By Lisa Richwine

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Los Angeles natives Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre reunited for “California Love”; surprise guest 50 Cent hung upside-down and Eminem sat down as hip-hop’s biggest stars performed a thrilling halftime show at Sunday’s Super Bowl.

The star-packed lineup, also featuring R&B star Mary J. Blige and rapper Kendrick Lamar, made hip-hop the focus of the halftime extravaganza, a platform that draws the world’s top musical acts.

The musicians performed a variety of songs at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. They also traversed the interiors and roofs of rows of white buildings that were assembled onto the field.

Eminem finished his song “Lose Yourself” with a kneeling gesture. He placed his head in the hand of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick during the National Anthem, an act he used to call for racial equality.

Kaepernick is not playing since 2016, as no NFL team has hired him.

Puck, a media outlet reported that Eminem was told by the NFL not to kneel during Sunday’s performance. Brian McCarthy, a spokesperson for the NFL denied that report. The NFL’s staff observed halftime rehearsals this past week, and the kneeling was present at those times, he stated.

Dre opened the show along with Snoop Dogg and sang “The Next Episode”, and “California Love”. Unannounced guest rapper 50 Cent began to rap “In Da Club” from suspended above the ceiling.

Blige performed “Family Affair” wearing a sequined, white ensemble and high-heeled boots in front of a group of sparkling backup dancers.

Dre and Snoop Dogg both stated before the show that the NFL should’ve embraced hip-hop years ago. Although rap artists have performed before, they were also present alongside rock and pop acts.

“THE GREATEST HALFTIME SHOW !!!”” LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers was among those in attendance and wrote on Twitter (NYSE :).