The 2022 National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl Halftime show is being touted as a resounding success. To a degree it may well be because none of these artists (Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige & Kendrick Lamar) had been given a chance to take what is one of the biggest platforms in America – until now. Racial bigotry seen by generations made this one of the most important shows of our time.
But, the stage was packed with one too many artists - unlike Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s Halftime performance, which perched on top of the table as most viewed performance from NFL Halftime Show history.This 2022 overhaul may make you think we were in for an electrifying and diverse performance but that was not to be. Dr. Dre was in the mood to not just throw some electrifying bars, he wanted to rap and was joined by Snoop Dogg with the most time given to the two who ran through their past hits. Why wasn’t Snoop Dogg dropped like its hot from this line-up to make room for a female rapper? His relevance in hip hop has been surpassed by a generation of rappers including Kanye West (love him or hate him but you can’t deny his music and a generation he has mentored including Drake).
Mary J. Blige knocked a gut-punch with those vocals. She is called queen of hip-hop soul for a good reason and on the NFL stage, she showed us why she’s important. But had Dre and Dogg not taken so much of the time, we might have heard more from her.
And what on earth was 50 Cent doing there “reenacting” his most famous song ‘In Da Club’? Huh.
Eminem came with his safest song – ‘Lose Yourself’ – from 8 Mile OST. Hollywood loves it, former President of the US, Barack Obama, loves it and the song is an Oscar-winner. Eminem performed it at the Oscars to a standing ovation in 2020. Where was ‘Rap God’ or ‘Not Afraid, or ‘Beautiful’ or his super-vulnerable and epic ‘Mockingbird’ or the addictive ‘Venom’? You don’t need to be explicit to present some of your other terrific songs. And Eminem can change ciphers from explicit to not explicit like a pro.
Perhaps the brightest moment from rap’s bad boy was not what he sung but what he did afterwards: kneel, after being told by NFL not to do so during negotiations. Good one, Mr. Marshall Mathers.
Kendrick Lamar arrived (with ‘M.A.A.D City’/’Alright’) and deserved more time. He’s collaborated with everyone from Beyonce to Dido to Taylor Swift and Rihanna. It would’ve been great to see him perform ‘Loyalty’ as well from his iconic album DAMN with Mary J. Blige since Rihanna is pregnant. But again, not enough time was allotted to him.
On a parting note, where were the women? Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion or Iggy Azalea? In a male dominated field, female rappers have emerged as the music stars to watch out for but were not included. Or, if we go old school, where was Missy Elliot?
READ ALSO:Eminem & Dr. Dre Re-Enter Billboard 200 Top 10 Following Super Bowl Sales Surge
What emerged was a show dedicated to Dr. Dre with other artists simply looking like they were featured to boost what “Dr. Dre said” for the Halftime Show. No one can deny Dr. Dre’s influence on hip-hop from N.W.A to Chronic (2001) to signing Eminem. However, it does make you wonder if this was a one-off hip hop NFL Halftime show so it was packed with as many prominent names (not you, Snoop or 50 Cent) as possible? While hip-hop fans can and should celebrate, these are some questions to think over. With female artists crossing into hip-hop as just as great artists - Billboard can testify through charts - maybe it’s time to take them just as seriously.
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