Super Bowl LVl may not have been the most eventful or exciting game in recent years, but the halftime show was a different story. Hip-hop fully took over the famous stage for the first time, featuring some of the most iconic figures in the genre, with a major 90’s influence shining through. The full line up of the show included Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Mary J Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem. 

  Off first glance, besides Kendrick, these artists are not new faces and are past their prime, so I was not sure if they would bring the elevation or cohesiveness that a halftime show would need. Instead of seeming burnt out or boring, the performance was rather nostalgic and upbeat, bringing back some of hip hop’s most iconic hits like “In Da Club” by 50 Cent or “Still D.R.E” by Dre and Snoop Dogg. Each artist was so happy and excited to be there and put in all their energy into each performance and it shows. This year’s viewership of the halftime show increased by seven percent, bringing in a whopping 103.4 million viewers. The combination of the new and old gave the show the ability to appeal to ages young and old. 

  Of course it was important to add a female artist in the mix, but I am not sure that Mary J Blige was the optimal choice. She is iconic, but it might have been better to add one more modern artist to balance the two eras of hip-hop that the show was encompassing. Megan Thee Stallion would have been a perfect candidate, seeming that she is new to the scene but also has 90’s influences. She is the queen of rap right now, and it would have been iconic to see her rocking the stage. Hopefully we can see her on the big stage in the near future. 

  Overall, the Super Bowl halftime show was a solid display. It was very refreshing to see some of hip hop’s most influential characters on stage performing their biggest hits over the years. It is always hard to tell how a big group of artists will do compared to a one-person show like last year’s dazzling performance by The Weeknd. There is often a toss up about whether the artists will have chemistry together. The 2016 show with Coldplay, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars showed an example of super famous artists with no common goal or theme, but this year on the contrary was a cohesive display of slightly different artists that just worked well together. Although some artists stood out more than others in the performance department, (Kendrick, Snoop, and Dr. Dre) every artist had their role to play and did so adequately. The guest appearance on drums from Anderson Paak. was also a fun touch. The set and the music made this year’s halftime show more than “Alright.”