Jay-Z headlines: Roc Nation producer steps into spotlight

Jay-Z will headline the Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation made the announcement Monday night.

This marks a shift from the rapper's previous stance. In 2019, Jay-Z told Roger Goodell that if the partnership was about him performing, they could end the conversation now. Seven years later, the artist is ready to take the stage.

Goodell said he had one request when the league first reached an agreement with Roc Nation. He asked that Jay-Z perform whenever the moment felt right to him.

Jay-Z said in a statement that the path from 'Reasonable Doubt' to the Super Bowl stage has been a journey. He described the event as thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world's biggest stage.

The performance follows a recent tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of his 1996 debut album, 'Reasonable Doubt.' That tour included three sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium, as well as sold-out performances in London and Paris. His recent concerts at SoFi Stadium featured guests such as Blue Ivy, Scarface, John Legend, and DJ Khaled.

Born Shawn Carter, Jay-Z has won 25 Grammy Awards and received 89 nominations. He is the second-most nominated artist in history behind his wife, Beyoncé. He co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records and founded Roc Nation in 2008. The company has advised on and helped produce NFL entertainment presentations since 2019.

Hamish Hamilton will direct the halftime show, with Roc Nation serving as executive producer. Recent halftime performances have received critical acclaim. Bad Bunny's show in February won a record seven Emmys, while Kendrick Lamar's performance last year won for music direction.