Entertainment Gists
Super Bowl: Dr Dre And Eminem Pack in The Hits At Half-Time Show
Eminem took the knee as he jointly headlined the Super Bowl on Sunday with Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J Blige and Kendrick Lamar. It was a show of wall-to-wall hits, but did too many hooks spoil the broth?
We’ve all been to one of those house parties where nobody can agree on the music.
You might hear the first verse of a song, maybe even a chorus if you’re lucky, but it’s never long before someone is fiddling with the playlist and impatiently changing the track.
Super Bowl half-time shows often feel a bit like this, albeit on a much larger scale, as performers traditionally try to cram as many of their hits as possible into a tight 14-minute set.
That problem was set to be even more pronounced this year. With five joint headliners, the question hanging over 2022’s hip-hop half-time show was how to do justice to the stars’ sizeable back catalogues.
The show opened with rapper and super-producer Dr Dre emerging from the floor in front of a giant mixing desk. Within seconds, the instantly recognisable refrain of The Next Episode broke out and Dre’s first co-star appeared alongside him.
“La-da-da-da-dah / It’s the one and only D-O-double-G,” sang one of the most distinctive voices in rap, before Dre yelled “Snoop Dogg!” in unison with the crowd.
Any scepticism about this year’s choice of performers was instantly extinguished as the audience erupted. Hip-hop had made it to the Super Bowl.
It wasn’t long before the track made way for the distinctive opening bars of the next song. For a half-time show that was celebrating West Coast hip-hop, the inclusion of California Love in the set list was a no-brainer, and saw Dr Dre rapping his own verse from the late 2Pac’s most famous song.
While a rumoured appearance of a 2Pac hologram failed to materialise, Dre’s performance of this song doubled as a fitting tribute to a rapper who died in 1996 aged 25, but is still considered one of the greatest who ever did it.
Audience members old enough to have been around when these songs were originally released will remember live hip-hops gigs in the nineties and noughties often consisted of little more than a rapper, and their DJ, on a stage.
That clearly wasn’t going to cut it at the biggest US TV event of 2022, and, as a result, this half-time show came complete with expensive cars, a full live band, a swarm of energetic dancers, and an effective set design which let the hip-hop heavyweights weave seamlessly between songs.
The stage consisted of five adjacent living rooms, giving the impression of a different party happening within each one.
There were doorways connecting the rooms, providing a fluidity which meant the five stars could move between them to collaborate and appear in each other’s songs.
The whole thing looked like it could have been inspired by the Destiny’s Child video for Say My Name (and doubled as a representation of what a retirement home for rappers might look like).
This effective staging was the work of British set designer Es Devlin, who was most recently in the news for her work on Adele’s cancelled Las Vegas residency.
Songs would overlap as the stars moved through the rooms, with some performing on the roof, others from inside their room, and, in the biggest surprise of the night, one even hanging from the ceiling.
As if five headliners weren’t enough, 50 Cent made a surprise appearance by hanging upside down, a recreation of his most famous music video for his most famous song, In Da Club. He might have been a little out of breath, but the crowd went wild.
Considering the outcry over Janet Jackson’s nipple and MIA’s middle finger at previous half-time shows, it could have been a risk to hire five rappers with a carefree attitude to swearing, to put it mildly.
But all five kept things surprisingly, maybe even disappointingly, clean.
Curse words were replaced with family-friendly lyrics, and the only thing vaguely approaching controversy came when Eminem took to the stage towards the end of the show (more on that in a sec).
Which songs did they perform?
1. The Next Episode – Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg
2. California Love – Dr Dre
3. In Da Club – 50 Cent
4. Family Affair – Mary J Blige
5. No More Drama – Mary J Blige
6. M.A.A.D City – Kendrick Lamar
7. Alright – Kendrick Lamar
8. Forgot About Dre – Eminem
9. Lose Yourself – Eminem
10. Still D.R.E. – Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg
The Super Bowl is traditionally the most-watched US TV event of the year. However, last year’s game attracted the lowest audience since 2007 (although it was still seen by 96 million viewers).
The 2021 headliner, the Weeknd, was generally well-received, although the lack of a live audience due to Covid restrictions meant the half-time show lacked a certain punch and atmosphere.
That was firmly rectified this year, with the hip-hop all-stars bouncing off the energy of the live crowd at the 70,000-capacity SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
If anyone thought some of the performers were looking a bit past their prime, the appearance of Kendrick Lamar certainly lowered the average age and heightened the energy. The Compton native raced through M.A.A.D. City and Alright, spitting his rhymes at break-neck speed.
The performance was widely praised on social media in real time, with basketball player LeBron James describing it as “the greatest half-time show I’ve ever seen”.
Mary J Blige was next up, performing her biggest song, the pulsing Family Affair, as well as a rousing rendition of her healing anthem No More Drama.
Known as the queen of hip-hop soul, Blige has made a career of using her powerful vocals to sing catchy melodies over crisp hip-hop beats. Her contribution to the show was valuable in terms of variety and audio texture, adding some much-needed melodies between the raps.
By the time Eminem appeared, anticipation was at fever pitch. A quick blast of Forgot About Dre’s chorus paid homage to the producer who first brought Marshall Mathers, the greatest lyricist of his generation, to worldwide attention.
For his main number, Slim Shady wisely chose to stick to his early work. Despite releasing three number one albums in the last five years, he clearly knew that only a classic song like Lose Yourself could make the audience do just that. A full live band behind him made the song somehow more evocative than ever.
In a show which otherwise steered clear of political statements, Eminem was seen taking the knee towards the end of his segment – the same thing former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick did during the national anthem in 2016.
Kaepernick’s gesture was intended to protest against racial inequality and police brutality, but it also sparked a backlash –
including from the NFL, who said players should not be allowed to take such a stance.
Since then, more high-profile figures have taken the knee in solidarity with Kaepernick, and it has become synonymous with the Black Lives Matter movement.
After Sunday’s game, an NFL spokesman denied reports that the league had told Eminem he couldn’t take the knee.
Back at the half-time show, there was hardly time for viewers to catch their breath before the night’s big finale. Snoop returned to the stage alongside Dre to perform Still D.R.E. – one of the biggest song’s from the latter’s seminal 2001 album.
The pair looked like two old friends having the time of their lives, and were soon joined by their co-stars as the show drew to a close. The performance had been a success, and they knew it.
It might have taken a long time to get here, but after a performance like this, nobody could now Forget About Dre.
Josh2Funny’s Album Has Fans Talking — But Should He Stick To Music Or Skits? 😂🎶
Nigerian comedian and content creator Josh2Funny has taken his comedy game into music, and Nigerians are definitely having something to say about it.
The comedian released his 15-track album, “On Behalf of Josh,” on July 10, 2026, but instead of fading away after release, the project has continued to generate conversations on X.
And the big question now is:
Should Josh2Funny continue with music or go back to skits? 😂
Fans have been divided. While some listeners openly criticized the album and told him to return to comedy, others found songs they genuinely enjoyed.
One X user joked:
“Josh2Funny stopped doing skits and started music, Everybody wan chop this music money 😂”
Another simply said:
“This Josh2Funny Album no enter make he just go back skit abeg 😂”
But then came “Lembe.” 🔥
The track caught fire on X and eventually became a trending topic in Nigeria. The #LembeChallenge also gained momentum as creators began jumping on the song.
Josh2Funny later announced ₦1 million for winners of the challenge, giving the song another major push.
And it didn’t stop there.
‘INTERNATIONAL’ FT. ICE PRINCE ALSO TRENDED
On another day, “International” featuring Ice Prince generated its own buzz on X.
One fan even called it their favourite song from the album, while praising the collaboration. The post itself pulled thousands of views, showing that people weren’t only talking about Lembe.
From album criticism to trending songs and challenges, “On Behalf of Josh” has kept Josh2Funny’s name in the conversation.
Whether you love the album or think he should return to skits, one thing is clear:
Josh2Funny has succeeded in getting Nigerians talking. 😂🔥
So, let’s settle this once and for all:
Should Josh2Funny continue with MUSIC 🎶 or return to SKITS 😂?
Music or Skits? Drop your answer! 👇
RUAN-Badkid.96 is a Nigerian recording artist whose music refuses to live inside a single genre. Blending Afrobeat, Afrofusion, trap, hip-hop, melodic rap, R&B, and global influences, he creates records that move effortlessly between raw street energy, soulful storytelling, and infectious melodies. Whether delivering hard-hitting bars, emotional love songs, or rhythm-driven African records, his sound is defined by authenticity rather than limitation.
Inspired by both African culture and international music, RUAN-Badkid.96 embraces the confidence and ambition of global hip-hop while staying deeply connected to his roots. His lyrics explore love, heartbreak, betrayal, friendship, social injustice, hope, and the everyday realities of life. He doesn’t create music to follow trends, he creates music to reflect truth, emotion, and human experience.
Behind his fearless image is an artist who believes in kindness, equality, justice, and genuine human connection. His appearance may be intimidating, but his message is rooted in compassion and authenticity. Every record carries a piece of his journey, proving that strength and vulnerability can exist in the same voice.
For RUAN-Badkid.96, music is more than entertainment, it’s a language, a testimony, and a lifelong mission to connect with people through honesty, versatility, and unforgettable sound.
Entertainment Gists
Meet the Man Who Turned Hype Into a Science: Emmy Blaq, Nigeria’s G.O.A.T. of Hype
If you have ever been at a Nigerian event and found yourself on your feet before the main act even stepped on stage, there is a good chance a hype man was responsible. But not just any hype man. Emmy Blaq, born Ikechukwu Emmanuel Chima and raised in Auchi, Edo State, has spent the last few years quietly becoming the most talked-about name in that profession, and the Nigerian press has taken notice. Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian Nigeria, The Nation, and Independent Newspaper have all sat down with him, and every conversation leads back to the same thing: this man does not just make noise; he makes moments.
What makes Emmy Blaq different is the journey behind the energy. Before the stages, the collaborations with Waje on her “Waje 2.0” album, DJ Consequence, and DJ Kaywise on the massively streamed “Joor Party Mix” series, he was repairing generators, cutting hair, and sewing clothes in Auchi. His first professional hype gig happened at a local fast food spot called Valchi, and the crowd response that night changed everything. He told The Nation directly: “My passion for entertainment and desire to make people happy led me into the craft.” Punch also captured his bigger mission when he said that hype men deserve more than what they currently earn, a statement that sparked a real conversation across Nigerian entertainment circles.
With over 1.7 million TikTok followers, 23.6 million TikTok likes, a viral “Wife Material” challenge that landed on Pulse Nigeria’s top ten social media moments of 2021, and an international performance at the Cameroon International Music Festival that Cameroonian media described as electrifying, Emmy Blaq is not building toward something. He is already there. The G.O.A.T. of Hype is not a title he gave himself and hoped would stick. It is one the rooms keep confirming every single time he grabs the mic.
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