In 2026, the halftime show was as much about identity and impact as it was about who gets the mic next. Tune in next year to see whether the NFL gives the stage to nostalgia, controversy, or another cultural milestone.

After Bad Bunny’s historic Super Bowl LX halftime show — the first headlining performance nearly entirely in Spanish that celebrated Puerto Rican culture on one of the world’s biggest stages, hip-hop veteran Mase didn’t just throw shade. He ignited the entire conversation.

Mase, speaking on his podcast, didn’t sugar coat his take. He rated Bad Bunny’s set a 4 out of 10, arguing that the NFL’s halftime choices seem to be declining over the years. To him, it wasn’t just about production or spectacle; he believes there were “several artists” who would’ve done a better job and doubled down on the idea that Chris Brown is way overdue for that coveted halftime headline slot.

Yes, that Chris Brown: the R&B powerhouse with decades of hits but a complicated catalog of public controversies and no Super Bowl headline set to his name yet. That’s part of what makes this debate so rich; at its heart, it’s an argument about legacy, storytelling, and cultural resonance on global stages. Some fans see Brown as a missed halftime legend in waiting. Others see Mase’s take as nostalgia talking. And some think it’s just early 2000s energy from someone who’s still processing how much the halftime platform has changed.

Meanwhile, Bad Bunny’s own performance wasn’t a subtle pop moment: it was a full-on cultural statement. He brought his Latinx identity, invited heavy hitting guest stars, and packaged it all in a deeply visual show that struck political and emotional chords across social media and mainstream news. Critics from all sides have weighed in, from praise over its cultural unity to blowback from traditionalists — making this one of the most talked-about halftime shows in recent history.

This isn’t just a Super Bowl recap. It’s a snapshot of evolving cultural priorities. The conversation isn’t only about who killed it last night, it’s about whose story matters most on the biggest stage possible. And with Mase calling for Chris Brown, we’re officially in “next year’s lineup speculation mode.”