Swizz Beatz is standing up against criticism aimed at his wife, Alicia Keys. During Usher’s Super Bowl LVIII halftime show, Keys joined as a special guest, but her rendition of “If I Ain’t Got You” drew some negative feedback due to a cracked voice. However, Beatz took to Instagram the next day to defend his wife’s performance, showing unwavering support.
Y’all talking about the wrong damn thing !!! y’all don’t see that amazing dress covering the entire stadium,” wrote the record producer, 45, directing attention to Keys’ red Dolce & Gabbana bejeweled catsuit and billowing organza cape, which she shed after singing “If I Ain’t Got You” at the piano.
“Tonight’s performance was nothing but amazing with 2 amazing Giants! Congrats @usher and my love @aliciakeys that song is a classic,” continued Beatz, acknowledging the two R&B stars’ rendition of their 2004 hit “My Boo” during the halftime performance.
“We don’t do negative vibes on this side we make history,” added the musician, whose real name is Kasseem Daoud Dean, in defense of his wife’s performance during the halftime show at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
About one-third into the halftime show, Keys appeared at a red piano and commenced singing “If I Ain’t Got You” solo.
Despite a momentary voice crack, she persevered, showcasing her resilience. Shortly after, Usher joined her to complete the song as a powerful duet. Subsequently, Keys rose from the piano, and the duo delivered a heartfelt rendition of “My Boo,” culminating their joint performance with an embrace.
Following the live Super Bowl LVIII broadcast, the complete halftime show was uploaded to the NFL’s YouTube channel. Interestingly, Keys’ performance appears to have been edited to exclude the vocal flub, suggesting a polished presentation for online viewers.
In addition to Keys’ guest appearance in the halftime show, H.E.R. joined Usher onstage to showcase her guitar skills during renditions of “U Got It Bad” and “Bad Girl.” Meanwhile, Jermaine Dupri made a notable appearance, delivering remarks onstage.
The performance gained further momentum as Will.i.am contributed to “OMG,” and Lil Jon added his rap flair to “Turn Down for What.” The grand finale saw Ludacris enter the mix, adding energy and excitement to the crowd-favorite, “Yeah!”
When Usher was announced as the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show headliner in September 2023, the superstar described it as the “honor of a lifetime.” He said,
“It’s an honor of a lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list. I can’t wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they’ve seen from me before. Thank you to the fans and everyone who made this opportunity happen. I’ll see you real soon.”