The N.F.L. showcased some of the biggest names in hip-hop at the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday, and the general consensus was the performers put on a hell of a show. Not everyone was applauding, though, and one critique in particular quickly became a laughingstock on Twitter.
The performance was the first Super Bowl halftime show to put rap center stage, and featured Eminem, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige and Snoop Dogg performing a medley of past hits.
“It’s crazy that it took all of this time for us to be recognized,” Dr. Dre said at the game’s official news conference leading up to the event.
Related: Where did all the queer Super Bowl ads go in LVI?
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Author and outspoken Trump loyalist Nick Adams had a lot to say about the show, including a request that next year’s performance should include “God Bless America.”
But let’s all be grateful Adams — who describes himself as “Trump’s favorite author” — doesn’t plan the show, because that’s not even his worst idea.
After tweeting that he would not be watching this year’s “Godless” presentation, he wrote: “Ted Nugent, Kid Rock, and Lee Greenwood would put on a better Halftime Show than these hoodlums.”
Ted Nugent, Kid Rock, and Lee Greenwood would put on a better Halftime Show than these hoodlums.
— Nick Adams (Alpha Male) (@NickAdamsinUSA) February 14, 2022
His pitch was not received well:
Kid Rock makes music for people who smoke cigarettes in the house.
— Vanessa, your abobo friendo (@rollsnideroll) February 14, 2022
Eminem has 15 Grammys, Kendrick Lamar has 13 Grammys, Mary J. Bilge has 9 awards from 31 nominations and Dr. Dre has 7 Grammys.
Kid Rock, Ted Nugent, Lee Greenwood together have 1.Excuse me, but who are you?
— Any Doubts 😷 (@ma_makosh) February 14, 2022
Hey Nick, Kid Rock actually performed during a Super Bowl halftime show in 2004. I’m sure you will be thrilled about the other people he performed with. pic.twitter.com/nxj6mISzNZ
— Maudi63 (@maudi63) February 14, 2022
Wow…. that’s so UGH. The halftime artists tonight are great American music legends. It appears your opinion is more than a bit based on the color of their skin and their politics rather than the music.
— Lucy’s mom (@JoyceMn03) February 14, 2022
I thought you weren’t going to watch. https://t.co/7EZSDit9Yc
— Melanie (@Melynn309) February 14, 2022
What is the family message of these Ted Nugent lyrics? pic.twitter.com/TjMQMOffw8
— 🌊⚓okanogen⚓🌊 (@okanogen2010) February 14, 2022
You want hoodlums? I’ll show you hoodlums. pic.twitter.com/AF4U7AcNpd
— Tony W (@BohdiBohdi) February 14, 2022
The ratings dip during halftime would be kinda legendary as folks took that time to go to their favorite market to get more beer and snacks.
— Denise Clay-Murray (@denisethewriter) February 14, 2022
Best halftime show since Prince. Which I’m sure you hated too because you know
— Nothing Matters (@sckpdx) February 14, 2022
Dude, you just said that out loud.
— Dr. Deb Resists Hate (@DebHyatt11) February 14, 2022
I hear they only book ppl with talent.
— dcole (@kids8587) February 14, 2022
Fahd
Some 60% of NFL players identify as African American. Shouldn’t African Americans play a part in other aspects of the game like coaching, management, ownership, Superbowl halftime performing?
BaltoSteve
Ahhhh. the use of hoodlums, can have one these tweets without it.
johncp56
Hoodlums omg such an old term,, needed more, it was great and the rams won! winners all around
mcflyer54
57% of Republicans think the NFL provides too much for Black players …. Yet 60% of the players are Black and putting big bucks in the pockets of the NFL.
Myles1988
Look as much as I hate them, I do agree. With all that is happening in this country going on do we really need to showcase black people being thugs and hoes? I am part black yet never was allowed in the Black community growing up and thank goddess. No wonder why rap and hip hop are seen as disgusting.
ShiningSex
All half time sucks!
Hip Hop just sucks but that has nothing to do with racism.
Republicans will bitch at anything nonwhite because they’re racist. end of story.
spunkfunker
Thugs and hoes, the average age up there last night was 50! That’s old enough to be somebody’s grandma. Everything isn’t for everyone. However you don’t sell 5-10 million copies of a CD to just Black people alone…
wiggie
Thugs and Hoes? The combined net worth on that stage is well over a billion. Dr. Dre is worth 800 million alone
SDR94103
by far, the WORST halftime show in history. HORRIBLE.
ShiningSex
They’ve all sucked even when it was divas that queens tend to love, they sucked.
Doug
There were some good moments, but I can’t say compared to the last few years there was as much energy in any of the performances. The sets weren’t very imaginative either. The performers just kind of walked around the same house-interior sets and sang. Still, the music brought up a lot of good memories (especially Mary J. Blige, of course). It was also kind of fun to see that Snoop Dog was obviously getting a kick out of just being part of it all.
Jaquelope
What elaborate sets would you expect to see on a football field, A Broadway set? Since it is on a football field, the performers need to perform for people on all sides of them, so they are probably going to need to walk around a bit, rather than just standing there like an idiot. The fans want to see motion, so they move. It’s obvious you have absolutely no knowledge of theatrical or musical productions.
mailliw110
You are obviously too young to remember the 80’s and the “Up With People” productions!
ShiningSex
republicans are just racist POS
mgconlan
I hate, loathe, detest and despise virtually all rap music (or “hip-hop,” to use the euphemism preferred by people who like it). Mary J. Blige was the only person on that show with any real musical talent, and she was forced to dress like a $100 hooker. (Blige’s dancers dressed like $20 hookers and the chorus line behind one of the male performers looked like $2 street whores.) I can’t understand why people who otherwise consider themselves politically progressive give a free pass to these racist, sexist, anti-Queer, conspicuous-consumption glorifying creeps and the B.S. “music” they produce.
spunkfunker
Guess you’ve never seen the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders?
Mary wasn’t wearing anything that Chaka, Diana, Donna, Beyonce, J-Lo and Janet haven’t worn before. Guess it had to be worn by Madonna, Britney, or Christina to be “wholesome”
Kevan1
WHAT? Mary J. Was basically wearing a blinged out modest swimsuit. He was more covered than most an average bikini wearing girl. The back up dancers were almost completely covered. Go back to the 1800’s troll.
wiggie
Madonna did concerts in a corset and stole voguing from the gay and trans community, but I guess you’re ok with that right?
Fname Optional Lname
LOL right rappers don’t have talent. Try to write some bars and show us how easy it is
Kevan1
She was more covered. Sorry!
Me2
Hiphop has a global presence and influence. It’s the face of American music and pop culture. The negative opinions of few will not change that. The genre will continue to grow and unapologetically move into new spaces without “their”permission or validation.
Tranceboi1
Rap is crap. Give me dance music any day. I am not racist, I just have taste.
Kangol2
You have limited taste, which is your right. Thankfully is isn’t everyone else’s.
spunkfunker
Hip-hop has been the #1 selling music genre for quite a while now. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean millions across this country feel the same way.
DennisMpls
Wow, I’m really shocked at how many people here felt the need to disparage an entire category of music. And to disparage it with vicious, over-the-top language. You know, it’s OK to just say a certain style of music isn’t something you personally enjoy. (Though I wonder why people would feel the need to chime in even to express it that way. If it were a style for which I didn’t care I don’t know why I would want to express my distaste in a comment section like this.)
Different types of music “reach” different people. And since all music has value and meaning to someone, then all music has value.
Jaquelope
The reason they express distaste in a public forum is twofold. 1) they want attention. and 2) They’re bitchy queens.
Mike Hunt
Here’s a novel idea. Bring back university and military marching bands to put on 25 minutes of real pageantry and pomp. Now that would be awesome!
mailliw110
Or, even better…bring back Up With People! That was as wholesome as apple pie!
jackscott
It wasn’t a solid performance. I was excited to see MJB and even she didn’t live up to the hype. The rest was just junk!
Myles1988
Everyone who hates it. I am an old soul. I am
A rocker. Why can’t black peoples be that? Why must they be a stereotype,?
Kangol2
Stop making blanket statements about Black people! Why are you being a stereotypical racist? Sheesh! Also, do you not realize that Black people invented rock & roll? Black people have pioneered in a range of American musical forms, including country music, rock & roll, blues, rhythm & blues, gospel music, ragtime, jazz, House music, American pop music in general, techno, etc. in addition to hip hop, which is now a global music and loved and performed all over the world! Hell, at the beginning of the 20th century the great Czech composer Antonin Dvorak even said that African American music should be the basis of American classical music!
mailliw110
Rocker! Just how old are you?
spunkfunker
OK boomer! If your screenname is your birth year that would make you 33/34 years old. Musical memories start at about 2-3 years old; which means that you have had exposure to these artists and their music for all of your life.
Tranceboi1
Funny how you say I have limited taste. I have been a dj since 1979. Been in many dj pools and currently a member of Promo Only. I have never had anyone request rap. I play Disco, House, Techno, Trance, Tribal, Funk and have never had anyone request rap. With the resurgence of Disco it tells me people want good quality music. I think times are changing for the best. Only young kids like Hip Hop. I find it violent and it degrades woman. So if I have good taste just move on.
spunkfunker
Dr Dre is 57 Snoop and Mary are both 50, Marshall is 48. These are not young people by any stretch of the imagination. They are probably getting mail from AARP Now!
If you have been a DJ since 79′ then you were there at the genesis of rap on wax, and I find it very hard to believe that in the last 40+ years you have never been asked to play a single rap song in your set. There is very little violence or degrading of women in 80’s rap. A good DJ has a sampling of everything.
johncp56
It was not long enough !! those maga shit heads are ging to bitch about anything, safe for who we are watching a game of men trying to tackle and hurt lol and those simps think hip-hop is bad, or love or a boob shot, go away hypocritical conservatives, go feed children in need and pray lol for your sins