It was one of the most anticipated Super Bowl halftime shows ever. Fans who showed up for the big game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday were anticipating the spectacle that Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem and Mary J. Blige would provide during the halftime of the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals matchup.
The five performers and dozens of other dancers and musicians delivered a powerful, nearly 14-minute set that included an elaborate (and probably very, very expensive) setup that brought a Compton-themed neighborhood party to the center of the stadium. As lowriders drove out onto the field and the lights dimmed, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre came out strong with “The Next Episode.” They brought the crowd to its feet using the unique two-story staging to hype the house party vibe and wander from the roof into a full-blown party with a live band, giving everyone what they’ve been screaming for on social media by playing Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre’s “California Love.”
That big moment transitioned into an appearance from rapper 50 Cent, a much-speculated but still surprise guest, hanging upside down and singing his hit “In Da Club” with backup dancers.
Blige took over next as she and her dancers, clad in outfits that shimmered like disco balls, went hard with “Family Affair.” Then Blige brought down the house with “No More Drama,” letting her stunning vocals soar throughout the venue.
Compton native Lamar picked it up next and led a crew of dancers sporting sashes that read “Dre Day” through his hit “Alright” before throwing to Eminem. Em began with “Forgot About Dre”and then led the stadium through his Grammy Award-winning hit “Lose Yourself,” which had fans stomping their feet so hard that the upper levels shook like a 3.0 earthquake.
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The spectacle ended with Snoop and Dre back on the set’s roof jamming with the band, which included drummer and California rapper Anderson.Paak, rocking out to “Still D.R.E.” It all seemed to go by so fast as these seasoned performers, who have garnered 43 Grammy Awards between themselves, delivered a phenomenal event.
There was plenty of talent in the house, too. Actors such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Kevin Hart, Danny Trejo and Charlize Theron and artists like Ye (formerly known as Kanye West), Doja Cat, Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B and Future all danced along to the music on full display up on the Oculus video board in the center of the stadium throughout the game.
This was the first time that hip-hop has taken center stage at the Super Bowl, and a big deal here as the night included hometown heroes. Both Dre and Lamar were born and raised in Compton and Snoop Dogg is from Long Beach. Blige is from New York and Eminem hails from Detroit and was also part of a popular pre-Super Bowl meme that showed Rams current and Detroit Lion’s former quarterback Matthew Stafford being “the closest Detroit will ever be to a Super Bowl.”
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