Jay-Z Locked In For Super Bowl Performance

Jay-Z will perform at the Super Bowl, ending a yearlong speculation that began when the rapper declared 2026 would be about offense. The announcement confirms that Shawn Carter will stand at the 50-yard line for the championship game, even though the two competing teams have not yet been determined. The performance promises a mix of his classic hits and specific nods to the athletic world that have defined his music for decades.

ESPN writers David Dennis Jr. and Justin Tinsley analyzed the rapper’s discography to identify his ten most notable sports lyrics. Their list spans nearly three decades of music, linking Jay-Z’s career to major figures in basketball, football, baseball, and motorsports. The ranking offers a timeline of how the artist has consistently inserted himself into the conversation of major American sports.

The bottom of the list begins with a 2007 line from “Party Life” where he claims he deserves an ESPY award. At number nine, a 2004 track from “Never Let Me Down” compares him to NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. This lyric gained context during his brief retirement, positioning him as returning to the forefront of the industry. Number eight features a 1997 verse in “I Love The Dough” that places him in the stands for Mike Tyson’s first post-prison fight in Las Vegas against Peter McNeely in 1995.

Moving up the list, a 2008 line in “Blow The Whistle” dubs Jay-Z the LeBron James of rap. The writers note that he later defended James in feuds with DeShawn Stevenson and Soulja Boy. Number six is a 2001 verse in “Heart of the City” that compares his playing style to former Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham, who starred for the Minnesota Vikings with Cris Carter and Randy Moss in 1998.

The middle tier of the list relies on New York pride and nostalgia. Number five references Lil’ Penny, the Chris Rock-voiced figurine used to market Penny Hardaway, from a 1997 track. Number four is a 2005 remix of “Go Crazy” with Young Jeezy that compares Jay-Z to Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. Number three is a 2003 freestyle over Joe Budden’s “Pump It Up” where Jay-Z calls himself the Michael Jordan of the mic and dismisses Budden by comparing him to Harold Miner, JR Rider, and Pervis Ellis.

The runner-up spot goes to a confusing 2001 line in “Lyrical Exercise” about lifting the number eight, which the writers explain is a reference to a photo of Shaquille O'Neal lifting Kobe Bryant. The internet spent more than a decade decoding that metaphor. The top spot belongs to a 2001 line from “Hola Hovito” where Jay-Z tells rivals they are Sam Bowie and declares his fadeaway perfect. This alludes to the 1984 NBA draft, when the Portland Trail Blazers selected Bowie over Michael Jordan, casting other rappers as busts while Jay-Z positions himself as the true superstar.