Iconic. Legendary. Vintage. Just a few of the words being thrown around to describe last night’s Super Bowl halftime show as the hip-hop supergroup captivates Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium.
SUPER Bowl LVI went off with an almighty bang last night as the Los Angeles Rams clinched victory over the Cincinnati Bengals to become only the second team to win a Super Bowl in their own stadium.
In a Hollywood ending for the Rams, the team that was built to win the Super Bowl delivered in the closing moments as quarterback Matthew Stafford led a game-winning 15-play drive.
It was a night that will live long in the memory of the Los Angeles home crowd. Not only did they witness their team secure victory on their own patch, but they were also treated to a spectacular halftime show that saw some of the biggest legends in hip-hop grace the stage.
Led by Dr Dre, the supergroup of Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J Blige, and surprise guest 50 Cent managed to cram nine anthems into a heaving 14-minute set, brought together by Anderson.Paak’s impressive live band.
The show began with Snoop Dogg, dressed in a regal ultramarine blue tracksuit, and Dr Dre on the roof of the stage to perform The Next Episode and crowd-favourite California Love. Rumours of another Tupac hologram had been circling but never materialised.
Moments later, focus shifted to an upside-down 50 Cent who appeared to feverish noise from the crowd, surprising everyone with a rendition of In Da Club. Before anyone had a chance to catch a breath, Mary J Blige was in full flow with Family Affair and No More Drama back up on the roof of the stage again.
Kendrick Lamar was next up to perform m.A.A.d City and Alright, dressed all in black and emerging from a backdrop symbolising the city of Compton. The crowd then reached fever pitch as Eminem gave a rousing rendition of Lose Yourself, with Dre orchestrating proceedings in the background as he does so well.
Dre then gave a brief tribute to Tupac by playing the beginning of I Ain’t Mad At Cha, before the super-group convened on top of the stage to see Dre and Snoop perform Still D.R.E..
Everything about this show, from the stage apparatus to the backup dancers to the star-studded ensemble, seemed like it had been taken to another level. There have been some shocking halftime shows over the years – the Black Eyed Peas and for some reason Slash in 2011 springs to mind, as does nobody’s-first-choice in 2019 Maroon 5.
But Dr Dre and co have definitely staked a claim for the best ever, rivalling Prince’s brilliant performance in the rain in 2007 and Beyonce’s epic display in 2013.
51-year-old Mary J Blige, one of the most decorated R&B singers of all time, described the performance beforehand as “the opportunity of a lifetime”, adding further proof that the halftime show remains the biggest gig in the music business.
And even for the 7-time-Grammy winner Dr Dre, this show marked a huge moment in his illustrious career. Official figures for the audience size are yet to be released, but estimations put it as the most-watched ever with over 115 million viewers. Check out the full halftime show here.