Super Bowl 2022’s Hip-Hop Halftime: Dr. Dre, Mary J Blige, Eminem + More
Fans of ’90’s hiphop are losing their minds this morning over news about the Super Bowl LVI 2022 halftime lineup.
Ivy Griffith
Fans of ’90’s hiphop are losing their minds this morning over news about the Super Bowl LVI 2022 halftime lineup. Coming back to the stage and coordinating for a one-of-its-kind performance are the biggest stars of the ’90’s era hiphop scene. Performers include Eminem, Mary J Blige, Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, and Kendrick Lamar. With a lineup like that, the halftime show could draw the biggest views in Super Bowl history. CELEB takes a look at what we know about the performance so far.
Hiphop All-Star Lineup
It’s almost unbelievable that so many hiphop titans will take the stage together, but it’s really happening. Organizers announced the lineup yesterday, and the internet predictably exploded with reactions. And those organizers include none other than Jay-Z’s JRoc Nation. Per Variety, “‘ [at the Halftime performance] Dr. Dre, a musical visionary from Compton, Snoop Dogg, an icon from Long Beach and Kendrick Lamar, a young musical pioneer in his own right, also from Compton, will take center field for a performance of a lifetime,[‘] said Shawn ‘Jay-Z’ Carter. ‘They will be joined by the lyrical genius, Eminem and the timeless Queen, Mary J. Blige. This is the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show. This is history in the making.’”
And it is indeed a historic collaboration. With 43 Grammys between them and a collective 22 #1 Billboard Top 200 albums, they’re the best of the best. The ’80’s and ’90’s hiphop and rap scenes were famously rife with rivalries, and although this particular group of artists has never had beef, it’s still remarkable to see all of their talents in one place. It’s unclear how the performances will take shape, but it’ll be worth sitting through the game to watch regardless of who shows up to play.
The Performers
But what have these superstars been up to, and how do they feel about hitting the big halftime stage? Here’s what’s going on with each:
- Eminem: The rapper just surprised fans at the drive-thru of his new Mom’s Spaghetti restaurant located in Detroit. Aside from apparently launching a fledgling spaghetti empire, the 8 Mile star has been spending his years picking beef with upstart rappers like MGK and releasing just enough music to show he’s still one of the best out there. Eminem shared an image announcing the news on Instagram, adding, “Dre day in February ? I’m there!”
- Mary J Blige: Blige is actually returning to the halftime stage, having been a part of another all-star collab back in 2001 featuring Nelly, Aerosmith, ‘NSync, and Britney Spears. Blige shared the news of her return on Instagram and added the caption, “Let’s go!”
- Snoop Dogg: Snoop has been up to a little bit of everything. From launching his own perfume to working with other artists, narrating TikToker Nikki Tutorials online, to weighing in on the cryptocurrency boom, Snoop is a shrewd businessman with his fingers in a lot of pies. Snoop says on Instagram, “Lets go! Super Bowl LVI. Inglewood. ‼️”
- Dr Dre: Dre is of course one of the most involved behind the scenes artist in hip hop history. He’s helped launch countless careers and has created numerous business opportunities. On Instagram, Dre shared, “I’m extremely excited to share the stage with my friends for the #PepsiHalftime Show.”
- Kendrick Lamar: Lamar doesn’t usually post much on social media, but he did add an Instagram story with an announcement of the upcoming collab. Lamar’s last album was released in 2017 but he frequently collaborates with other artists.
Per Variety, Dre had this to add as well, “‘The opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime show, and to do it in my own backyard, will be one of the biggest thrills of my career,’ said Dr. Dre. ‘I’m grateful to Jay-Z, Roc Nation, the NFL, and Pepsi as well as Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar for joining me in what will be an unforgettable cultural moment.’”
Super Bowl LVI Details
Well now that we know who’s taking the halftime stage, all that’s left to wonder is who the main players will be. This far out, predictions are flying but it’s hard to be sure; a lot of teams are making a good case for their place at the big time early next year.
The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI and Halftime Show will kick off February 13, 2022 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. It will air live on NBC. Variety adds, “‘Artists like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg were at the forefront of the West Coast hip hop revolution, so to be able to bring them back to LA, where it all began alongside Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar will prove to be an epic, unforgettable celebration of the impact hip hop has today,’ said Todd Kaplan, VP of Marketing, Pepsi. ‘The Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show has become a landmark cultural moment, bringing about some of the most iconic performances over the years – from JLo and Shakira to Lady Gaga to The Weeknd – and we are thrilled to bring together such an incredible array of talented, record-breaking musicians to put on a performance for the ages.’”
So clear your calendar now – you won’t want to miss this.