If you’re anything like me, you don’t watch football. I was raised as a Kansas City Chiefs fan, but I only know that touchdowns in football are worth six points and a field goal is worth one. However, do I still partake in Super Bowl activities? The answer is automatically yes but not for the food (even though it is a huge plus). I enjoy the Super Bowl for two reasons: the halftime performance and the advertisements.
The advertisements this year were lacking something, considering they were all centered around cryptocurrency. I just wanted to teleport back to the early 2000s when viewers across America were primarily concerned with the Budweiser Clydesdales.
To me it seems that these two entities of the Super Bowl can go either way. The halftime performance can be bad while the ads are great and vice versa. So, even though the ad game was subpar this year, the halftime performance more than made up for the disappointment.
Here’s a sidebar: I’m a music person. I can play five different instruments and sing on top of that, so automatically I’m more well-versed in understanding the musical aspects of the Super Bowl. With that being said, the 2022 Super Bowl had arguably the best halftime performance I’ve ever seen. This is only arguable due to the fact that I’ve been alive to witness the performances given by pop icons like Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Madonna and Katy Perry. However, this year’s halftime was a complete throwback to the tune of 90s Hip-Hop culture.
The line-up consisted of rap legends Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar. Even though I was not alive during the 1990s, the era has shaped my music taste astronomically. I’m a rap listener through and through, which made this performance somewhat magical to see. Not only were there hit songs from each of the aforementioned artists, but there were sound clips from songs by 2Pac who is one of my personal favorite rappers of all time. During the set were also guest appearances from Anderson.Paak and 50 Cent.
The setlist and line-up of musical artists ensured a 90s kickback and left fans across the country with jaw dropping reactions. The stage that the performers used also had easter eggs, including a flag picturing the Compton logo, a cinema title board with names of guests, and dancers with sashes imprinted with Dr. Dre’s name.
As the performance ensued, I was immediately thrown into a sense of wonder. A halftime performance centering on the musical genre of Hip-Hop has never been featured before, and what’s better than the premiere featuring some of the greatest rappers of all time. I caught myself singing along, verse for verse, to every hit featured and very rightfully so. Also, the performers totaled to seven, which is one of the largest combined groups of individuals to ever grace the center of the stadium.
If I had to pick another Super Bowl Halftime to watch for the rest of my life, 2022 definitely steals the show. I’ve already been on a 90s rap kick lately, and this recent performance will only progress my hyper-fixation further. If you see me around campus ruining my speakers to Hit ‘Em Up by 2Pac, please mind your business.