In his performance, though, Lamar skipped the more controversial lyrics “We hate po-po / Wanna kill us in the street fo sho” - some speculated that the NFL censored Lamar, though the organization denied asking Lamar to cut the lyric. The song reached new heights as it became an anthem in the wake of the George Floyd protests, credited as an anthem of Black power and perseverance. He concluded his performance with freestyling, giving his respect to Dre as he rapped, “35 summers in the making / Stop faking / You forgot about Dre / 35 summers in the making / I'm talking N.W.A.”
Lamar’s isolated vocals with the emphasis of the drums on “m.A.A.d city” and “Alright” highlighted his deep and meaningful lyrics. He proceeded to march with his dancers, who all wore sashes that said “Dre Day” - referencing the 1993 song by Dre. Lamar blended in with his background dancers, who all wore black suits, distinguishing himself with sunglasses and a custom Louis Vuitton suit - a piece from the final collection of the late Virgil Abloh. However, the momentum shifted as a more recent defining rapper of the current generation - Kendrick Lamar - took the stage.Ī bird’s eye view shot showing an illuminated map of Los Angeles introduced the Pulitzer Prize winner in a fluid fashion. From beginning to end, the cheers did not stop, especially since the halftime show was a trip down memory lane for many millennials. Although the choreography was simple, her vocals and emotional range was a definite highlight of the night.Īs each artist performed, the crowd's enthusiasm grew louder. Blige performed her hits, “Family Affair” - a song produced by Dre - and “No More Drama.” Unlike anything else thus far, the performance led to silence from the 70,000 viewers at the venue, as they admired Blige’s singing - “Gotta count on me / Cause I can guarantee that I'll be fine” on a lasting high note. Graciously, Dre gave the spotlight to the East Coast rapper and surprise guest, 50 Cent, who - in an iconic manner - referenced his 2009 hit “In Da Club” by performing upside down.Įast Coast appreciation didn't stop there as Bronx native Mary J. Transitioning to “California Love'' with choreography and costume design similar to the 1995 music video, the halftime show became a love letter to all things California. Despite performing the song countless times leading up to the halftime show, Snoop - rapping effortlessly to the famous guitar riff in his Los Angeles Rams-inspired outfit - was a sight to behold. While performing “The Next Episode,” the chemistry between Snoop and Dre set the tone for the rest of the show, as it was impossible not to bop your head to this hip-hop classic. Four other singles came out of this album, including “ The Blacker the Berry“.Dre began the show rising up from behind a mixing desk of a makeshift recording studio - the most significant location of his career - as the camera panned to an all-white stage design featuring lowriders and references to local landmarks in Compton, Dre’s hometown. It was the fourth single produced by “To Pimp a Butterfly”. The song has been used in a number of protests in the United States, and it’s largely seen as a song for the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement.Ī number of artists (including Fabolous) have released their versions of this work. In 2015, the song was also honored with BET and Soul Train Music Awards. Online music outlet, Pitchfork, ranked it as number one on their list of “Best song of the 2010s”. It also won the “Best Rap Performance” category at that year’s Grammys. It was also popular in other countries like the UK and Belgium where it performed well in a number of charts.Īt the Grammy Awards in 2016, the song was selected for four awards including the “Song of the Year” and the “Best Rap Song”. Soon after it was released, “Alright” became one of the most popular songs in the United States and was ranked among other top songs on the US Billboard Hot 100 weekly chart.
The two further produced this great piece with Williams also adding his voice to the chorus. Mark Spears and Pharrell Williams are the writers of this song alongside the rapper. “Alright” was released in June 2015 off the Kendrick’s critically acclaimed third album, titled “To Pimp a Butterfly”.
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