By Abby Van Duyn, ’24

Staff Writer

The Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl last Sunday by defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. Millions of fans were excited to watch the game, but many were even more excited by the halftime performance that showcased hip hop and rap for the first time. Featuring Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, and Mary J. Blige, the show was labeled by many on social media as the “greatest halftime show of all time.” Among the songs that were performed were “The Next Episode,” “California Love,” “In Da Club,” and “Family Affair.” The choice of artists brought in many viewers of all ages, old and young. 

“It’s crazy that it took all of this time for us to be recognized,” Dr. Dre said in an interview. It was time that Super Bowl halftime shows started to highlight different genres of music other than pop, he added. Although many pop music halftime shows have been a big hit, fans of hip hop and rap have been waiting a long time for their favorite genre to be showcased.

The performance was very nostalgic for many viewers, as it catered to an older group of people than the halftime show usually does. The stage was set with structures representing Tam’s Burgers, Randy’s Donuts and the Compton courthouse. It made the performance feel like Los Angeles was inside as well as outside of SoFi Stadium, located in Inglewood, Calif. 

The artists vowed that this performance would open doors in hip hop and give opportunities to the artists in the genre. All the artists agreed that the NFL was too late in acknowledging this genre and giving them center stage. Viewers seemed to agree: the Super Bowl gained a total of 112 million viewers, the most it has had in five years.