We all know the Super Bowl. Whether we watch it for the game, commercials, or even the halftime show, it is always a huge event. This year, The Super Bowl welcomed five legendary artists to perform a halftime show together and it was spectacular. I got to watch it with my family and was surprised to see all of us connecting with performance on the same level! Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, surprise guest 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem showed the world (specifically Millennials) that R&B and Hip-Hop are still alive. So, let’s break down that halftime show, shall we?
Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg
To begin the show, we have Snoop Dogg rapping his song “The Next Episode.” Snoop Dogg was wearing a blue and gold bandana outfit that stood for his hometown. He even did a crip walk across the stage that excited so many fans of Hip Hop. Crip walking was a certain way of walking that belonged to the culture of groups in California. On the opposite side of the stage, Dr. Dre rapped his verse to the late 2Pac song, “California Love.” Dr. Dre got to perform more songs at the end of the performance and left the audience wanting to hear more. The amount of nostalgia that filled the room was astronomical compared to past halftime performances.
50 Cent
Even though he was not in the original lineup of the event, 50 Cent made quite an entrance to the show. My family and I were not only shocked to see him, but we saw him hanging upside down rapping his very iconic song, “In Da Club.” It took everyone by surprise and what really made it cool was the fact that he wasn’t even wearing a harness! I was amazed by that alone! 50 Cent did a great job reconnecting Hip Hop roots and keeping things interesting with newer audiences.
Mary J. Blige
Miss Mary J. Blige proved to everyone that she still has what it takes to create a memorable performance. She sang her big hits like “Family Affair” and “No More Drama.” She gave us energy, spunk, and a lot of emotions that are always tethered to her music. Even though these songs were released 20 years ago, she sang them like she just made her debut. Mary J. Blige performed so well that she literally ended up on the ground of the stage speechless.
Kendrick Lamar
Even though Kendrick Lamar’s music is not in the same time frame as everyone else, he is certainly on their level of impact. Kendrick started on the ground of the stage with dancers that moved in such sharp motions that it was impossible to stop watching. He started off with his song, “M.a.a.D. City” and blended it beautifully with his other song, “Alright.” I think both songs speak about so much that is happening now and how it affects others. So, I think a lot of people felt empowered especially when his lyrics say, “We gon’ be alright.” Overall, I think I enjoyed the amount of choreography and staging with his performance.
Eminem
We can’t forget about Eminem! All it took was a couple of notes from his song, “ Lose Yourself” for fans to go wild in the stadium and in my house. I think this was a perfect choice for the Super Bowl because it is a song that lifts you up while also carrying deep weight with it. It originated from the movie 8 Mile where Eminem’s character had to face reality and tackle his own issues to prove his worth to others. So, I think having him dressed in casual clothes and rapping the lyrics really brought back the nostalgia of simpler days. I also think it gives us a chance to see how much we overcame.
This year’s halftime show was not only fun to watch but marks a place in Super Bowl history. Seeing multiple artists come together and preach inspiring messages to the world is breathtaking. To witness the joy of multiple generations enjoying the same music for different reasons is something worth remembering. For a moment, people were able to sit back and appreciate how much we have been through in these last few years. We also get a chance to relish the memories we had when these songs were important pieces in our lives. Here’s to a monumental moment in time and hopefully have more to come.