Interviews
Apple Music Interviews Rihanna Ahead of Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show
Last month, Apple Music announced Rihanna’s Road to Halftime ahead of Super Bowl LVII campaign.
Ahead of Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show on Sunday, February 12, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Apple Music Radio’s Nadeska Alexis will interview Rihanna at the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Press Conference.
Viewers can tune in live or watch on demand on Apple Music; on @AppleMusic’s TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter; or on the NFL Network.
Rihanna tells Apple Music about how she started the process of creating her setlist
The set list was the biggest challenge. That was the hardest hardest part. Deciding how to maximize 13 minutes, but also celebrate. That’s what this show’s gonna be, it’s gonna be a celebration of my catalogue in the best way we could have put it together. And you only have 13 minutes, that’s the challenge, so you’re trying to cram 17 years of work into 13 minutes. So it’s difficult. You know, some songs we have to lose because of that, and that’s gonna be okay. But I think we did a pretty good job of narrowing it down.
Rihanna tells Apple Music’s about the physical demands of getting ready for Sunday’s game.
The physical challenge has definitely been immense, for many reasons, of course. But, I haven’t done this in a minute. First thing’s first, so you’re just running around for 13 minutes, trying to put a two hour set in 13 minutes, and you’re gonna see on Sunday, it just, from the time it starts, it just never ends until it’s like the very last second. Now I’m saying too much? But it’s a jam-packed show, and it takes a toll on your body, it does.
We’re excited to do the Super Bowl. We are. We’ve been working on it for awhile, and every day it just gets closer and closer to the finished product. And today’s a really big rehearsal, really important one, so that’s gonna be crucial for Sunday.
Rihanna on the cultural significance of this Apple Music Halftime Show moment.
I mean, it’s a long way from home, right? It’s a long way from home. It’s a beautiful journey that I’m on, and I could’ve never guessed that I would have made it here. So it’s a celebration of that. I’m excited to do that. I’m really excited to have Barbados on the Super Bowl stage.
Rihanna tells Apple Music about where she is headed musically.
Musically, I’m feeling open. I’m feeling open to exploring, discovering, creating, things that are new, things that are different, things that are off, weird, might not ever make sense to my fans, you know, the people that know the music that I put out. I just want to play. I want to have fun. I want to have fun with music.
Rihanna on work-life balance as a mom.
Yes, it’s very different. The balance is almost impossible because no matter how you look at it, work is always something that’s gonna rob you of time with your child. That’s the currency now. That’s where it goes. The magnitude of how much it weighs. When you make decisions on what you’re gonna say yes to, it has to be worth it.
Rihanna on her favorite album and favorite album to record from her catalog.
Okay, I really enjoyed recording Loud and “Diamonds.” I was on the road for both of those albums when I created them. I was touring one album, making the next, and then I came back and toured that album and made the next, and then ANTI was the first time that I took my time making an album while not being on tour. And that frustrated my fans a bit, and here I am doing it again to them. But ANTI, for sure, top favorite album I’ve ever made.
Rihanna on the most important thing she’s learned in order to succeed.
To stay humble. Stay humble because if not this industry will humble you one way or the other. And, you know, my humility came from my childhood growing up in the Caribbean, growing up in my household with my mom. She’s a very humble woman. Her mom was a very humble woman. And I’ve never, I’ve never lost sight of that. That’s very important to me. I often fear the pedestal that the world can you put you on. And I always want to feel my feet on the ground. That makes me feel safe.
Rihanna on her transition back to music and her love of road trips.
The pandemic kind of, in a weird way, forced me to slow down. And then when you have all these boundaries and restraints and rules and you have to stay home, you kind of get creative with ways to stay entertained, in a way. Road tripping was one of those things that I’ve always loved, I just usually road trip while I’m on tour. That’s the road trip. So I got to feel the things I love about tour without having the commitment of the show every single day. It was just nice to appreciate that time. I really enjoyed it, actually.
Rihanna tells Apple Music about being unapologetic.
I’m definitely not one that’s worried about coming off too bossy. I’ve been bossy all my life. Ever since I was a little girl, but [this performance] is riding on me, you know? There are a lot of people who are a part of this show, and huge part of the reason why this show’s gonna be as incredible as it is, and I couldn’t have done it without them. But you know what, at the end of the day, if it flops or it flies, my name has to stand by that. And so I really get involved with every aspect of anything that I do, whether it’s the Super Bowl, whether it’s a makeup product, whether it’s Savage lingerie, like, whatever I do, I’m that annoying girl who’s gonna talk about everything. I want to see the copy on the website! I want to name every lipstick that I make. I care about it. I love it. I love it, I really do.
Rihanna tells Apple Music about sticking to her core values
It’s true, it’s true, a lot of my core values have never left me. A lot of the lessons I’ve learned in my earliest years I have never forgotten. I carry them throughout my life and my career.
Culture
Mariah the Scientist Breaks Down New Album Concept Inspired by a ‘Toy Soldier’ Metaphor
Mariah the Scientist recently sat down with Summer Walker on Episode 6 of Over It Radio, where she opened up about the concept behind her next album.
Mariah described the project’s theme through the metaphor of a “little green toy soldier,” symbolizing someone fully dedicated to a cause — willing to sacrifice everything — but still seen as small and not taken seriously.
“I’m not going to sleep with a toy soldier in my room thinking it’s going to kill me tonight. It’s a joke, almost” she said. “That’s how men see us.”
Summer called the concept “really deep,” with Mariah framing it as part of what she sees as a “modern man’s war on love,” where women’s efforts are often undervalued or dismissed.
Outside of the interview, Mariah also announced her new single “Burning Blue,” set to drop May 2. Earlier this month, she previewed the record on TikTok, where it amassed over 1.5 million views and more than 40,000 plays. “Burning Blue” will serve as the lead single from her upcoming album, the follow-up to her 2023 project To Be Eaten Alive, which featured appearances from Young Thug, Vory and 21 Savage.
Elsewhere in the episode, Mariah reflected on learning to give without expecting anything back, and letting go of the need to “pull the receipts” to prove others wrong — something she admitted is still a work in progress.
Interviews
Lil Wayne Locks In ‘Tha Carter VI’ for June 6, Talks Collaborations, Super Bowl & More in Rolling Stone
Back in February, New Orleans own Lil Wayne teased the album’s release date during a Cetaphil commercial, where a sign behind him read: “DO NOT DISTURB ‘TIL 06-06-2025.” Now, in a new Rolling Stone cover story, he confirms it—Tha Carter VI is set to arrive June 6.
The long-awaited project has been in the works for years and comes with a stacked lineup of collaborators, including Wyclef Jean, Andrea Bocelli, Miley Cyrus, Elephant Man, Machine Gun Kelly, Bono and Wheezy. Wayne also revealed he recorded a song featuring a Billie Eilish sample and that his son, Kameron Carter, will appear on the album. Kanye West was originally considered for the project but didn’t make the final cut.
“If there’s one thing about this album that’s different, it’s me approaching it like, ‘Man, what would I sound like on something with such and such?’” Wayne told Rolling Stone.
Wyclef, who contributed to the album, described their sessions as “dangerous,” adding, “You don’t know what’s going to pop out.” Wayne echoed that, saying Wyclef has a way of flipping one song into eight.
Wayne also addressed the Super Bowl halftime show controversy, after fans speculated he was snubbed in favor of Kendrick Lamar. He says there’s no bad blood and even called Kendrick ahead of the performance to show support. “They stole that feeling,” he said. “I don’t want to do it. It was perfect.”
Tha Carter VI arrives June 6.
Culture
Lil Durk and India Royale Share Intimate GQ Moment Amid Legal Battles
Lil Durk and India Royale’s relationship remains solid despite his legal troubles. In a GQ couples quiz recorded before his incarceration, the two shared laughs and personal insights, discussing Durk’s tribute songs and India’s social media pet peeves.
Reports suggest the couple secretly married, with DJ Akademiks citing court documents confirming their legal union. Meanwhile, Durk remains behind bars facing federal murder-for-hire charges, with his trial pushed to October 14 due to extensive evidence. He’s also battling a wrongful death lawsuit from Lul Pab’s family, stemming from an alleged hit on Quando Rondo in 2022.
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