Bad Bunny Was Always Projected to Win the Super Bowl

Bad Bunny Was Always Projected to Win the Super Bowl. Team Benito was awarded spectacle and earnest passion amidst a foreshadowed game and political diversions.

Weeks before the Super Bowl teams were determined, one team was already preparing: Team Benito. Bad Bunny fans took to TikTok when answering the question everyone has been asking for years: “who are you rooting for in the Super Bowl?”. The content did not disappoint… from flags with his beautiful face on them, to Dominican spreads and buffets and Benito pre-planned concert clip marathons during the football gameplay, the signs of Bad Bunny’s triumph were there all along. Even though last year’s halftime show also made a splash amidst the Kendrick Lamar x Drake feud heating up online, and Kendrick’s ode to his America through the legendary set list and visuals, this year’s performance was rooted in unity rather than spectacle, with both artists ultimately making a beautifully bold statement at the games. 

It’s no secret that art has always been a mode of protest, and within the last few years of Trump’s run in America, things have gotten back to getting spicy on the field. It’s always been a common theme amongst these intermissions to the games, with performances like Michael Jackson’s 1993 halftime show to note. But what made this year different is that politicians fought back both proactively and following the games. By featuring symbols like the light blue Puerto Rican flag (associated with independence) and "ICE out" rhetoric, the performance tapped into a widespread public "horror and disgust" regarding immigration tactics, which some analysts believe could lead to a realignment in U.S. politics. This was met with a call from the House Republicans on the Federal Communications Commission to investigate Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance, suggesting the content and lyrics of the Puerto Rican star's show were "illegal.” If I’m not mistaken, it seems as though they were already holding grudges about invisible competition with pointless battle of the bands framing. Turns out America is in need of a Grammy-winning tune about family over a lip sync performance by Kid Rock that would’ve gotten him voted off this season of Rupaul’s Drag Race faster than DD Fuego (RIP </3). 

However if there is one thing we know about Team Benito it’s that their growing, loyal fanbase  are fed by resistance and deliciously punky bachata beats, so despite the baseless demand for investigations, Democratic leaders like Senator Patty Murray and Rep. Jim McGovern praised the show for its message of "unity and love over division”. Celebrities took to socials and award show press moments to praise Bad Bunny (who also was already a winner in his own right, bringing his fresh Grammy to the game in the most cinematic way possible). Apart from the worsening situations involving ICE and immigration blocking and abuse in the U.S. this year, it would seem to anyone (not just members of Team Benito) that many were just as startled by the artist’s stardom as they were his messaging and influence on the viewers of this year’s Super Bowl. But Bad Bunny (and many others) predicted this, stating to Billboard in the preparation of the event: “I’m just a normal guy that makes music”.

Speaking of views, Team Benito was not playing around when they said they were coming for one thing, and one thing only. While the Seattle Seahawks' 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots averaged 124.9 million viewers on NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, NBC Sports Digital and NFL+, according to Nielsen's Big Data + Panel rating system (ESPN Reports),  Bad Bunny's halftime show averaged 128.2 million viewers from 8:15 to 8:30 p.m. ET. And for those pretending it didn’t happen… the All-American Halftime Show, headlined by Kid Rock, has just over 21 million views on YouTube. Meanwhile, Bad Bunny’s has more than 79 million views on YouTube and climbing. 

Even with the bizarre events that unfolded because of the Benito Bowl of 2026, some things never change, which is part of exactly what he meant to say in the finale of his performance in SoFi Stadium. Although there was no shortage of buffalo chicken dip and impulsive downloads of FanDuel this year, it is increasingly hard to play jovial about patriotism. For a country that seems divided every other day of the year, it was such a joy to root for a Super Bowl team that smartly addressed the nation, made us proud to be American, and even had us shaking some ass while shedding a few honest tears (thx Benito xx). 

Today’s the Day, not Tomorrow: WHATMORE Radiates Modern Nostalgia.

NYC’s newest rap group, WHATMORE, is an eclectic 5-piece consisting of high school friends, Cisco Swank, Yoshi T, Sebastiano, Jackson August (Vocals), and Elijah Judah (Producer). The group, serving as native New Yorkers, draws inspiration from everyday experiences, bridging their community and craft. It’s these urban experiences that have drawn in listeners all across New York. Although the group has gained a lot of traction, the members all state their identity as  “just a group of guys who make music .“ Meanwhile, WHATMORE is recasting traditional rap standards and heavily amplifying the Alternative Rap game.    

47Magazine had the opportunity to chat with WHATMORE as they cover topics surrounding their debut album, their collective sound as a group, and preparing for their first tour. 

This interview was conducted in person and has been edited for clarity.

[Harmony Robinson]: Which music video did you have the most fun filming?

[Sebastiano]: I definitely had the most fun filming the “chicken shop date” video. We filmed in the middle of the night, around 1:00 am. We had live chickens. Random people were coming in from the club next door just to check out what was happening. It was an unforgettable time, for sure.

[Cisco]: Lowkey, I would say the “eastside” video was actually kind of fire. We were on a bus, and everyone around was growing really tired of us, and we had to focus on dodging stop signs-

[Yoshi]: Don’t forget about those lights!

[Cisco]:  Yeah, we almost died. Not joking. 

[Yoshi]: My favorite was “Jenny’s” because we got to ride on The Cyclone twice.

[Jackson]: I gotta go “Chicken shop” with Seb. That might have been one of the wildest nights of my life. On top of filming with live chickens, we had some crazy interactions. People were coming off the street to see what was going on. Shoutout to the chicken shop; everyone who worked there was so chill.

[Elijah]: I agree. “Chicken shop” was definitely the craziest. 

[HR]: What's been the hardest part of creating the album, and what's the creative process behind it?

[Sebastiano]: Honestly, I don't even say there's a hard part, because making music with Whatmore-the homies-is easier than doing it by yourself. We just all get in a room together. Elijah's the glue to everything. We throw down ideas on whatever was produced, and it's like a puzzle piece after that, putting it together, figuring out where the verses and hooks go.

[Cisco]: Yeah, the hardest part for me was going into a rural area and making it because I don't like leaving New York. But as far as the creative process goes, Elijah makes a beat, and we all start rapping.

[Yoshi]: The creative process is mad fun because, honestly, it's like nothing I've ever done before. We create a 16-bar loop, record over it, and then, as Seb mentioned, it becomes a big puzzle piece. It's like, oh, this is the verse and this is the chorus. When you make music alone, you write it fluidly and it makes sense, but when you have five other people, you never know what someone’s going to do. So I might think I have the hook, but then it's like, oh, no, wait, this is just a fire post-chorus. Then someone else chimes in with, "Let's try this and try that," and it just works.

[HR]: Congrats on playing Coachella and opening for LAUNDRY DAY! How are you guys navigating the nerves of performing for such large crowds?

[Yoshi]: So the way we're preparing to perform for Coachella is every day we get together and we spend like 7 hours watching Bey-chella on repeat. Every. Single. Day. Then we pray to Queen B.

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[HR]: With everyone being from such different musical backgrounds, how did you all converge your different ideas onto the album? Upon listening, do you think there’s a uniform sound or is it a blend across genres?

[Cisco]: The thing is, we all listen to different stuff, like Elijah and I, even though we don't look like the indie kids of the group, we listen to some alternative music. All of us listen to whatever. Jackson listens to hip hop-he loves 21 Savage. Seb listens to K-pop,

[Jackson]: -I do love 21 Savage.

[Cisco]: So it's blended from our primary inspiration at the top of different genres, but it's just an easy mesh cause we all listen to different things. 

[HR]: I've been loving the visualizers you all have been putting out; it really feels like fans are navigating the music industry alongside you. What's one piece of advice you give to those just starting?

[Cisco]: You gotta go to Patrick, our videographer, for that one.

[Patrick Linehan ]: Find friends that you like making stuff with, and just start doing it. Don’t make excuses and don't be afraid to ask. You gotta be good at being told no.

[Jackson]  My biggest thing was don’t be afraid. This is so corny, but don't be afraid to fail. Don't be afraid to be corny. I feel like we've been failing and being corny for so long, with videos that no one saw because they were bad. We put in years of just doing that, and then eventually you get to a point where it’s like, oh, wait, like, this is kind of good; and I feel like we're still working at that, obviously.

[Yoshi]: Our videos aren't corny. They're compelling.

[Jackson]: You're not going to be amazing at first, so don't be afraid to f****** fail. 

[Cisco]  Also, take everything with a grain of salt. Everyone's gonna have an opinion. Appreciate the opinions of people above you, but if you think something's fire, you gotta stand by it. 

[HR]: What's one thing you want audiences to take away from the album?

[Elijah]: I just want people to feel like they know us a little better. I think that’s really the biggest thing. I want people to feel comfortable coming up to us and saying hi. I want people to talk to us about the music and how it influenced them. I want to know what it made them think and feel. 

[Cisco]:  We are regular people who love music, and today's the day, not tomorrow, not next week, lock in. 

[Jackson]: We are people. We're out here on the street, come say what up to us. That’s it, Whatmore 2025, we’re here!

Written by Harmony Robinson 

Photographed by Shane Allen & Razi Faouri

Listen to the album here and grab your tour tickets here!

Can’t Look Elsewhere from Meg Elsier

Meg Elsier’s Milestone Moment at Baby’s All Right

Rising Indie-Rock artist Meg Elsier delivered an unforgettable performance at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn, a milestone in her journey, marking her first solo show since relocating from Nashville. As the opening act for UK artist and producer Martin Luke Brown, Meg set the tone with an opener that surely left the audience eager to learn what’s next for NYC’s newest rockstar. Meg captivated the audience with her tender vocals, authentic lyrics, and unbeatable charm as she performed a variety of unreleased tracks. 

Meg's introduction into her set was composed of soothing and painstakingly written lyrics, bringing a sense of melancholy into the crowd. From the start, she had everyone in awe as the dreamy vocals of “Dog” rang out. Her voice–so delicate, it could sit on a single flower petal. 

She then transitions into a group of songs that really unveil her mission as an artist: providing a collective and connected experience through music. This mission manifests as Meg lets the audience in on her innermost feelings and most vulnerable thoughts. In fact, Meg introduces her song “Mean,” and with a smirk, she jokes, “I’ve figured out the meaning of life, and if you listen closely, you’ll figure it out too.” The song itself wrestled with themes of solitude and existential reflection. Her delivery was raw and angry, with the repeated lyric “no reason to it” highlighting a yearning for clarity in a world that often lacks it. 

As the final chords of “Mean” faded, a quiet vulnerability lingered in the room, one that Meg seamlessly carried into her next track and fan favorite, “Sportscar.” Where “Mean” drowned in hopelessness, “Sportscar” gently searched for meaning in memory. The song explores the complex transition between adolescence and adulthood. With the repetition of lyrics like 'How'd I'd get older,' “Sportscar” serves as a coming-of-age anthem for anyone reminiscent of a time without worries or responsibilities.

Meg has perfected the art of missing something that has never missed her. Wrapped up in nostalgia, Meg played another unreleased track, “New England,” a song that now has a permanent place in my heart. The song serves as a bittersweet goodbye to her hometown in Boston. With lyrics such as “the lawns too green,” this song is full of relatable imagery such as perfectly manicured lawns, 9-to-5 routines, and a town that feels both too familiar and too small. The track captured both the claustrophobia and comfort of growing up in a place that’s shaped the person you’ve become.

After leaving the audience deep in self-reflection and existentialism, Meg closed with another breakout track, “ifshitfuq.” The slow-burning buildup of the song got the crowd moving, as upbeat rock and emotionally charged lyrics rang out. Meg sings with raw conviction, as lines such as, “I never thought I was special / But I thought I’d do more,” echoed through the crowd, striking a chord that felt both personal yet targeted. 

Meg Elsier’s show at Baby’s All Right proved she’s not just being noticed; she's being remembered. With a blend of dreamy, shoegaze-inflected vocals and down-to-earth lyricism, Meg serves as a reminder to accept the tender, lonely, growing parts of ourselves. 

Catch more of Meg here and continue to stream her music! 

Written by Harmony Robinson

Photographed by Supriya Raj