Super Bowl

Travis Scott doesn't have to justify his decision to perform at the Super Bowl to anyone -- his only goal should be to put on a hip-hop show for the ages ... so says Yung Joc.

The Atlanta rapper's going to bat for Trav, who's taking some heat from peers -- like Meek Mill -- for opting to join Maroon 5 for the halftime show in February. Meek thinks it's beneath Travis ... plus, it breaks the NFL boycott some celebs are organizing in support of Colin Kaepernick.

But, YJ points out the stage doesn't get any bigger than the SB, and the opportunity for Scott is not only too big to pass up ... but it can do a lot of good for the hip-hop culture.

We broke the story ... the "SICKO MODE" rapper's decision to take the halftime gig is a huge win for the NFL as he's one of the hottest acts in music right now. The league and Maroon 5 are still in talks to add more artists ... possibly Cardi B or Big Boi.

Maroon 5 has just crushed the doubters who said finding another artist for the Super Bowl Halftime Show was impossible ... because TMZ has learned they locked down one of the biggest names in music ... Travis Scott!!!

Travis will join M5 during the halftime show in Atlanta on February 3. It's arguably the biggest gig in music, with historical performances over the years.

It's a monster move ... Travis has the hottest tour going, a huge single with Drake and he's generating big Grammy buzz. Not only that -- Travis' 3 shows on Grammy week (Vegas, San Diego, LA) are nearly sold out after presale -- and rumor has it he'll add another show at The Forum that week too.

And, if that's not enough, we've learned his plus one will be the mother of his child (and possibly his wife) and one of the biggest and richest celebs on the planet ... Kylie Jenner.

Our industry sources tell us Maroon 5 is also in talks with several other artists about possibly joining the show ... including Cardi B and Outkast's Big Boi.

Travis' addition is a big win for the NFL and hip-hop fans ... you'll recall, Waka Flocka Flame bashed the League for passing over Atlanta rappers in favor of a mainstream band.

It'll be interesting to see if Cardi and Big Boi strike deals to perform as well. Big Boi hails from the ATL, and his addition would be huge for the city.

Amy Schumer says her call for performers to boycott the Super Bowl LIII halftime show over the mistreatment of players like Colin Kaepernick is working ... saying, "No one is stepping up to perform."

Back in October, Amy declared she wouldn't do any Super Bowl commercials this year and strongly suggested it was all because she feels black players like Colin are being punished for trying to stand up against inequality.

Amy had called for Maroon 5 to back out of the halftime show -- and while that hasn't happened, she clearly believes reports that the band is having a hard time finding a special guest to join them during the show because of the controversy surrounding the NFL.

Schumer took to social media Wednesday to speak out against sports reporters who have thrown shade her way over the calls for a boycott ... and also to pat herself on the back.

"The snooty lil digs about me in stories about the Super Bowl halftime talent is such a yawn," Schumer said.

"All out of touch white guys annoyed by me standing up for what I believe is right."

"I have done 2 Super Bowl commercials in the last couple years and I'm so stupid thinking my opinion would matter right? Well guess what? I may have made a difference. No one is stepping up to perform."

"Maybe they wouldn't have anyway. But at least I tried to help out and do what other people are too greedy or afraid to. Would you do that to stand up for people of color?"

"I may have made an impact. You can write about sports and even be the best at it but what have you done to help the marginalized or under represented?"

"I will continue to do everything I can. Even with all the snide little white sports writer making cutting remarks."

Michael Blackson is so disappointed in Jacksonville after yet another blowout loss Thursday ... he's tellin' TMZ Sports the Jags belong closer to the toilet bowl than the Super Bowl!!!

We got the comedian -- whose nephew is Eli Apple, a starter for the Saints -- leaving Boulevard3 in Hollywood, when we had to ask for his take on Derrick Henry's epic 99-yard TD run.

That's when Blackson told us the run was cool and all ... but he's WAY more disappointed in Jacksonville's D for letting the play happen!

"Where the f**k was the defense?! Jesus Christ, man," Blackson says.

"I'm so disappointed in the Jaguars. These guys went from AFC Championship game -- they went from almost the Super Bowl to the toilet bowl!"

Blackson didn't stop there ... tellin' Jacksonville's die-hard fanbase they need to come pick up their squad!

"I'm so disappointed in them! But hey, if you let someone run 99 yards, man, you don't deserve to be anywhere close to the playoffs. Jaguars, I'm disappointed in you. Duval, get your team together. Please!"

Tech N9ne says Patrick Mahomes has been ballin' out so hard this season ... it's time for a new track about the Chiefs QB -- and he's giving TMZ Sports a sample of the chorus!!

Of course, the rapper is a ride-or-die K.C. fan who's stoked about the 9-2 start to this season.

But, Tech says he's SO fired up about it -- he's ready to get in the booth and hammer out a new track about the team's star QB.

The title? "Rollin' With MaHomies" ... and, gotta say, from the 3-second preview he gave us -- it sounds like it might be pretty legit.

Tech's made music about the Chiefs before ... remember "Wheels Like Hill" -- the banger about Tyreek Hill??

BTW ... in case there was any doubt -- Tech tells us he thinks Mahomes is the league's MVP ... and if the squad makes it to the Super Bowl, he's callin' dibs on the halftime show!

The NFL is finally caving to pressure and booking an ATL-based musical act for Super Bowl LIII, but fans hoping to see local culture in the halftime show will still be disappointed ... TMZ has learned.

The R&B act is a group called Final Draft and, while the Super Bowl is a huge score for them ... they'll be more of a side act at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. As you know, Maroon 5 is holding court as the halftime headliner -- a decision many fans and even artists, like Waka Flocka, blasted the league for making.

The feeling is the NFL's missing out on showcasing Atlanta's hugely popular and successful hip-hop scene.

We're told Final Draft will perform at the Players Tailgate party, about 3 blocks away from the stadium. No tickets are needed, just show up and enjoy. The group will also perform later at the GameDay Fan Plaza ... which, at least, is inside the stadium.

Prior to this, Final Draft's big break came on season 12 of "America's Got Talent" where they reached the quarterfinals -- and they've also appeared on Wendy Williams' show.

As we first reported, Cardi B was in negotiations to join Maroon 5 for part of the halftime show. As far as we know, that's still in play.

Jermaine Dupri says artists like Jay-Z and Rihanna, who've boycotted the Super Bowl, have it all wrong ... because they missed out on an opportunity to promote their cause on the biggest stage.

Rihanna reportedly turned down the halftime show this year and Hov told the NFL to kick rocks last year, all because both artists have MAJOR issues with the league's treatment of Colin Kaepernick.

The Super Bowl is in ATL this year ... Dupri's stomping grounds ... and he tells TMZ Sports he thinks the platform of the Super Bowl is more valuable than a boycott.

"Boycotts and marches don't seem like they work to me, I'm sorry. I think they should send a message while they're onstage, take advantage of your platform."

Dupri says it's totally cool NOT to do the Super Bowl in protest as well, but makes it clear that further conversation does more good than ignoring it.

Mike Vick would be rockin' a Super Bowl ring on his finger these days if somehow one of his teams had managed to trade for Chad Ochocinco ... so says the legendary QB himself.

We got Vick and Chad promoting WinView out in Bev Hills when we asked the two what would've happened if they were on the same team ... and Vick couldn't help but dream.

"Man, I mean, to have him, I would have probably had a ring for sure," Mike says.

Chad seemed to agree, saying, "That woulda been dope."

So, why'd it never go down?? Chad was locked in with the Bengals and Vick was entrenched with the Falcons during their primes.

"He woulda never got traded and I woulda never got traded, so we woulda had to have been drafted at the same time," Vick says.

As for how their careers went without each other and if they warrant busts in the NFL's Hall of Fame ... both surprisingly didn't seem too worried about that just yet.

"I'm not one that really needed validation," Ochocinco tells us.

Added Vick, "You leave that up to the people."

Thomas John -- the famous psychic who correctly predicted the World Series teams back in July -- is taking his gift one step further ... predicting the WINNER. And, it's bad news for L.A. fans.

Remember, when John made his prediction back in July, the Dodgers were in 3rd place in the NL West behind the Diamondbacks and the Rockies. It was a tight race and the Dodgers were definitely not a lock for the playoffs at the time.

But, he assured us the Dodgers and Red Sox would make the Series -- and he was right.

So, when we saw the "Seatbelt Psychic" star at Avra in Bev Hills Monday we asked for his World Series winner prediction and he came through with the answer from beyond!

We also mined for info about the Super Bowl -- and that's when John had even MORE good news for Boston fans.

Rihanna did the right thing blowing off the NFL's invitation to perform at the Super Bowl's halftime show -- so says Tinashe.

Don't get the "2 On" singer wrong ... she might not have turned it down (she just performed the National Anthem at a Rams game a few weeks ago) -- but she's defending Rihanna's right to do it, regardless.

"If she believes in it, she believes in it," Tinashe says.

Of course ... RiRi's upset at The Shield for the way she believes it's blackballing Colin Kaepernick, reportedly saying she'll ride with Kap over getting the huge exposure anytime.

And, that's clearly something Tinashe can respect.

Brett Favre, John Elway, Tony Romo ... NONE of these dudes had the ability to chuck the pigskin like Patrick Mahomes does -- so says ex-Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil.

"His overall ability to throw the ball in any body position is the best I've ever seen," the legendary coach tells TMZ Sports.

Mahomes just won his fifth straight start ... killin' the Broncos on Monday night -- and when we spoke with Vermeil about it, he couldn't have been more impressed.

"He's so flexible, body-wise," Vermeil says.

"He can twist his hips and kick his legs and turn his shoulders, and all three variations are going different directions, and he throws the ball accurately anyway. It's amazing!"

Remember ... Vermeil's coached Pro Bowlers like Kurt Warner, Ron Jaworski and Trent Green -- so it's some seriously high praise.

But, the gushing didn't stop there ... 'cause Dick tells us Mahomes has MORE athletic ability than even Donovan McNabb!!!

In fact ... Vermeil says if Mahomes doesn't get Andy Reid his first-ever Super Bowl ring ... NOBODY will.

If Cardi B wants her own set for the Super Bowl halftime show ... GIVE CARDI B HER OWN SET ... so says Miguel, who tells TMZ Sports she'd KILL it if given the chance.

We broke the story ... the "I Like It" spitter is in negotiations with the NFL to join Maroon 5 to perform at Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta ... but wants to have her own set during the show.

Of course, the decision to go with Adam Levine's band has been met with a ton of criticism ... and Waka Flocka Flame told us last week the show should feature black performers with real connections to ATL.

So, when we asked Miguel if the NFL should give in to Bardi's demands, he's ALL about it ... saying "Cardi would kill that!!"

She's one of the top-selling recording artists of ALL TIME -- so, why hasn't Mariah Carey performed a Super Bowl halftime show?

It's not that she's opposed to the idea ...

In fact, when we saw Mariah leaving Craig's in L.A. on Sunday night, she told us -- "I would love to!"

Mariah has performed AT the Super Bowl before -- just not during the halftime show. She did the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in 2002 -- a performance Rolling Stone ranked as one of the most memorable of all time.

Back in 2016, Carey told Andy Cohen on 'Watch What Happens Live' that she would do the halftime show when she has a new song coming out.

Well, she just dropped a new promotional single -- with plans to release her 15th album in the very near future.

So ... Mariah in 2020??

Hip-hop fans pissed at the NFL for the Maroon 5 halftime show decision might have their Hail Mary answered by none other than Cardi B -- but the NFL might have to blink ... TMZ has learned.

Our sources say Cardi is in negotiations to perform her song with Maroon 5, "Girls Like You" -- and the main issue being discussed is whether or not CB gets a solo set. We're told she's getting a lot of offers to perform in early February ... so she's trying to make the best deal possible.

Super Bowl LIII is being held in Atlanta, and some fans were hoping the NFL would give props to the ATL's hot music scene. Needless to say, Maroon 5 isn't checking that box for those fans.

Waka Flocka Flame told TMZ Sports the performers should be black and have connections to ATL.

That's why Cardi would make a lot of sense for the NFL.

Here's something you don't hear rappers say a lot lately ... CUT THE NFL A BREAK!!!

RZA -- the leader of the Wu-Tang Clan -- says he doesn't think the NFL deserves all the crap it's been getting for booking Maroon 5 for the Super Bowl halftime show.

And, the reason? He really digs Adam Levine!!

Remember, the game will be played in Atlanta -- home of stars like Outkast, T.I. and Migos. The guys from Maroon 5 are from L.A., and some people are pissed about that.

But, not RZA -- who says Adam is everything that's RIGHT about music ... he's talented, progressive and embraces hip-hop. He even points out Adam has a song with Future.

In fact, RZA says he wouldn't be surprised if Adam brought out a special guest like Drake!

Wanna see Wu-Tang perform at the Super Bowl?

Well, that's not gonna happen -- but RZA says the guys would definitely be down to perform a halftime show for the NY Jets or the NY Giants -- all they have to do is ask!!

Wu-Tang's for the children!!!!!!

Waka Flocka Flame is throwing penalty flags at the NFL for choosing Maroon 5 for the halftime performance at this year's Super Bowl in Atlanta, because he believes the performers should be black.

Waka tells TMZ Sports ... he's upset with the NFL's decision to shun the incredibly long list of Atlanta rappers in favor of a more mainstream performer.

Flocka tells us why Colin Kaepernick's movement could've influenced the halftime show ... and says the NFL is just plain tone-deaf ... disrespecting so many players and fans.