Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show
This year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show was one for the books. For the first time in over 20 years, hip-hop was given the recognition — as well as the platform — it so deserved. It’s been years since such an iconic spread of talent performed during “the big game”! Each performer brought their own unique feel to the sleek, nostalgic set that was rolled onto the field over a map of Compton.
Dr. Dre started the show off powerfully behind a mixing board as a nod to his time as a hip-hop producer. From there, Snoop Dogg swayed onto the set in his blue bandana-print tracksuit as he and Dr. Dre started the duo’s most celebrated collaboration “Still D.R.E.” 50 Cent flipped the show upside down (literally) as he came swaying from the ceiling after Dre and Snoop closed. While the performance that followed may not have adhered to the EU dancing policy, nobody with an appreciation for rap can deny the power of the song “In Da Club” when it comes through their speakers.
From there, the queen of hip-hop soul herself, Mary J. Blige, entered in a dazzling outfit complete with matching boots. She gave a commanding performance that took everyone’s breath away (including her own) as she powered through the rest of her energetic set then fell to the floor, as if exhausted from carrying hip-hop soul on her back all these years. The cameras then shifted from Blige’s moment down to the field where Kendrick Lamar and 29 matching dancers arose from boxes that read “Dre Day”, delivering a flashy, hyped-up performance. The dancers marched in soldier-like fashion, forming different symbols as could be seen from the camera pointing down at the field.
The crowd erupted in cheers as the spotlight returned to Dr. Dre at his mixing board while Eminem’s infamous “Lose Yourself” saturated the stadium, accompanied by a talented band, including industry newcomer Anderson .Paak who kept us grooving with the drums. As Eminem finished his song, he dropped to one knee and placed his hand on his head as a nod to Colin Kaepernick’s act of protest back in 2016 during the national anthem. Dre returned to his beautiful white piano and serenaded SoFi Stadium, leading us back into a reprisal of “Still D.R.E.”.
He rejoined Snoop Dogg on stage and rapped out a few lines of their duet before Blige, 50 Cent, Eminem and Kendrick all joined them in a powerful line-up. In that moment, even the youngest and the oldest of the audience knew this was an iconic moment of collaboration and celebration of hip-hop that will be remembered for years to come.