The Super Bowl.
Ethan didn't think there was a single American who didn't know about this colossal event. It wasn't just a game; it was a cultural phenomenon, an experience, The Event of the year. People planned their entire schedules around it. Families gathered, wings were devoured, and even those who didn't care about sports suddenly became die-hard fans for one night.
And here he was, stepping into the heart of it all, flanked by two legends—two of the very people who were about to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. If there was anything Americans loved more than the Super Bowl itself, it was the halftime show. That was the real spectacle. Millions of people tuned in for that, with the game itself almost feeling like a warm-up act.
The halftime show wasn't just any performance—it was a statement. It was the ultimate flex, the industry's way of saying, Yes, this artist is big. No, scratch that. This artist is monumental. Getting invited to perform at the Super Bowl meant you had already cemented yourself as a legend, as one of the biggest names in music. Hundreds of artists dreamed of it, but only a select few got the call.
Even Ethan, who didn't really care about American football, understood the magnitude of it. He had always watched the halftime shows, even if he skipped the rest of the game. He had tuned in last year when Travis Scott had performed, and he still remembered when he in a duo—had lit up the stage during his 2019 performance. That had been iconic. Then, Travis had come back taking the torch and gone solo for the 2021 show.
But this year? This year was something else. Because Dr. Dre—one of the greatest rap legends of all time—was also on the lineup he based this off when they mentioned Dre was calling them
People always said performing at the Super Bowl was one of the biggest achievements an artist could have. That you had to truly make your mark before you even had a chance to step onto that stage. And yet, as Ethan followed Eminem and 50 Cent toward the entrance, he couldn't help but notice how... completely unbothered they seemed. No nerves, no tension, no pressure. Just them casually talking and laughing like they were about to step into a backyard cookout instead of one of the most-watched events in the world.
Meanwhile, Ethan—who wasn't even performing—was feeling the weight of it all.
He shook his head, chuckling to himself. Maybe this level of confidence just came with being a rap icon. He wouldn't know. Not yet, at least
Then, Eminem's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Yo, Ethan, let me introduce you to everyone. After that, you can go chill with Hailie in our booth. Come on, the rest of them are here."
Ethan just nodded, though a small frown formed on his face as a thought crossed his mind. The rest? Wasn't it just Dr. Dre?
He figured he should have known who exactly was headlining this year's halftime show, especially considering these were some of his favorite artists. But with everything going on—the tour, the rehearsals, the album rollout—he hadn't kept up with recent news as much as he usually did.
Yep. That settled it. He definitely needed to start using a burner account to stay updated.
As he followed Eminem and 50 Cent into the stadium, the roar of the crowd outside echoed through the tunnels. The energy was insane. Ethan took a deep breath, preparing himself for whatever came next.
Ethan looked around at the bustling scene in the middle of the field, taking in the organized chaos unfolding before him. Crew members dashed back and forth, adjusting lights, setting up equipment, and ensuring everything was in place for the massive event. It reminded him of one of his own tour shows—except on an even grander scale, with an almost unimaginable number of people moving around, each engrossed in their specific tasks. The sheer volume of activity made it clear that no one was paying them any mind. The staff had their own priorities, their own missions, and the presence of megastars like Eminem, 50 Cent, and even himself did nothing to distract them.
As Ethan took another step forward, a deep, commanding voice rang out, cutting through the noise.
"Hey, boys! Over here! Where have you been?"
The voice was thick with authority and familiarity. Ethan turned his head in the direction of the call and immediately spotted the man behind it. Clad in a stylish black bomber jacket, a crisp white T-shirt, and a sleek chain, he exuded effortless coolness. The look was completed by a fitted LA Dodgers cap, worn low over his eyes. There was no doubt about it—this was none other than Dr. Dre.
Ethan watched as Eminem and 50 Cent broke into wide grins, walking up to the legendary producer and exchanging bro hugs. Their laughter and easy camaraderie filled the air, making it clear that this was far from their first time meeting. Ethan, on the other hand, simply stood to the side, watching in quiet awe.
Then, before he had time to overthink it, Eminem turned back toward him and called out, "Yo, Ethan! Come here."
Ethan nodded and stepped forward, standing face-to-face with the iconic rapper and producer. His heart pounded a little faster, though he managed to keep a cool expression
Dre's eyes were sharp, assessing him as if he were analyzing every detail in a split second. Ethan swallowed and quickly extended his hand, a bright smile on his face.
"Mr. Dr. Dre, sir, it's an honor to meet you! I'm a big fan." His words came out smoothly, though he could feel the excitement bubbling underneath. "My name is Etha—"
Before he could even finish his introduction, Dre took his hand in a firm shake, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.
"Ethan Jones. The newbie sensation," Dre said, his voice carrying an unmistakable weight. "I've heard of you."
Ethan blinked, momentarily stunned.
"Dr. Dre knows me?" The thought shot through his head like lightning
Dre, Eminem, and 50 Cent all chuckled at his obvious surprise.
"Of course, I know you, man," Dre said with a laugh. "Everyone in the industry knows you. You're doing crazy numbers. People can't stop talking about you."
Ethan felt a rush of pride but managed to keep his grin from stretching too wide.
Dre wasn't finished. "Plus, you made a song with my man here." He gestured toward Eminem. "That's my favorite jam so far this year."
Ethan's grin finally broke through. "Thank you, sir. It's an honor."
Dre laughed again, shaking his head. "It's kinda funny seeing a pop guy be this much of a fan."
Ethan immediately countered, "Of course! I grew up listening to your songs. I know everything from—" He started rattling off some of Dre's legendary tracks, from the old-school classics to his more recent work.
As he spoke, a thought popped into his head Cool it down, Jones. Don't sound like a complete Stan.
Dre and Eminem burst into laughter, clearly entertained by his enthusiasm. Meanwhile, 50 Cent had quietly slipped away at some point, muttering something about seeing someone he wanted to meet.
Ethan, still riding the high of meeting one of his idols, decided to seize the moment. "Actually, about that—I just made a song with Em and 50," he said, his voice carrying a hint of mischief. "The song is fire. Super insane. But they don't want to release it. I'm still trying to convince them."
He smirked inwardly, knowing full well that if anyone could change Eminem's mind, it was Dr. Dre. And if Dre and Eminem were on board, 50 Cent would have no choice but to follow.
Dre's expression shifted slightly, his brow furrowing. "Are you serious?"
He turned his gaze toward Eminem, skepticism written all over his face.
Eminem smirked, rubbing the back of his neck. "Don't mind him. It's just a freestyle. It's not that hot."
Ethan wasn't about to let that slide. "It isn't just a freestyle. It's hot. And let's be real—when has an Eminem freestyle not been worthy of release?"
Dre chuckled but didn't let the moment pass. "Em, release the damn song. That would be dope."
Eminem opened his mouth to protest, but Dre cut him off. "Yeah, yeah, I hear you. But I know you well enough to say that when you think a song isn't 'that hot,' it's probably fire. Plus, this would be a good look—just like you guys on 'River.'"
Ethan saw his opportunity. "And 50 is in it, too."
Dre's eyes widened slightly. "50, too?"
He paused for a moment, thinking it over. "Send me the song. Let me hear it first."
Ethan grinned. "No problem."
Eminem sighed, clearly realizing he had lost this battle. "I'll play it for him, Ethan. Don't mind him—when Dre hears music, he's gone."
Dre laughed. "Hey, it's the producer in me.
The conversation was cut short when another voice called out, dragging and slow.
"Dre, Em—dudes, we gotta go rehearse a little."
Ethan turned toward the speaker and his eyes widened. Another one.
Snoop Dogg.
Dre gave a nod. "We're coming." Then, turning back to Eminem, he said, "We gotta go, man."
Eminem gave a small nod before looking at Ethan. "You can just wait in our booth. After rehearsals, I'll come meet you up there. Sorry about this, man."
Ethan shook his head. "Nah, it's fine. It's fine."
He was more than fine. He had pretty much gotten a 'yes' regarding the song's release, and that was a win in his book. As he walked back toward the booth, he spotted Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar. The halftime show was going to be legendary.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed 50 Cent standing a few feet away, engaged in conversation with a woman. Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly before widening in recognition.
Wait… is that Topanga?
His childhood celebrity crush?
Ethan chuckled to himself, shaking his head. This night just kept getting better.
Meanwhile, as Eminem and Dre walked toward rehearsals, their conversation turned serious.
"Em," Dre said, his voice low. "Release that song with the kid. But be careful."
Eminem frowned. "What do you mean?"
Dre exhaled, his tone weighty. "That kid has a lot of chatter in the industry right now. People are calling him UMG's golden boy. Lucian is riding hard for him." He paused. "And you know how those suits operate. The other labels are out for him. Even Diddy and the Carters got their eyes on him. It wouldn't do him any good to be too involved but a song with him at this stage is a guarantee hit if you really serious about that album another song with him could greatly help ."
Eminem's eyes widened slightly. He had weight in the business, sure—but he never really got involved in industry politics. Not even to the extent 50 did. That was more Dre's thing. But hearing that Ethan was caught in the middle of all this?
That did surprise him.