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Meek Mill and Rapsody will perform on Thursday in Chicago before the N.F.L. opens its 100th season when the Bears host the Green Bay Packers. The artists, who were chosen over a period of months, are the first to perform at an N.F.L. event since the league formed a broad partnership this month with Jay-Z, who will help produce entertainment at the Super Bowl and other prominent N.F.L. events, and support the league’s social activism campaign, Inspire Change.
The N.F.L. Kickoff, which precedes the first game of the season, is typically a celebration of football and the new season.