Super Bowl Sunday - Southern California Style!
/If you need to know anything about me, it’s the following two things. One: rap music, particularly of the ‘90s and early 2000s variety, has resonated with my soul since an inappropriately young age. Two: the NFL is my church, with Sundays being a day of worship and Super Bowl Sunday serving as my personal Christmas morning.
While working my restaurant job last night, the Executive Chef – a regular participant in my fantasy football league – claimed that the NFL had announced its performers for Super Bowl 56’s halftime show this coming February.
He then read out the following names: Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige.
“You’re lying,” I fiercely rebutted. “The halftime show in recent years has been nothing but pop artists like the Weeknd with flashy stage shows intent on captivating those who don’t care about the game that’s being played.” But later in the evening, I checked my phone to see an Instagram post my friend had sent me from TSN, confirming what I’d been told.
courtesy of @nfl on Twitter
Before leaving for work, I’d already mapped out in my mind what I was going to write about for my first blog entry: a profile of the unconventional career of one of my favourite rappers, Lil Dicky. That post is coming, so stay tuned, but this news was so significant that I’d be doing a disservice to myself not to share my reaction.
In that moment, it all made perfect sense to me. The Super Bowl is taking place on Feb. 13, 2022, at the newly constructed So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Dre & Kendrick are both from Compton, a few miles south of LA, and Snoop Dogg is from Long Beach, a handful more miles south from there. All this to say, So-Cal has produced some of the greatest hip hop talent the world has ever known, Eminem is Dre’s protégé and an undisputed international superstar, and Mary J. is one of the pioneer female voices in the R&B and hip-hop/soul communities. OF COURSE this ensemble of artists would headline the first Super Bowl in the LA area since 1993 when the Rose Bowl hosted Super Bowl 27.
It took everything I had not to react like a teenage girl after securing tickets to see Justin Bieber perform live. I don’t think they could have crafted a better lineup without resurrecting Tupac from his peaceful slumber.
I normally pay little mind to the Super Bowl’s halftime show, as I’m often too intently focussed on the game itself, but this year will be very different. For 10-12 minutes on the holiday of all holidays, football will be the furthest thing from my mind. I’ve already imagined what songs might be performed: “Nuthin’ but a G Thang” is a strong possibility, as is as a reminder that it’s “Still D.R.E.,” a verse or two from “Forget About Dre” is certainly on the table, as is the likelihood of Kendrick ensuring things stay “Humble.”
“We have to figure out creatively how we’re gonna just, like *poof* blow people’s minds,” Dr. Dre said in a promotional video released by the NFL.
“Before the two-minute warning and halftime,” Snoop added, “get your snacks and refreshments,” alluding that this is a show not to be missed.
As I write this, it still doesn’t seem real. All my favourite living rap artists sharing a stage on the greatest football day of the year. If Tom Brady goes on to win his 8th ring, or the Patriots SOMEHOW find a way to win their 7th without him, Feb. 13 could very well be the greatest day ever.
Connor Burk
Connor has been an avid listener of rap and hip-hop since first being introduced to Eminem at 9 years old. He is also an extremely passionate sports fan - a supporter of the New England Patriots, the Washington Nationals, and the brand new Seattle Kraken. He is a recovering victim of years of emotional trauma suffered at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
