The biggest game of the NFL season between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals has come and gone, with the Rams taking home the Lombardi Trophy in their hometown of L.A.– but the game is not the only thing everyone is talking about.
While the game itself was thrilling, the same could be said of the halftime show that, for the first time, hosted artists from the hip-hop and rap genre. These top-tier artists, that all have been Grammy-nominated, included Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar, who delivered the greatest halftime show ever.
When the announcement came a few months ago, many, including myself, were excited.
Hip-hop has always had a place in the NFL, but has never had the opportunity to display itself at the halftime show before. When these five artists graced the stage, they simply did what they do best, tearing the house down and putting on a show.
The moment the show began you could feel the anticipation. This show felt different as soon as it began, and it put me on the edge of my seat.
I’ve watched a lot of halftime shows, and so far, Beyonce and Bruno Mars have been my two favorites, but this one I could tell was going to be unique.
Maybe it’s because I am a hip-hop and rap lover. I grew up with the genre, I’ve listened to it my whole life. So maybe that is why I was more excited for this than the previous ones.
It wasn’t just me though. It was the stadium, the fans in attendance for the game and the hundreds of thousands watching at home.
The moment the beat dropped for Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode” the crowd just exploded in the stadium, the energy was electric. It felt like we got the show that many expected, but these hip-hop artists just exceeded the expectations I had for them.
The performances ranged from genre pioneers, Dre and Snoop, to the iconic Mary J Blige, one of the first queens of hip-hop, to a surprise appearance of 50 Cent, an iconic and legendary rapper from New York, to Eminem and the face of modern hip-hop, Kendrick Lamar.
Everything about the songs that were performed was perfect. So was the crowd’s energy.
Stars such as LeBron James, Kanye West, Jay-Z and Cardi B, were all there to witness a moment that was long overdue. The set up showed the culture of hip-hop with the low-rider car, the outfits of the dancers and everything just felt like hip-hop.
But the biggest take away is that this was a moment that will never be forgotten in the history of hip-hop.
That’s why I think this is the greatest halftime show, an iconic moment where after 56 tries, the genre that is known for its raw, uncensored tone showcased how much swagger it has.
Hip-Hop displayed its culture in front of hundreds of thousands of people and to the millions across the country. The performance that the five artists put on showed that hip-hop deserves to be back on the biggest stage that NFL has to offer and, hopefully, it will be back.
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