The 2022 Super Bowl halftime show was a momentous occasion for music fans. For the first time ever hip hop and rap took to centerstage for the Super Bowl halftime show. The setlist included rap and R&B legends Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, and Eminem. Together these five performers have a total of 43 Grammys and 21 Billboard No. 1 albums. This isn’t even mentioning surprise appearances from Vanilla Ice and Aderson Paak who were not listed on the main setlist.  All of these amazing performers combined into a very influential and memorable halftime event.

In light of recent tensions between the NFL and Colin Kapernick’s protests, some saw this as an effort from the league to connect more with their community. That being said, it does not discredit the significance of the show. For many, this performance offered a lot of nostalgia. Dr. Dre has been a huge influence on west side rap and just music in general for the past three decades. He helped bring Eminem into the spotlight, so it was only fitting that they perform together. Kendrick Lamar and Dr. Dre also have a close relationship. In an interview with Hiphopdx Kendrick stated, “Dre and I have a personal relationship. In the first studio session, we clicked so crazy. It was more like a uncle-nephew kind of vibe. Because everybody sees Dre as just a gangsta rapper, but he shares the same story that I have, a good kid in a mad city.”  

Continuing the trend of those affected by Dre, Snoop Dogg has been in close relations with Dr. Dre for three decades now. While Dr. Dre has changed Snoop’s life, it went both ways. In a quote from Far Out Magazine Dre said, “I cannot imagine where I’d be in my life if I had not collaborated with Snoop.” 

Anderson Paak also owes a large amount of his career success to Dr Dre. Even Mary J. Blige has worked closely with Dre in the past and is reportedly working on her next album with Dre. All these deep rooted connections and history helped to build one important and entertaining Super Bowl halftime show. This show helped introduce a lot of people to these legendary musicians, and was overall a powerful celebration of the last three decades of hip hop.