Celebrating West Coast Rap at the Super Bowl Halftime Show
Image Courtesy: The Undefeated
This year’s Super Bowl made history, as it was the first time rappers ever performed at the Pepsi Halftime Show. With an iconic lineup featuring Eminem, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and Snoop Dogg, it is a performance that will be remembered forever. Hip-hop finally got the spotlight, aligning perfectly with the celebration of Black History Month.
Image Courtesy: Bleacher Report
This year’s event took place in Inglewood, California, at the newly redone SoFi Stadium. Dr. Dre opened the performance behind a fake mixing board- a nod to him being the mastermind of sound. Snoop Dogg joined him on stage wearing a blue bandanna-themed sweatsuit in honor of Tupac, and the pair collaborated on their song The Next Episode. Each performance highlighted the culture of rap and its unique sound. The music conveyed the story of their roots, their journies, and how they rose to where they are now. Simply put, it was a career highlight for both the artists and everyone involved in the production.
Image Courtesy: Strike FSU
Glamour Magazine wrote that Mary J. Blige “won” the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and I couldn’t agree more. She ran the stage with grace and a fiery attitude, surrounded by a team of dancers and musicians who gave an upbeat performance. The Grammy-Award-winning singer performed hits Family Affair and No More Drama in a sparkly white two-piece set with shiny leopard-print embellishments and matching boots.
Image Courtesy: NBC News
In an interview with Vogue, Norwegian designer Dundas shared that he drew inspiration from jazz artist Cab Calloway and French sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle when creating Blige's ensemble.
The high point of the halftime show was when all the artists joined together to perform a rendition of Dr. Dre’s Still DRE. With the energy at its peak, you could feel it whether you were in the stadium or watching from home.
Not only did the musical sequences provide the audience with an astounding performance, but they also included peaceful yet unmistakable protesting. After the NFL specifically asked that the artists not kneel during their performance, there was Eminem, rapping “opportunity comes once in a lifetime” at the end of Lose Yourself, and he did what we all applauded: putting his right hand to his head, and dropping down on his left knee while Dr. Dre sat at a white piano and played a familiar melody from Tupac’s I Ain’t Mad at Cha. It was a small moment of radicalism with a touch of elegance. After the show was over, it was reported that an NFL spokesman said that the league knew all along that Eminem would kneel. This led The New York Times to ask, is it still a protest if it’s been signed off on and approved?
Image Courtesy: Deadline
The halftime show was a timely reminder of why hip-hop shapes America’s music. It was a make-you-get-up-and-sing-along set and a proud moment for rap fans, especially those of the 90s era. Each artist brought their A-game to the stage and showed us that they were the real winners of the Super Bowl.
Strike Out,
Writer: Nikki Cohen
Editor: Roxy Rico
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