The 2022 Super Bowl halftime show was nothing short of a legendary hip-hop moment. The 56th Super Bowl halftime show featured a top-tier roster of hip-hop greats, bringing the genre to the stage for the first time — and giving fans of old-school hip-hop and L.A. charm a dream performance. The pristine set was an homage to the city of Los Angeles, with a row of small white buildings mirroring major L.A. landmarks such as nightclub Eve’s After Dark and Tam’s Burgers. The field was transposed with a nighttime satellite view of the city. Dancers gathered outside the two-level set, dancing inside the buildings, on their rooftops and in the three old-school cars below, giving the show the feel of an intimate block party.
A premiere for hip-hop and rap
On Sunday Feb 13th hip-hop took center stage in America as Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and 50 Cent performed at the Super Bowl. Snoop and Dre opened the show with versions of “The Next Episode” and “California Love.” The rumored Tupac hologram, however, did not make an appearance. This was truly the first time that rap was the centerpiece of the halftime spectacle, which typically reaches – or exceeds – 100 million viewers.
Eminem’s kneeling came during a star-studded lineup from the hip-hop, R&B and rap firmament, who played their old-school hits during the halftime show at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
It was a throwback to the early aughts in West Coast rap. Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg reunited to open with their 2000 hit “The Next Episode,” to kick off the show, followed by “California Love.” They stood atop an all-white set made up of a string of lofty buildings.
In a surprise appearance, New York rapper 50 Cent popped down on stage — after hanging from the ceiling — to perform his 2003 song “In da Club,” taking the show’s energy to the East Coast. Next up was a surprise appearance from 50 Cent who performed his classic track “In Da Club.” Mary J. Blige from the Bronx borough of New York City, followed with her iconic hits “Family Affair” and “No More Drama.”
Kendrick Lamar’s highly anticipated appearance followed, during which he performed both “M.a.a.d. City.” and “Alright.” He also brought with him an extensive crew of dancers that executed some brilliant choreography.
Finally, it was time for Eminem to take the stage. Shady didn’t waste any time, immediately jumping into his iconic hit “Lose Yourself.” Dre and Snoop ended the show with a joint performance of “Still D.R.E.” Despite the setlist itself being beyond noteworthy, there were numerous easter eggs throughout the performance that showcase just how deep the attention to detail was in putting everything together. The stage consisted of multiple rooms that catered to each artist’s individual performance. For example, Snoop Dogg’s room featured a picture on the wall behind him of his late mother Beverly Tate who passed away last October. All powerhouses stars were able to fit into a 20-minute show, the halftime performance was a welcome blast from the past, with smooth transitions from one artist to the next. The set was both trendy and practical, giving each performer the space to make it their own. With Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Lamar present, three of the night’s five headliners were California-born artists performing on their home turf — and the halftime show set reflected their love for Los Angeles. “We’re gonna open more doors for hip-hop artists in the future,” said Dr. Dre at the earlier press conference.
Wihout a doubt their legacy of Hip hope is huge and wont stop there.
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02/14/2022 By Alize Utteryn
