The NFL officially announced on Sunday something anticipated for weeks, if not months: Maroon 5 will headline the halftime show at Super Bowl LIII next month.
But the real news is that Maroon 5 will be joined by at least two special guests: rappers Travis Scott and Big Boi.
Atlanta.@SuperBowl LIII.
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2019
February 3, 2019.@maroon5 | @trvisXX | @bigboi #SBLIII https://t.co/h4giIOCuA0
Big Boi is an Atlanta native and one half of the old hip-hop duo, Outkast. The league was drawing criticism from some corners for not choosing an Atlanta-based musician or band to headline the show.
Similarly, Maroon 5 was facing an online petition to boycott the show as a protest against the NFL’s supposed collusion to keep Colin Kaepernick out of a job. It’s unknown whether the band ever heard about the petition, or took it seriously.
Scott is a much younger rapper and more relevant than Big Boi right now. Maroon 5 is a pop rock band, but Adam Levine and his crew frequently collaborate with hip hop artists and rappers.
It’s also not out of the question that there will be surprise guests, or if anyone else will be added to the bill before Feb. 3.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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