Beyonce’s headlining slot in 2013 was pointedly political in the way that,well,she just is. Her Black Lives Matter subtext was as bold as her dancers’ Black Panther berets and the bullet-belts crossing her chest:in turn a nod to Michael Jackson’s Super Bowl get-up 20 years earlier.
Come 2020,Jennifer Lopez and Shakira arrived in a Trojan horse of razzle-dazzle. Their entourage was “a reminder of the heritage of this country,which is one of diversity,” Shakira announced. Kids in glowing cages against the star-spangled banner made a potent statement in that US election year — even if most of the tweeting was about her tongue.
All of which whets the appetite for an event which,notwithstanding the Weeknd’s pandemic-compromised set last year,has become a reliable bellwether of pop power and cultural identity. To say the least,a bona fide assembly of hip-hop giants — faded public enemy Eminem,gangsta godfather Snoop Dogg,rap queen Mary J and Pulitzer-winning Kendrick Lamar,all curated by mix master Dre — feels like a moment whose time has come.
Much anticipation naturally revolves around the set list. Dre is the common thread and grand master of the long game (look closely at that trailer again),and any number of classics he produced — Eminem’sMy Name Is,Mary J’sFamily Affair,Snoop’s Gin and Juice — could burn up 12 minutes without raising sweat. The way the mix is mashed is half the fun,of course,and with Kendrick’s fifth album among the most highly anticipated of the era,the prospect of new material is equally thrilling.
Right now,only these things are certain. Content is king. Compromise is unlikely. Desperate times call for salient rhymes,the whole world is watching,and hip-hop vengeance is nigh. Here’s hoping someone has Ms Jackson’s number.