Hip-hop culture took center stage at the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show showcasing not one, not two, but six rappers.
The “original gangsters” Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre performed with Dre’s mentee Eminem, the Queen of R&B hip-hop Mary J. Blige, and rap star Kendrick Lamar.
The 2022 Super Bowl halftime show which is one of the most watched shows annually, marked the first time hip-hop artists were the main performers for the show.
Superstars Snoop and Dre kicked it off the packed performance line up with ‘The Next Episode’ and represented hard for Los Angeles complete atop of a set referencing a South L.A. neighborhood.
Surprise guest 50 Cent then showed up hanging from the ceiling to perform the all-time favorite birthday anthem ‘In Da Club’.
The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J Blige took to the stage with her emotional hits, ‘Family Affair’ and ‘No More Drama.’ She did not disappoint her fans as she brought the heat with her glittery silver outfits and danced her way through the tracks.
READ: Mary J Blige Confirms She Is Not Being Paid To Perform At Super Bowl Halftime Show
She was followed by hitmaker Kendrick Lamar, surrounded by dancers dressed in black and wearing ‘Dre Day’ sashes. He performed ‘M.A.A.D City’ and ‘Alright’ much to the excitement of fans. The powerful performance appeared reminiscent in strength and style to Beyonce’s ‘Formation’ during her halftime appearance in 2016.
Accompanied by a band with Anderson. Paak on drums, Eminem was up next with ‘Lose Yourself,’ which, of course, caused the crowd to lose it. Eminem ended the song and took a knee, a gesture made famous by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick as an act of protest police brutality and racial discrimination.
The stage consisted of five adjacent living rooms, giving the impression of a different party happening within each one. There were doorways connecting the rooms, providing a fluidity which meant the five stars could move between them to collaborate and appear in each other’s songs.
Dr. Dre who appeared to be producing the entire performance from a soundboard then made his return playing a snippet of ‘I Ain’t Mad At Cha’ on the piano in tribute to former collaborator and West Coast rapper Tupac Shakur, who was gunned down at the age of 25 in 1996. He did not forget to remind the audience that he’s “still got love for the streets” with some bars from ‘Still D.R.E.’ featuring Snoop Dogg.
Fellow celebrities and fans have gone ahead to applaud the performances social media. Some of these celebs include, Lakers star Lebron James, rapper Missy Elliot, singer Lady Gaga, actress Kerry Washington just to mention afew.
