Rihanna’s halftime show at Super Bowl LVII between the Philadelphia Eagles and the victorious Kansas City Chiefs was already a massive draw, even with the two teams having incredibly eager fan bases. As she took the suspended stage over Arizona’s State Farm Arena, Rihanna used just minutes to announce her second pregnancy and perform her biggest hits, including “Umbrella,” “Diamonds,” and the powerful opener, “B*tch Better Have My Money.”

According to Fox Sports (via Bleacher Report), Rihanna’s halftime show drew in 118.7 million viewers, while the Super Bowl game itself only got 113 million. And, as someone who switched the channel after her performance ended, it seems I wasn’t alone.

She also reportedly had the second most-watched halftime show in the Super Bowl’s history, trailing right behind Katy Perry (remember left shark?) at 121 million in viewership numbers.

Before her performance, Rihanna sat down for a press conference and noted that she had changed her setlist over 30 times. “You’re trying to cram seventeen years of work into thirteen minutes so it’s difficult,” she said.

“Some songs we have to lose because of that, and that’s going to be okay,” Rihanna added. “We did a pretty good job at narrowing it down. There’s probably been about 39 versions of the setlist right now. We’re on our 39th. Every little change counts.”

source https://uproxx.com/music/rihanna-halftime-show-more-viewers-super-bowl/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/02/rihannas-super-bowl-halftime-show.html

Brooklyn drill rapper Sleepy Hallow was released from prison yesterday after serving nearly eight months for weapons possession. In a video shared by fellow drill rapper Sheff G’s Instagram, Sleepy is seen drinking from a bottle of champagne outside the facility where he was previously incarcerated.

“@_sleepyhallow_ home I’m next free me free the guy,” reads the caption. Sheff G is also currently incarcerated after being sentenced to two years in October 2021. He’d pled guilty to criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, the same charge Sleepy Hallow was also arrested for in June 2022. Sleepy was on probation at the time of his arrest.

Both of the Brooklyn rappers last appeared together on their 2021 song “Run It Up,” which also featured Bronx rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. Sleepy released his debut album, Still Sleep?, in June 2021 on RCA Records. It peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and has since been certified Gold by the RIAA.

He released three singles in 2022: “Die Young” featuring 347Aidan, “2 Mins of Pain” featuring Alborosie, and “Marie.” He also appeared on projects from the likes of Fredo Bang and Eli Fross before being incarcerated. Here’s hoping he can restore his stalled momentum and stay out of anymore trouble.

source https://uproxx.com/music/sleepy-hallow-released-prison-weapon-possession/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/02/sleepy-hallow-was-released-from-prison.html

Days after Drake was subpoenaed by a Florida judge in XXXTentacion’s murder trial to sit for a deposition or appear in court if he does not comply, the Canadian rapper’s legal team is firing back at the thought process.

“It is both unreasonable and oppressive to subpoena an out-of-state party who has not been mentioned in any reports, any investigation, or referenced to have any involvement in this matter,” Drake’s attorney Bradford M. Cohen wrote in response, according to Billboard. “To mandate that he appear for deposition for something that he very clearly has no relevant knowledge of is unreasonable.”

Four men — Dedrick Williams, Trayvon Newsome, Michael Boatwright, and Robert Allen — are currently charged with the murder. However, Williams’ lawyer, Mauricio Padilla, included Drake on his witness list back in December. Prior to XXXTentacion’s death, he had also posted on Instagram in 2018, “If anyone tries to kill me it was @champagnepapi,” tagging Drake directly before eventually deleting the Story.

Drake was originally scheduled to sit for a deposition back in January, but didn’t show up. Because of this, he’s since been required to appear by February 24 or will be held in “contempt of court,” according to the publication.

His team has since claimed that Drake was not only improperly subpoenaed, but that the legal move also seems like an attention-grab.

“It would appear, based on the names mentioned on the witness list filed by defendant’s counsel, that the intent to subpoena [Drake] is less for the purpose of discovering relevant evidence and testimony, but instead add more layers of celebrity and notoriety to a tragic and unfortunate event,” his lawyers added.

Padilla did not respond to Billboard‘s request for comment about Drake’s response to his deposition filing.

source https://uproxx.com/music/drake-response-xxxtentacion-trial-deposition/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/02/drakes-lawyers-think-his-mandatory.html

North West has two talented parents: Kanye West, despite his recent controversies, is a highly esteemed rapper and producer, while Kim Kardashian has shown herself to be excellent at building her brand and business empire. North is proving to be a high achiever as well, as the nine-year-old is already a skilled artist.

In a video shared on North and Kardashian’s shared TikTok account yesterday (February 13), North showed that she’s an admirer of hip-hop up-and-comer Ice Spice by drawing a portrait of her, in a video scored by PinkPantheress and Ice’s “Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2.” The pencil drawing, modeled off a photo of Ice, came out looking pretty great, especially considering the age of the artist.

After the video made the rounds, a TMZ cameraperson asked Ice if she had seen the clip and she responded, “I did, it was so cute. Thank you, North!” She added, “She’s so talented.”

Meanwhile, things continue to look great for Ice. A couple weeks ago, she landed her first song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart when her and Lil Tjay’s “Gangsta Boo” debuted at No. 82. Then, just yesterday, “Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2” debuted at No. 14 on the Hot 100, making the track PinkPantheress’s first charting song.

source https://uproxx.com/music/north-west-draw-ice-spice-kanye-kim-kardashian/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/02/north-west-made-pretty-great-drawing-of.html

Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy team up for You People, but in a scene that didn’t make the film’s final cut, more legends find their way into the movie. Specifically, a number of hip-hop icons, when Hill’s character makes his pick for the top five rappers ever and gets roasted for including Eminem.

In the clip, Ezra (Hill’s character) and Mo (played by Sam Jay) are hosting an episode of their The Mo & E-Z Show podcast when the topic of their top five rappers comes up. Ezra makes his picks: “1. Jay-Z, 2. Biggie, 3. 2Pac, 4. Nas, and 5. Eminem.”

Mo responds, “That’s in order? — Eminem though?” Ezra replies, “Why do I have to keep defending Shady? I mean, his sole purpose is to be on other people’s tracks and murder them. I mean, ‘Renegade?’ ‘Dead Wrong,’” he says in reference to tracks by Jay-Z and The Notorious B.I.G.

Mo then says, “Dog, he’s like, I don’t know the Larry Bird of rap, you know what I mean? He’s not great: He’s just great because he’s a white man in a Black man’s game.” Ezra retorts, “That is so stupid. That might be the dumbest sh*t you’ve ever said to me.”

Check out the clip above.

source https://uproxx.com/music/jonah-hill-top-rappers-you-people-eminem/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/02/jonah-hill-chooses-his-top-five-rappers.html

Donald Trump is an elite troll, so why would he sit out Super Bowl LVII? He was even teed up by Texas congressman and Trump supporter Ronny Jackson’s Rihanna slander last week.

As relayed by The Hill, Trump gave his unsolicited opinion on Rihanna’s Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show last night, February 12.

“EPIC FAIL: Rihanna gave, without question, the single worst Halftime Show in Super Bowl history,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This after insulting far more than half of our Nation, which is already in serious DECLINE, with her foul and insulting language.” Trump added, “So much for her ‘Stylist!’”

The latter bit was a reference to his Truth Social post from Thursday, February 9, again noted by The Hill: “Without her ‘Stylist’ she’d be NOTHING. Bad everything, and NO TALENT!”

Trump is likely holding a grudge over Rihanna’s consistent history of criticizing him, including her very fashionable celebration of Trump losing the 2020 US presidential election.

California Representatives Maxine Waters and Ted Lieu came to Rihanna’s defense:

Outside of the political arena, the response to Rihanna’s 12-song halftime performance was overwhelmingly positive.

The Fenty boss and nine-time Grammy winner revealed she’s pregnant with her second child, which her representatives later confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. Rihanna and ASAP Rocky welcomed their first child together, a son, last May. And nobody enjoyed Rihanna’s dazzling return to the stage more than Rocky.

Watch Rihanna’s full Super Bowl LVII halftime performance here.

source https://uproxx.com/music/donald-trump-rihanna-super-bowl-halftime-show/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/02/donald-trump-gave-his-unsolicited.html

David Jude Jolicoeur, aka Trugoy The Dove, aka Plug Two of De La Soul, was a true pioneer of hip-hop. The news of his passing yesterday — just days after De La Soul was celebrated as part of the Grammys’ 50 Years Of Hip-Hop presentation and weeks before the iconic trio’s music becomes available on streaming services for the first time ever — shook the hip-hop community, who flooded social media with expressions of dismay, grief, and condolences for Dave’s family and bandmates.

Dave’s influence was such that there almost isn’t a single rapper from the ’90s that his music didn’t inspire in some way, as seen by the online outpouring of love for him from alt-rappers, gangsta rappers, and pop rappers alike. Questlove, who is often among the most eloquent in sharing his thoughts about musician friends who have passed away, summed it up:

“thank David Jolicoeur, Kelvin Mercer & Vincent Mason (Paul Houston too) for everything. All too often we have to wait for tragedy to strike before we express how much someone means to us.

As eager as I am to educate & teach a lesson. I decided to erase it & not mask the sadness with brainiac smarts about why #DeLaSoul was one of the most amazing beautiful products of this culture of hip hop.

I just wanna thank them for the decades of zaniness, the fun memories of my teen years, the blueprint laid out that eventually brought Tariq & i together. The freedom of expression, those crazy skits, the fresh new ideas, the blatant honesty (especially in a time period in which it was frowned upon——listen to that “Stakes” verse….what a legacy to leave behind!!) psssssh that #Senyah flip on “Pony Ride” you told me about, i LOST MY MIND!!!!!!!!! when I heard that) —-so many creative gems.”

He also implored fans to stream De La’s music — and purchase it — when it again becomes available on March 3.

Meanwhile, dozens of rap luminaries including Busta Rhymes, Chuck D, Erick Sermon, LL Cool J, 9th Wonder, Pharrell, Redman, and many, many more shared posts honoring Trugoy. See more below.

source https://uproxx.com/music/de-la-soul-trugoy-the-dove-dead-rappers-mourn/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/02/questlove-busta-rhymes-and-many-many.html

The Kansas City Chiefs topped the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday night, February 12, but for millions of people, Rihanna’s halftime performance was the one and only reason to watch.

Rihanna tore through 12 of her hits, reminding everyone just how deep her bag is. ASAP Rocky was spotted on the field, and he looked like a giddy fan hearing “Diamond” live for the first time.

At the end of her set, Rihanna appeared to hint that she’s pregnant with her and Rocky’s second child. Her representatives later confirmed her pregnancy to The Hollywood Reporter once the second half of the game was underway.

Rihanna and Rocky welcomed their son last May. During her Apple Music press conference last week, Rihanna shared with Nadeska how becoming a mother influenced her decision to take on the coveted Super Bowl halftime stage.

“When you become a mom, there’s something that just happens where you feel like you could take on the world, you can do anything,” Rihanna said. “The Super Bowl is one of the biggest stages in the world, so as scary as that was because I haven’t been on stage in seven years, there’s something exhilarating about the challenge of it all. It’s important for me to do this this year. It’s important for representation. It’s important for my son to see that.”

Rocky also shared insight into the moment with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe in January.

“I’m just as excited as you guys, if not more. 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,’ Rocky told Lowe, adding, “It’s just incredible, 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.”

There had been rampant speculation that Rihanna’s first performance in seven years would trigger an album or tour announcement. Instead, Rih doubled down on motherhood and living her best life with Rocky.

Watch the full Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show here.

source https://uproxx.com/music/asap-rocky-rihanna-super-bowl-halftime-show/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/02/asap-rocky-was-rihannas-biggest-fan.html

During her Super Bowl Halftime Show performance last night (February 12), Rihanna came through with something you don’t see in that environment every day: a pregnancy announcement. While that news shocked the entertainment world, Rihanna actually appears to have publicly hinted at it days before the big game.

A preview clip of Rihanna’s NFL+ interview with CBS Mornings co-host and former NFL player Nate Burleson was shared on February 10. Burleson’s final question of the video was, “People want to know: Are there any surprises?” Rihanna responded, “I’m thinking about bringing someone. I’m not sure.” Burleson asked if she’d tell him about it off-camera and she laughingly shut that request down.

Burleson later addressed this moment on Twitter. Last night, a Twitter user wrote, “So when #rihanna told @nateburleson there was gonna be a surprise guest at the halftime show, I’m betting that the BABY is the surprise guest #JustSayin #SuperBowl.” He shared the tweet and added, “Bingo,” along with a bullseye emoji. In another tweet responding to a similar post, he added, “She had that preggo glow…”

The baby will be Rihanna and ASAP Rocky’s second. Once the pregnancy was revealed, people came through with memes and jokes about what it was like for the kid inside of their mother’s womb during the halftime performance.

source https://uproxx.com/music/rihanna-hint-super-bowl-pregnant-halftime-show-baby/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/02/rihanna-actually-hinted-at-her-super.html

Yesterday (February 12) was huge for Rihanna. Obviously, she performed the halftime show at Super Bowl LVII, hosted in Glendale, Arizona’s State Farm Stadium. Perhaps of more personal significance, though, was that Rihanna took the opportunity to announce that she’s pregnant with her and ASAP Rocky’s second baby. While it wasn’t explicitly clear right away that Rihanna had announced a pregnancy on stage, representatives later confirmed it.

After Rihanna dropped that bit of news, halftime show viewers couldn’t help but wonder: What did it look like for baby No. 2 inside of Rihanna’s womb, as the singer moved around and put on her epic performance? Naturally, the internet came through with memes aplenty, mostly communicating one of two ideas: The baby was either dancing and enjoying itself or being uncontrollably jostled inside their mother. Here are examples of each take:

When the new baby is born, Rihanna and Rocky’s two children will be close in age, as their first child was only just born back in May 2022. The two haven’t offered many details about their first kid yet, although in December, Rihanna did share an adorable video of the baby strapped in a car seat and doing cute baby stuff.

Check out some more reactions below.

source https://uproxx.com/music/rihanna-baby-memes-super-bowl-halftime-show-pregnant-reactions/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/02/people-had-jokes-about-what-rihannas.html