By Lauren Siegel ‘23, Arts and Entertainment Editor

Image courtesy of Entertainment Weekly

The 2022 Super Bowl halftime show was undeniably one of the best in history. Hip-hop legends Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, and Eminem joined the stage on February 13th for an unforgettable fifteen minutes of performances that reminded fans and newcomers alike of why these artists are icons. Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog were effortlessly joyful during their rendition of “The Next Episode,” while Eminen’s high energy brought the audience to their feet during the performance of his iconic song “Lose Yourself.” Paired with Mary J. Blige’s captivating voice and choreography during “Family Affair,”’ and Kendrick Lamar’s dynamic performance of “Alright,” this show was enjoyable from start to finish.

Despite how amazing each performance was, the timing of this lineup felt somewhat odd. Nearly every song performed, with the exception of Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” (2015), had been released and achieved its acclaim over two decades ago. These artists were primarily hallmarks of the millennial generation, a stark contrast from Super Bowl headliners of recent years like The Weeknd who is very contemporary and popular with Gen Z.  While it was exciting to see all of these titans of the rap industry reliving their greatest hits, why, 20 years after their music cemented itself in the cultural canon, are these rap artists finally getting their recognition?

The N.F.L.’s recent controversies may provide a clue. On February 1st, former coach of the Miami Dolphins Brian Flores sued the N.F.L. and several of its teams, alleging that he and other Black coaches faced racial discrimination in the hiring process. He brought to light the unfair treatment of Black coaches in the league and the N.F.L. ‘s history of profiting off of Black athletes yet refusing to accept Black people into positions of authority. In addition to these allegations, many events in recent years have showcased racial discrimination within the league. In 2016, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was fired after kneeling during the national anthem as a protest against police brutality and racial injustice. It was therefore confusing when Eminem knelt in protest after his performance of “Lose Yourself” at this year’s halftime show, with the N.F.L’s approval. While it was an extremely important gesture, its support from the league reveals the different standards for white and Black activists present within this organization.

The league even censored the messages of many artists’ songs during the show. During Lamar’s performance of “Alright,” the phrase “po-po” was erased from the line “and we hate po-po, when they kill us dead in the street, fo’ sho.” This exclusion completely erases the song’s strong protest against police brutality and shows how, even though the N.F.L. placed rap at the foreground of their event, they did not give Black artists a platform to share their struggles and desires. Despite the explicit message against unchecked police authority present in these songs, the league policed the performance and expression of Black creators.While it cannot be denied that this year’s halftime show was nothing short of incredible, the actions of the N.F.L indicate that the line-up was primarily a way for the league to place a band-aid over their discriminatory actions and feign solidarity with a community they continue to belittle. It was a hollow, yet undeniably entertaining, attempt to right past wrongs. It is amazing that these legendary artists are finally getting their recognition; however, the halftime show was not a big enough gesture to overshadow all of the N.F.L. ‘s harmful, discriminatory actions. The league can and must do better in order to show that they stand with the Black community and are committed to eradicating systemic racism within their organization.