For the primary time hip-hop headlined the Super Bowl halftime present, starring Dr. Dre and proteges Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Eminem, who invoked a racial justice protest by taking a knee on music´s largest stage.

Buzz had been constructing for weeks over the ´90s lovefest that additionally included Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent onstage halfway via Sunday´s sport, which had the Los Angeles Rams taking up the Cincinnati Bengals.

The present noticed the sphere remodeled into an enormous map of Los Angeles, which is internet hosting the Nationwide Soccer League championship for the primary time in practically three a long time.

Dre and Snoop opened the ode to gangsta rap with their hit “The Next Episode,” earlier than paying tribute to Tupac Shakur with “California Love.”

East Coast made a cameo as 50 Cent dropped down from the ceiling whereas launching into the early 2000s favourite “In Da Club,” earlier than Blige kicked the present up a notch together with her superhit “Family Affair.”

Donning all white and sequins, R&B star Blige then sang “No More Drama,” forward of Lamar´s efficiency of “Alright” in entrance of the stage, surrounded by males donning all black full with “Dre Day” sashes.

Detroit rapper Eminem emerged along with his Grammy and Oscar-winning smash “Lose Yourself” — earlier than taking a knee, a transfer that invoked the social justice protest by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and set social media alight.

Kaepernick started kneeling throughout nationwide anthems in 2016 to protest police brutality and racial injustice, triggering controversy for years.

Eminem, sporting a black hoodie, held his head in his hand and knelt, in a transfer that appeared to reference Kaepernick after performing his smash throughout music´s most seen gig.

Legendary music mogul Dre then sat on the piano to drop the enduring opening notes of his hit “Still D.R.E.,” earlier than all the performers joined collectively to shut the rap spectacular.

Anderson .Paak additionally notably made a cameo on drums.

It was the third straight Super Bowl efficiency produced by Jay-Z´s Roc Nation, which was enlisted by the NFL to “amplify the league´s social justice efforts.”

The primary present Roc Nation produced was a celebrated efficiency from Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, with the Weeknd placing on a powerful pandemic-era present final yr.

The 2022 version comes three years after the NFL confronted sharp criticism for selecting pop-rock band Maroon 5 to lead the coveted gig — whose viewers normally tops 100 million — in Atlanta, lengthy seen as America´s hip-hop capital.

The pre-game present additionally featured a efficiency from Jhene Aiko, who sang “America the Beautiful” accompanied by a harpist.