I was way too excited with the announcement of this line up for the Pepsi 2022 halftime show next year. Hip hop legends will be taking over the annual show. February 13, 2021 Sunday Valentine’s day weekend hip hop will be rocking the Inglewood stadium in California bringing California’s own hip hop legends with 30 plus years in the music and entertainment industry. Snoop Doggy Dogg/Brother Lion, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar along with surprise guests will be performing on the PEPSI live stage along with dancers, their band, and performers on stage. All of these artists have contributed not only lyrically and with the music they have produced. They have contributed to the entertainment industry and in business. They all also give back to communities all across the globe in different fields. So some of you may not know who these artist are….please allow me to introduce these five amazing legends and legends in the making.
Born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. aka “Snoop Doggy Dogg” or “Brother Lion” born October 20, 1971 in Long Beach, California was destined to be in the music industry. Since he was a child he had a strong passion for music. He participated in the choir growing up and he had a strong connection to music even more because of listening to songs together. He has pumped out over 30 years in his musical catalogue. Hits with songs like, “Doggy Dogg World”, “Gin & Juice”, “What’s My Name?”, “187” ft. Dr. Dre, “Amerika’s Most Wanted” ft. Tupac, “Sensual Seduction”, and many more hit songs will surely get all of the NFL members feeling nostalgic, amped up, hyped, and more.
These songs have been played at many parties for all of us in nightclubs, college parties, and other events. You think but there’s a lot of profanity, yes but at the same time you have to think about the issues that people were really dealing with those issues back then. Snoop has a way to make a song that will spark your attention, make you think deeper about an issue, or want to go out party, and roll down the street in your car with the music blasting. He is currently showing another side of his personality many haven’t seen he’s been featured on reality television show with his family, “Fatherhood” where he coaches his sons football teams, and he has a show with the domestic goddess, Martha Stewart, called “Martha Stewart and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner” which debuted in 2016
Dr. Dre the man who would grow up to become a successful multimillionaire entrepreneur creator of Beats by Dre, a co-founder of Death Row Records, Aftermath Records, a founder of NWA one of the best and successful hip hop groups in the late 1980s that birthed a whole slew and new generation of talent. He was one of the producers who was featured on NWA’s debuted albums when they first came out. Coaching, guiding, and helping fellow rapper, Eric “Eazy-E” Wright and O’shea “Ice Cube” Jackson Sr.
If anyone ever needed to find out more information on his journey and career part of his life story has chronicled the beginning with “Straight Outta Compton” the 2015 movie came out and received so much love, press, and people were wearing Straight Outta Everything t-shirts, hats, and more.
The woman who would become “The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul” was born Mary Jane Blige on January 11, 1971 in the Bronx, New York and raised in Yonkers, NY. Her voice takes you through the highs, the lows, the peaks, valleys, and she has a way of captivating healing your soul, your heart, and mind all at the same time.
I feel like Mary is a bit of my soul sister or soul twin in a way. I can relate to some of her experiences they may not have been exactly the same way but there are stories wrapped up in her songs everyone can identify with and it’s relatable. Mary knows how to connect with her male and female audiences. Uplifting all men in her lyrics, then with females giving us the strength and empowerment to deal with our relationship, self-relationship, and all of the issues we face. Mary gives you that glory you need when you’re overcoming obstacles in your life. She will not only give the fans an extra boost of confidence she uplifts your soul and she’s a true survivor.
All 5 of the artists have one thing in common they have survived true challenges in their journey. They have each been tested and have overcome many obstacles while also finding a way to still strive towards their own predestined stardom.
Next is Marshall Bruce Mathers the third born October 17, 1972 in Detroit, Michigan who would become “Eminem” or “Slim Shady” his alter-egos in the rap/hip hop industry. Mathers it took a long journey to get to his career close to a decade until he was finally discovered by Dr. Dre and put on Aftermath Records. He performed at local nightclubs, restaurants he worked at, house parties, talent shows, and so many events just to get a chance to have his voice heard in his community. Eminem’s debut album on the Billboard charts debuted at #2 with “The Slim Shady LP” on March 13th, 1999 right before the turn of the century. His follow up album peaked at number 1 on June 10th, 2000. His discography includes 10 albums and many collaborations with artists like 50 Cent, Rihanna, Kanye West, Big Sean, D12, and so many others he has discovered as his musical proteges just like Dr. Dre did with him. Mathers journey was an easy one he had to battle many other hip hop heads just to get a chance to get to the top spot. He had a serious determination to succeed he came from a broken home where his parents were often fighting he could only rely on certain people in his family to keep him protected, guided, as they were dealing with their own personal demons and personal enemies. He found a way to always come back to music as an escape to get to the root of it all.
The last person who I believe definitely has a huge impact on this generation coming up now some call him this generation’s Tupac Shakur because of lyrics, the way he can take any topic and has a way of captivating his audience’s attention through their ears. Kendrick even had the opportunity to see his heroes Tupac and Dr. Dre record the video, “California Love” in 1995 when he was 8 years old in person.
Kendrick Lamar is one everyone needs to continue to watch and pay attention to immediately as a recording artist and entertainer. Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born June 17, 1987 in Compton, California. Kendrick grew up with two working class parents who struggled to make ends meet when he and his siblings were growing up. He saw things he says in interviews no kid should see at a young age. Seeing the pain, struggles, and poor choices of those who were affected by drug dealing, drug abuse, and more. Pain translates into art and therefore it was written in the stars when Kendrick opened his mouth and started penning down exactly what he wanted to say to his audience at this moment. His first debut album was “Section .80” in 2011 when he was 24 years old peaked at #24 but stayed on the charts for the entire year of 2011 into 2012. His follow up sophomore album went straight to #1 on November 10, 2012 for “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City”, and on April 4, 2015 “To Pimp A Butterfly” went to #1, and on May 6, 2017 “DAMN” went straight to Number#1 which features “D.N.A”, “Loyalty”, “LOVE”, “PRIDE”, all had number one hit tracks featured on this album. Kendrick knows how to speak to all neighborhoods of kids, teens, and adults. He identifies with them because he has been exposed to so many different social circles and backgrounds. He can predict social situations in his lyrics and speak to everyone on political, racial, injustices, disenfranchisement, financial struggles, family struggles, and personal battles we all identify with every day.
Get ready for these 5 warriors to crush and destroy the Super bowl halftime show when all 5 come together for a celebration in California where Snoop, Dre, and Kendrick will honor their hometowns, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige will be performing along side rocking the stage to all of their latest, greatest, and current hits. 2022 get ready to party! For more information visit http://www.pepsi.com, http://www.kendricklamar.com, http://www.maryjblige.com, http://www.drdre.com, http://www.snoopdogg.com , and http://www.eminem.com. Follow them on all social media platforms for more information.
