Super Bowl Halftime: Hip-Hop Artists of our Time and Their Jaw Dropping Fits
This is for you, 90’s babies.
by REBECCA CARR ★ FEBRUARY 16, 2022
I think most of us can agree when we say that the only reason we watched the Super Bowl this year is because of the infamous halftime show performance. Eminem, Snoop Dog, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent (and yes, also Anderson Paak, don’t worry we saw you drumming!) dominated the SoFi Stadium field and left the audience speechless. Not only did they perform some of their most iconic songs, but they also gave tribute to Tupac when playing “California,” giving homage to the stadium.
This performance was especially noteworthy because the performers and dancers were predominantly black. Being that February is Black History Month, this performance made an immense impact on the entire country watching. The Hip-hop, R&B, and Rap music genres were once deemed as too vulgar or violent, silencing the voices of the black population and these very artists in America. Hip-hop started as an underground form of music that was cherished inside impoverished, low-income neighborhoods. As it began to gain popularity, the music gave hope to those wanting a chance at life outside of these very neighborhoods.
All of these artists have played major roles in the foundation of Hip-Hop music throughout their careers. They have been influential voices relating to the black community in America when discussing police brutality, gang violence, relationship violence, and the inequalities that black men and women have experienced. The performers have also contributed to their communities by giving back to various charities like Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Club of America, Save the Music Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Snoop Youth Football League, and many more.
The artist’s outfits were also a major tribute to supporting black creators. Kendrick Lamar was wearing Virgil Abloh’s last runway line which is not only a tribute to his passing, but to the impact Abloh has had on the fashion industry. Mary J. Blige’s sparkly bodysuit and matching boots that wowed the crowd were created by Peter Dundas, a Norwegian designer. Dundas has worked with designers like Roberto Cavelli before creating his independent brand in 2017. He specializes in the sparkly embellishments that made Mary J. Blige quite literally SHINE. Snoop Dogg kept it cool and casual (despite being memed as looking like the magic carpet from Aladdin) in a blue and yellow bandana sweatsuit to rep’ Los Angeles while donning a classic pair of converse with bright yellow laces. This performance was an indicator of how, today, these Hip-Hop legends have evolved into respected music and fashion moguls and we loved every second of it!