Chantel Rodriguez

Contributing Writer

Cvr5570@psu.edu

The Super Bowl LVI halftime show created a focus and tribute to Hip-Hop’s most extraordinary musical stars to give us the concert experience with the music of our generation that helped shape our childhoods.

Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, and Mary J. Blige commanded the stage at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, where the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals battled for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. 

This year’s event was calculated and mind-blowing! Dr. Dre is one of the most influential hip-hop artists, producers, and writers of all time, and as many say, he is one of the “godfathers of gangster rap.” 

The stage setup felt more organic and put together than in the past years. 

Compton had a significant impact visually on the layout design embellished with landmarks like the nightclub Eve After Dark. The choreographed dances fit so well within the theme and culture of Los Angeles and Compton to the individuals on the stage. 

As Snoop Dogg and dancers crip-walked and krumped like the music videos, traditional Chevrolet Impalas framed the stage to detail the lowrider culture that LA birthed. The performances felt genuine. It was nostalgic to experience all of the Hip-Hop artist performances singing my favorite oldies.

Kendrick Lamar never disappoints in his performances— just how his lyrics flow and make a statement. Snoop Dogg was his cool, calm, and confident self who has always been a professional and master in high-stakes performances. Dr. Dre has captivated the world with his masterful skills throughout the decades of hits he’s given us. And we can’t forget about the special guest performance of 50 Cent upside down. I immediately turned up the volume and instantly felt like I was in Summer of 03’ listening to “In Da’ Club.”

Eminem, Slim Shady to many, can still take over and move the audience who go crazy with just three words: “Lose Ya Yourself.” The shot of Dr. Dre tapping out the tune to Tupac’s “I Ain’t Mad at Cha” on a white piano was a memorable moment for me.  

Blige dominated and guided the show into a slower but happy beat in the “Family Affair” and “No More Drama.” Mary J. Blige had a purpose in using those songs, though. 

Blige, in a radio interview after the Super Bowl performance, said that “I had to do what I felt what the world was watching needed, and was appropriate because I know I’m sick of wearing all these masks and all this COVID and people dying every day.” 

I enjoyed knowing that Blige wanted to bring comfort to everyone at a time that some people might need a little more love or reassurance. I also enjoyed learning that the artists collectively performed to pave the way for future hip-hop artists to be welcomed into the following Super Bowl endorsements and performances. 

For a while, Sunday’s halftime show will be my number one favorite halftime. This year’s event brought together Gen X and millennials in a way that showcased the best of what both generations have to offer and what happens when we mix them, in my opinion.