-year-old rapper, whom she’s been dating since 2019.
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“The past few years have been interesting to say the least, but I find that it’s the most challenging times in life that may be the most fun,” Osaka wrote in a note posted to Twitter, also sharing a photo of an ultrasound. “These few months away from the sport has really given me a new love and appreciation for the game I’ve dedicated my life to.”
“I realize that life is so short and I don’t take any moments for granted, every day is a new blessing and adventure,” she continued. “I know that I have so much to look forward to in the future, one thing I’m looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, ‘that’s my mom,’ haha.”
The athlete did not mention Cordae in her post. However, the “RNP” musician’s rep confirmed to Billboard that he is indeed the father.
Osaka concluded her note — of which she also shared a Japanese-language version — by writing that even though she doesn’t think there’s a “perfectly correct path to take in life,” she feels that “if you move forward with good intentions you’ll find your way eventually.”
See Naomi Osaka’s pregnancy announcement below:
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Undefeated boxers Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Hector Louise Garcia are set to take the ring this weekend.
The two will face off in a WBA title match at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. on Saturday (Jan. 7). The fight will stream live on Showtime at 9 p.m. ET.
Davis, a 28-year-old five-time world champion and Garcia, a 31-year-old WBA Super Featherweight World Champion, are evenly matched when it comes to reach and weight, plus they’re both Southpaws, but Garcia is around four inches taller than Davis. As far as boxing stats go, Garcia has a 16-0-0 record and Davis is 27-0-0.
Read on for details on how to order and stream the PPV fight.
Davis vs. Garcia PPV: When & How to Stream from Any Device
The main card is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and you don’t need to be subscribed to Showtime to tune in. The PPV fight costs $74.99.
Davis vs. Garcia Boxing Match $74.99
Stream on Showtime.com or the Showtime App from any compatible device (smart TV, laptop, phone, etc.).
Watching from the U.K.? The Davis vs. Garcia fight will stream on Fite TV in the U.K. (main card starts at 2 a.m. GMT).
The fight card currently listed on Showtime.com includes Jaron Ennis vs. Karen Chukhadzhian, Rashidi Eillis vs. Roimann Villa and Demetrius Andrade vs. Demond Nicholson.
Although Showtime isn’t required to watch the PPV fight, if you’re thinking about joining the platform’s 30-day free trial and then $3.99 for your first six months ends Jan. 23.
From boxing to MMA events, exclusive shows and must-watch movies, Showtime is perfect for TV lovers who like variety. Watch original series such as George & Tammy, The Affair, American Gigolo, Billions, The Chi and Boys in Blue and more on Showtime.
Two’s a party. On Monday (Dec. 19), Sports Illustrated shared exclusively with Billboard the names of not one, but two special musical headliners slated for the publication’s 2023 Super Bowl Weekend event, Sports Illustrated The Party: Machine Gun Kelly and The Chainsmokers.
Presented by Captain Morgan and produced by Medium Rare and Authentic Entertainment, the event will take place at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz., Saturday, Feb. 11, the big game. Guests planning to attend can expect over-the-top production, a custom-built festival- sized “mega-structure” and an “immersive” main stage experience, according to the announcement.
Tickets and VIP Tables go sale Wednesday (Dec. 21) at 10 a.m. MT via the event’s official website.
The announcement comes on the heels of Sports Illustrated‘s recent reveal that Shaquille O’Neal will stage an event called “Shaq’s Fun House” on Friday, Feb. 10, also taking place at Talking Stick Resort. Presented by Netspend and produced by Medium Rare in partnership with Authentic Entertainment, the fifth annual event will be headlined by hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg, and will feature a performance by Diplo.
Courtesy Photo
Diplo won’t be the only DJ in the building, though. Shaq is also expected to take a spin on the turntables, performing under his stage name DJ Diesel.
Super Bowl LVII will see two teams facing off Feb. 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. — just a couple cities over from Sports Illustrated‘s festivities in Scottsdale. And though it might feel like the whole world already knows and is counting down the days ’til game time, it’s worth mentioning that Rihanna will headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show, making her return to live performance after about six years off.
Last year, Kygo, Jack Harlow, Frank Walker, David Solomon and DJ Irie performed at Sports Illustrated The Party, taking the stage at Century Park in Los Angeles the Saturday before Super Bowl LVI. The next day, the L.A. Rams took home the Lombardi trophy after beating the Cincinnati Bengals by three points. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar all teamed up for a memorable joint halftime show.
We are just days away from finding out who the 2022 World Cup winner will be. By now, soccer aficionados who religiously tune in to watch a match might have come across a few Latin music stars on television or social media — such as Luis Fonsi and Ozuna — where they flaunt their Copa Mundial pride in 15- or 30-second ads.
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With the quarter-finals just around the corner on Friday, Dec. 9, Billboard is celebrating fútbol by compiling some of our favorite 2022 soccer-themed ads.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicked off on Nov. 20 with host nation Qatar’s tournament opener against Ecuador. A total of 32 teams, representing different countries, have participated. Argentina, Croatia, England, France, and the Netherlands have already qualified for the quarter-finals round. In the end, only one team will be crowned the World Cup champion on Dec. 18.
Until then, see which Latin music stars have appeared in their own World Cup spots.
Danna Paola
A month before the World Cup officially began, Coca-Cola and Universal Music Group recruited three of its label artists to give Queen’s 1986 hit “A Kind of Magic” a new twist. Part of its “Believing Is Magic” campaign in Latin America, see the new version by Egyptian rapper Felukah, soulful Saudi Arabian singer-songwriter Tamtam and Mexican pop star Danna Paola above.
Luis Fonsi
Metro by T-Mobile has also hopped on the soccer train with its very own TV spot featuring Puerto Rican pop star Fonsi. Promoting the company’s 5G tablet, Fonsi chants “fiestas olé olé” on the streets as bystanders watch the game on the device.
Ozuna
Ozuna, who also forms part of the official FIFA World Cup soundtrack, teamed up with Coca-Cola Puerto Rico for limited-edition collectible cans, with 14 different designs representing some of the participating countries. In addition, the initiative will promote the development of sports on the island by allocating a donation of $50,000 for the rehabilitation of soccer fields in San Juan.
Prince Royce
Also in the fútbol spirit is Dominican bachata star, who teamed up with Google Pixel for a vibrant ad. In the clip, featuring a cameo by iconic Colombian soccer star Carlos “El Pipe” Valderrama, Royce is watching all things World Cup on the Pixel 7. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what team you’re rooting for, soccer is for all of us,” he posted on his YouTube channel.
What is a jock jam?
Well, in the ’90s it was whatever ESPN defined it as for the purposes of their series of Jock Jams compilations: Most often, hip-hop-flavored dance-pop bangers which implicitly (and sometimes explicitly) promoted physical movement of any and all kinds. But defined more broadly for our purposes at Billboard, a Jock Jam is a song that has come to define the in-game experience at a pro sports arena: Any song that, after years of stadium (over-)usage, is as familiar to sports fans’ ears as sneaker squeaks, referee whistles and Zamboni organ groans. It’s a canon that spans rock, hip-hop, dance and country, and still includes pop songs old and new.
To celebrate this canon, Billboard presents our list of the 100 greatest jock jams of all time. We tried to stay away from jams that only really made sense for one sport (like John Fogerty’s “Centerfield”) or one city (like Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shipping Up to Boston”), in favor of the classics that could work in the most games in the most places. These are the songs that helped define sports culture in this country for decades, which may have fallen in and out of favor with music supervisors as hip songs of the moment, but which will forever produce a Pavlovian response of sports-readiness. It’s a Hall of Fame in which AC/DC are The Beatles, 2 Unlimited are Michael Jackson, and The Baha Men… well, they’re still The Baha Men, but forever bronzed at their 2000 peak.
Now, a bunch of us here at Billboard are sports junkies, but we didn’t trust our own experiences and recollections in this matter to be anywhere near complete. So to help flesh out our Top 100 and determine the absolute cream of the bumper-music crop, we consulted the experts: Stadium entertainment officials, DJs, and general music men and women of the MLB, NHL, NFL and especially the NBA worlds. They were kind enough to give us their picks for the stadium-anthem GOATs, and explanations for their selections are interspersed throughout our list.
And now, let’s sound the horn and get our countdown underway. Y’all ready for this?