The rap superstar, 53 – who brought his 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter along – and the Umbrella hitmaker, 34, have a relationship that spans back to 2005, when she signed to Def Jam while Jay-Z was the president of the company.
Rihanna’s halftime performance saw her take the stage after a nearly seven-year music hiatus and comes 18 years after she released her first single, Pon de Replay.
And though she’s known as an international superstar now, the Barbados-born star previously recalled ‘shaking’ as she waited to audition for Beyonce‘s husband 18-years-ago, and being ‘locked’ in the office until 3am.
The pair also weathered accusations that Jay-Z was cheating on Beyonce with the then 17-year-old Rihanna, though her former publicist later apologized and debunked the claim, saying he made up the rumor in hopes of giving Rihanna’s debut single a boost.
Cheering her on: Jay-Z was pictured attending Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, where his protégée Rihanna put on a spectacular performance during the halftime show and revealed she was pregnant
They go way back: The rap superstar, 53, and the Umbrella hitmaker, 34, have a relationship that spans back to 2005, when she signed to Def Jam while Jay-Z was the president; Pictured 2005
In 2020 she recalled the meeting on her Instagram stories, writing: ‘Feels like just yesterday I was shaking in the hallways of Def Jam waiting to audition for Jay.’
She previously discussed the audition, describing how she sang for Jay-Z and recalled being ‘very shy’ and ‘cold the entire time’ in an interview with The Guardian.
‘I was like: “Oh God, he’s right there, I can’t look, I can’t look, I can’t look!”…I had butterflies. I’m sitting across from Jay-Z. Like, Jay-Zee. I was star-struck,’ she revealed.
Rihanna performed Pon de Replay for the hiphop mogul during the audition, and a number of other songs.
She said the audition ‘went well’ and the recalled how the label ‘locked me into the office – till 3am.’
She then remembered what the Big Pimpin’ rapper said to her: ‘And Jay-Z said, “There’s only two ways out. Out the door after you sign this deal. Or through this window …” And we were on the 29th floor. Very flattering.’
Rihanna signed with Def Jam in 2005 when she was 17 years old, however she left the label 5 years later.
She then proceeded to sign with Jay-Z yet again, after he left Def Jam and created his own label Roc Nation.
Pregnant! Rihanna has confirmed she is pregnant with her second child after surprising fans with a baby bump during her highly anticipated comeback at the Super Bowl 57 on Sunday
History: The Barbados-born star previously recalled ‘shaking’ as she waited to audition for Beyonce’s husband 18-years-ago, and being ‘locked’ in the office until 3am; Pictured 2005
How it began: ‘And Jay-Z said, “There’s only two ways out. Out the door after you sign this deal. Or through this window …” And we were on the 29th floor. Very flattering,’ she recalled
Shy: She previously discussed the audition, describing how she sang for Jay-Z and recalled being ‘very shy’ and ‘cold the entire time’ in an interview with The Guardian; Pictured 2005
Meanwhile in 2005 a rumor began swirling around that Jay-Z – who was then dating his soon-wife to be Beyonce – was having an affair with his musical protégé.
However Jay-Z and Beyonce overcame the cheating rumors, and went on to marry in 2008.
And in 2015 Rihanna’s former publicist Jonathan Hay apologized for making up the rumor.
He was forced to issue a public apology after an explosive book claimed that due to Hay’s rumor Beyoncé and Jay Z, who started dating in 2000, had separated for a year.
The claims were laid bare in Becoming Beyoncé: The Untold Story which is written by celebrity biographer J Randy Taraborelli.
Hay, who has already apologized to Jay Z, also issued an apology to Beyoncé in a statement on Inside Edition at the time: ‘I apologized to her … this whole thing is very awkward,’ he told the New York Daily News.
Allegations: The pair also weathered accusations that Jay-Z was cheating on Beyonce with the then 17-year-old Rihanna, though her former publicist admitted he made up the rumor to give her first single a boost
Sticking with Jay: Rihanna signed with Def Jam in 2005 when she was 17 years old, however she left the label 5 years later. She then proceeded to sign with Jay-Z yet again, after he created his own label Roc Nation
‘The pr stunt that I did was out of desperation to help break Pon de Replay,’ he said in his statement. ‘It was reckless and I didn’t think it was going to work. I was just throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what would stick.’
On Sunday Rihanna, who gave birth to her first child just nine months ago, sent social media into a frenzy as she took to the stage and rubbed her tummy in front of a global audience of millions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where the Philadelphia Eagles are taking on the Kansas City Chiefs.
A representative for star confirmed the baby news shortly after the performance finished.
She shares her first child, who was born on May 13, 2022, with the rapper A$AP Rocky, who was not initially pictured at the Super Bowl. The two have kept their growing family under the radar, and so far neither musician has shared the name of their child.
Rihanna started off the show suspended on a platform high above the field as she belted out her single B**** Better Have My Money. She was dressed in a baggy scarlet jumpsuit that covered up her curves and was strapped loosely on her.
Rihanna stuck to the hits and didn’t reveal any new songs during her performance, which featured 12 songs.
The Kansas City Chiefs ultimately earned their third NFL championship triumphing over the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35, behind an epic effort put forth by superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes who ultimately earned MVP.
Sweet: The rap superstar brought his and Beyonce’s 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter to the Super Bowl on Sunday
