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In 2022, we were treated to one of the best Super Bowl halftime shows in recent memory thanks to the lengthy list of hip-hop legends who performed the game. That included 50 Cent, who recently claimed we were almost deprived of his memorable entrance thanks to Jay-Z before Eminem issued an ultimatum.
Super Bowl LVI took place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, so it was only natural that organizers tapped a trio of locals in the form of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Kendrick Lamar for a 15-minute set that also featured appearances from Eminem and Mary J. Blige.
50 Cent wasn’t listed on the bill when it was officially announced, but he made a surprise appearance after Dre and Snoop wrapped up “California Love” by literally dropping in from the ceiling to perform “In Da Club” (and inspiring a ton of memes in the process).
However, based on what he had to say during a recent interview, his lingering feud with Jay-Z caused some drama behind the scenes that initially put that performance in jeopardy.
As you may or may not know, Jay-Z (who reportedly turned down the chance to perform at Super Bowl LII) officially linked up with the NFL in 2019 when the league made him its official Live Music Entertainment Strategist after inking a deal with Roc Nation, which has produced every halftime show since Shakira and Jennifer Lopez shared the stage in 2020.
There’s been a little bit of bad blood between Hov and 50 since the Queens native dissed the Brooklyn icon on “How To Rob” all the way back in 1999, which led to Jay-Z responding in kind when he debuted “It’s Hot (Some Like It Hot)” at the Hot 97 festival later that year.
While the two rappers were never really engaged in a serious feud, the famously unfiltered 50 Cent hasn’t been shy about firing shots at Jay-Z over the years, and during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he asserted the Roc Nation founder tried to wield his influence to prevent him from participating in the Super Bowl halftime show, saying:
“[Roc Nation] wanted to leave me out of it. They didn’t want me there.
Eminem wouldn’t do it without me. That’s how I ended up on the show because he was not coming if I didn’t do it. When that happens, you go, ‘Damn, so you just lost Eminem because you didn’t bring 50? Damn. All right. Bring 50 then.;
But if it was up to them, they would not have me there. I’m the surprise. I’m not on the bill at all. But they couldn’t get Em to do it without me.”
It’s not shocking to hear Eminem went to bat for 50 when you consider the Detroit native played a major role in putting him on the map after signing him to Shady Records (the label imprint inextricably linked to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment) in 2002, and based on how things played out, that decision worked out for the best.