Instagram/@bigboi
The Cleveland Browns have turned the halftime show for their next home game into a major event. Big Boi, the famous hip-hop duo OutKast’s one-half, will be singing live at Huntington Bank Field on Sunday as part of the team’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Game.
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The public was very pleased with the announcement which was made very soon and has now been half a year long effect. The announcement, which promised a show that the fans “will not want to miss,” came at the same time as the team’s campaign, making the action on the field more glamorous by the addition of the world-famous musicians.
Responses were full of thrill and urgency to watch the game live at the stadium, hence lots of people were impressed and able to say so. Umm, one fan simply put it, “Ima need tickets for this one!” Another supporter was in a celebratory mood and expressed, “bought my tix yesterday, perfect timing.” It really was a “can’t-miss” kind of event with one person going to the extent of talking about the struggle of being outdoors, remaining, “most probably, I would have to be under the rain and chill for this.”
In the comments, there was the cunning and merry use of lyrics from Big Boi’s own songs that were mostly the same. Several users mentioned the famous line, “cooler than a polar bear’s toenails,” quoting directly from the OutKast classic “Aquemini.” This shared use of language founded a circle of recognition and fandom that was very much present in the dialogues, with one participant making an addition about, “Smoother than a Freddy Jackson sippin a milkshake.”
Apart from the excitement, some commentators pointed the high-profile signing to the fact that the team’s rookie quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, is already a hot topic. One comment said, “This is the Sanders effect… do you think this would have happened if Dylan Gabriel was still the starting quarterback? I don’t think so.” Another one voiced, “The Shedeur effect… could have had this stuff all season,” which means that the team’s increasing popularity is starting to attract the best and most talented entertainers. Nevertheless, other commenters held the opposite view and pointed out that the event is tightly related to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which recently inducted OutKast, making the whole booking a smooth transition to the themed game.
In all the excitement, there was also a light notice of hometown pride and slight caution. One fan was saying, “OK Browns, do not make fools of yourselves while we have a guest,” combining support with a hint of playful anxiety about the team’s on-field performance with such a renowned musical guest present at the game.
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There is no doubt that this announcement has brought a change in the mood around the game turning it from just another NFL game into a cultural event of a greater scope. The Cleveland Browns are presenting a powerful mixture of sports and music by having an inductee into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame perform during halftime hence giving a rare opportunity for both devoted football fans and hip-hop aficionados to enjoy the same thing at the same time. The huge and witty response from the public indicates that this mixture is surely a winning play. This surprise collaboration and his behind-the-scenes moments with other artists highlight his ongoing influence. Following the declaration of “game over” after the induction, he continues to celebrate the OutKast legacy in memorable ways.
