NEW YORK • California icons Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar, along with Mary J Blige and Eminem, will perform at the Super Bowl half-time show in February next year, the National Football League (NFL) announced on Thursday.

The celebration of West Coast hip-hop in one of music's most visible gigs is fitting for Super Bowl LVI, which will be held in Los Angeles for the first time in nearly three decades.

In 2019, the NFL tapped rapper Jay-Z to steer its musical performances - the half-time show is among pop's most coveted slots - which the league hailed as a move to promote social justice.

Music mogul Dr Dre has produced albums for each performer in the line-up, with Eminem and Lamar both signed to the producer's Aftermath Entertainment label.

"The opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl half-time show, and to do it in my own backyard, will be one of the biggest thrills of my career," Dr Dre said in a statement, vowing "an unforgettable cultural moment".

The star-studded performance on Feb 13 next year will fall three years after the NFL faced sharp criticism by choosing pop-rock band Maroon 5 to lead the marquee show - whose audience usually tops 100 million - in Atlanta, for years seen as America's hip-hop capital.

Prominent artistes including Rihanna, Pink and Cardi B had reportedly turned down the offer to headline that year, amid controversy over protests calling attention to police brutality against African Americans that were spearheaded by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Canadian artiste The Weeknd headlined the half-time performance at this year's Super Bowl, with singers Jennifer Lopez and Shakira taking the stage last year.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE