After months of speculation, the NFL officially confirmed that in addition to pop group Maroon 5 headlining the 2019 Super Bowl on February 3, rappers Travis Scott and Big Boi would also be performing.
???? It’s official: @maroon5 will take center stage at @SuperBowl LIII! They will be joined by @trvisXX and @BigBoi. #SBLIII ???? ???? pic.twitter.com/ApLrxzgWP4
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2019
Big Boi, one half of Atlanta-based hip-hop duo Outkast, tweeted a promotional video for the halftime program on Sunday.
"#SBLIII ATL let's get it !" his tweet read.
According to a January report by Billboard, Scott initially refused to sign on as a co-headliner unless the NFL contributed to a social justice nonprofit of his choosing. The "Butterly Effect" rapper and the NFL made a $500,000 joint contribution to Dream Corps, an organization that forms unlikely partnerships to create a more sustainable future for deserving individuals.
In the wake of the controversy surrounding the national anthem, finding a headliner to perform at the iconic show was challenging. Since the league continues to allow former quarterback Colin Kaepernick to go unsigned for protesting police brutality on the field, many artists have elected not to participate in events sponsored by the NFL. Rapper Jay-Z supposedly declined the league's invite to perform at the 2018 show in solidarity with Kaepernick.
The "99 Problems" rapper was reported to have reached out to Scott to follow his lead and withdraw from playing the halftime show this year.
Hov is not the only artist to have turned out the league's request to take center stage during next month's game. Cardi B also allegedly opted out of the starring role but will perform at the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest before the big game.
Super Bowl LIII will be on Sunday, February 3, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. It will be televised lived on CBS.
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