Hip Hop Hooray
Five for the price of one, I’d say that’s a good deal. This past Sunday’s Super Bowl 56 Halftime Show was headlined by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary Blige, and Kendrick Lamar. Not only did we receive this exhilarating performance, but it marked history; this was the first time five artists performed on stage together.
The second I found out who was in store to perform for the LVI show, I knew it would be groundbreaking, thrilling, and definitely one not to miss. According to NBC Sports, the stars have “released a total of 22 number one Billboard albums and have won 44 combined grammy awards.” As if the five headliners weren’t enough, surprise guest stars 50 Cent and Anderson Paak also performed at the show. This was the first halftime show consisting entirely of rap and hip-hop artists, and in my book it was a win.
Our headliners really meant what they said when they sang California Love, being that three of them are from the area. Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar are from Compton, while Snoop Dogg is from Long Beach. I would think that for these artists to be back where they grew up headlining the Super Bowl was something emotional, and special; something that should be appreciated. This year’s Super Bowl took place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. California is known for their aversion to hip-hop music, so for this year’s event to feature all hip-hop artists was just perfect.
The 12-15 minutes the artists performed sparked a unique energy. The show kicked off when Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg performed The Next Episode, with a beautiful transition and flawless delivery of California Love. According to a recent article from Billboard, the pair “performed atop a massive, white, multi-house structure complete with an array of dancers and parked cars.” Next,with guest performer 50 Cent literally turned our world upside down when he performed his hit song In Da Club. While performing 50 Cent pulled off an elaborate stunt that included him hanging upside down from the rafters.
Following was Mary J Blige who According to Billboard “kicked off her set with Family Affair, immediately followed by No More Drama”. Blige rocked her set in a sparkly ensemble, finishing off with her “signature faint.” Kendrick Lamar started off his set with Alright; which quickly transitioned to Eminem’s set, beginning with Lose Yourself featuring Anderson Paak playing the drums. Lastly but most certainly not least Dr. Dre ended the show with a beautiful transition that began with him playing the piano, as he returned to center stage with Snoop Dogg to perform Still D.R.E. The stars brought the hip-hop heat and beat, creating one heck of a performance.
This year’s show marked history in more ways than one. Two deaf rappers, Sean Forbes and Warren “WaWa” Snipe performed with the main acts. According to an article from BuzzFeed News, this show “marked the first time that sign language interpreters were included in the halftime show.” Forbes himself stated that his “goal was to get out there, show what we can do, and have fun. And I want to open the door for other deaf performers.” Hearing what Forbes himself had to say made this all the more beautiful, and knowing this story made the show all the better. This halftime show was the subject of multiple firsts, and I think it was about time.
This Super Bowl was not just a win for the Los Angeles Rams, but also for us hip-hop fans. Hip-hop is a special genre of music for many, and I will continue to look back at this performance and remember the climax of hip-hop. I don’t know about you but after this show, I will solely be listening to hip-hop for the rest of my life.