Super Bowl halftime: Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Dre, Kendrick Lamar Sets Stage on Fire

A formidable coalition stormed the Super Bowl halftime stage, not a battle of the hip-hop titans. From Mary J. Blige's affirmation as one of music's uncontested queens ("Family Affair") to Eminem's loquacious rumblings ("Lose Yourself"), rap delivered a powerful performance at Inglewood's SoFi Stadium on Sunday night.

The remainder of the all-star cast, which included California natives Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and Dr. Dre, glided through liquid rhymes with cool precision ("California Love," "Still D.R.E," complete with contentious "still not lovin' the police" phrase).

Snoop and Dre kicked things off for "The Next Episode" as they stood atop a series of white structures with a variety of dancers stretched below in patterned blue outfits. This already-packed program didn't need any further additions, so 50 Cent's unexpected appearance to perform "In Da Club" was cool but superfluous.

While it was a little disconcerting to witness the halftime performance done in broad daylight, this group of professionals nevertheless delivered the drama – particularly Blige, who delivered a feral scream as she strolled in her thigh-high white boots and concluded the song flat on her back.

Eminem scurried back and forth, hoodie pulled up, amid a live band – including Anderson – while Lamar spat "Alright" beside a battalion of dancers wearing Dre sashes.

From a neighboring couch, Blige and 50 Cent nodded to the music, which was played by Paak on drums. While they aren't the first prominent hip-hop names to perform at a Super Bowl halftime show, they are clearly the most powerful group to do so.

A parade of rap stars, including Queen Latifah, Nelly, Big Boi, Missy Elliott, Travis Scott, and Nicki Minaj, have appeared on stage with various pop and rock performers throughout halftime history. This is the first time, though, that rap is the focal point of the halftime show, which usually draws in – or beyond – 100 million viewers.

This lineup has a long history: the headliners have earned a total of 44 Grammy Awards (15 for Eminem, 13 for Lamar, nine for Blige, and seven for Dr. Dre; Snoop Dogg has been nominated more than a dozen times, but has never won).

Blige, 51, recently released her 15th studio album, "Good Morning Gorgeous," a feisty collection with Anderson as a guest star.

More include Anderson. Paak, Dave East, Usher, and others. Eminem, 49, is one of the top fan vote-getters for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions this year, and he was inducted in his first year of eligibility.

Eminem made Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time with two diamond-certified albums on his CV – "The Marshall Mathers LP" (2000) and "The Eminem Show" (2002) sold over 10 million copies – and a slew of hits.

Snoop Dogg, 50, released the 25-song compilation album "Snoop Dogg Presents Algorithm" in November. Usher, Ice Cube, and his Super Bowl colleague Mary J. Blige are among the musicians featured in the collection.

The news that the "Gin and Juice" singer was being sued by a former backup dancer alleging sexual assault by Snoop Dogg and one of his accomplices broke the week before the Super Bowl. Dr. Dre was brought to the hospital after having an aneurysm a little over a year ago. But the formidable founder of Death Row Records, which was recently owned by Snoop Dogg, whose career began with the company, in a karmic twist, has remained active.

Eminem kneels during Super Bowl halftime show performance

Eminem knelt during his Super Bowl halftime show performance as a statement of defiance against the NFL. The rapper knelt at the end of a performance of "Lose Yourself" with Dr. Dre and Anderson Cooper. Paak plays the drums.

Eminem had reportedly discussed kneeling ahead of his performance, but Super Bowl organizers had asked him not to do so.

Colin Kaepernick introduced the form of protest known as kneeling to the NFL on August 26, 2016, when he began sitting silently on benches during the national anthem for the first time.

On September 1, he switched to kneeling in protest, following the suggestion of retired Army Green Beret Nate Boyer, who indicated that kneeling throughout the ceremony was more respectful to veterans.

Eminem's decision came amid accusations that he, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and Snoop Dogg were being rigorously restrained from making any political views.