Anderson .Paak had one of the most memorable roles in the star-studded Super Bowl LVI halftime show, performing alongside legends like Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and 50 Cent. But the Silk Sonic member recently revealed that getting on that historic stage wasn’t easy — in fact, he had to beg Dr. Dre directly.
During a recent episode of Drink Champs, Paak opened up about the behind-the-scenes hustle that secured him the moment millions watched live from Los Angeles.
“They had already dropped a flyer for the Super Bowl. I was not on that sh*t,” Paak recalled.
“I hit Dre direct. ‘Dre, what the f**k? Let me get on that joint. Let me play drums, something. I gotta get in there some way.’ He said, ‘Hey, it’s all good.’”
Drumming Through History: Paak’s Super Bowl Smile
Paak described the thrill of playing drums during Eminem’s iconic “Lose Yourself” performance.
“The way they orchestrated it, it went off without a hitch. That was a big moment for sure. I was like, ‘Should I smile?’ I couldn’t help it. And I’m like, ‘I’m going to be straight-faced.’ And then, as you can see, I had the biggest f***ing smile the whole time. I tried. I was hyped.”
His energy matched the unforgettable lineup, which saw hip hop royalty sharing one of the biggest stages in music history.
Almost Skipping a Life-Changing Opportunity
Paak also revealed he almost passed up the chance to work with Dr. Dre entirely, hesitating over a recording session.
“I’ve got my own thing going. I don’t need to go and work on this. My manager was like, ‘Are you an idiot?’ He was like, ‘Dude, you go, bro.’ Then I went, and it was like, wow — right there first two people meet Dre and D.O.C.”
Paak explained that Dre was working on a project called Compton with writers Mez (Paak’s longtime collaborator) and JT.
“They were like, ‘Yo, we love your song “Suede.”’ That was the song I had bubbling. He was like, ‘We love this, and we want to play it for Dre.’ I was like, well, let’s make some new sh*t and get them excited about something else, you know, in case they don’t like it.”
The gamble paid off.
“When he heard it he said, ‘What the f*** was that?’ And gave me two thumbs up.”
A Star-Making Super Bowl Moment
Paak’s story shows the unseen hustle behind headline-making performances, highlighting the determination it takes even for an established star to earn a spot on one of the world’s biggest stages. His blend of talent, timing, and sheer persistence made the Super Bowl LVI halftime show a defining moment not just for him, but for modern hip hop.
Fans can revisit Paak’s drumming and Silk Sonic’s performance online, which remains one of the most talked-about Super Bowl halftime acts of all time.
Stay Tuned
For more exclusive behind-the-scenes stories from Super Bowl LVI and interviews with hip hop’s biggest stars, keep it locked with The Pop Radar.
