If you live in America and not under a rock, then you were probably watching Super Bowl LVI on Sunday night and the most iconic half-time performance yet. The performances by both the Rams and the Bengals made for a game I’ll never forget. From Odell Beckham Jr. getting injured in the first half to the Bengals making a 75-yard touchdown right out of half-time, the game was filled with nonstop energy.
The energy grew tremendously during the half-time show with a stellar R&B, hip-hop mash up featuring some of the biggest names in the music industry.
Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre graced the stage first with white houses and white Impalas setting the scene in Compton, Dre’s hometown. Both men are from California and their release of the album The Chronic in 1992 is what put them on the map. A collaboration to end all collaborations, and they just kept going from there. Hearing them rap, “The Next Episode” from their album, 2001, was truly a full-circle moment. Snoop Dogg’s crip walk all over the stage made it even better.
The pair did a tribute to Tupac Shakur by performing his and Dr. Dre’s song “California Love,” which couldn’t have been a more perfect choice. They honored Tupac’s legacy while dancing over the SoFi field covered with lights that appeared to be the Los Angeles city grid.
The show was a representation of the impact that hip hop and R&B singers have had on not only California but the world.
Next, we had a surprise performance from 50 Cent who made quite the entrance by hanging upside down while singing “In Da Club.” The crowd was incredibly hyped as the energy on the field matched the energy on stage.
Blige dazzled in a white two piece set by Peter Dundas while crushing her songs “Family Affair” and “No More Drama.” A rhythm and blues goddess paired with the most famous names in hip-hop was truly a show-stopper.
Kendrick Lamar came out with dancers around him wearing sashes with the words “Dre Day” across them. The footage from above was my favorite part as the dancers created shapes around him as he rapped “Alright.”
Eminem took things to the next level with the performance of his Grammy and Oscar-winning song “Lose Yourself.” At this point, my whole family was up and dancing, the music was so electric you just couldn’t help yourself.
Dre hopped on the piano to play the iconic intro to his hit “Still Dre” while the other artists joined him on stage to finish the show.
Everyone showed up and showed out, Pepsi has really outdone themselves and it’s going to be a tough act to follow next year.
Dre and Snoop were both there at the beginning of the West Coast hip hop revolution. It was awesome to see them stand on that stage together in Los Angeles, representing their home state.
They represented their legacy and influence among the other performers too. Eminem, 50 Cent and Kendrick Lamar wouldn’t know what hip hop or R&B was without Snoop, Dre and Blige. It wouldn’t be the same without them and this performance showed the influence they have on artists generations later.