NFL Tried To Censor Dr. Dre By Scrubbing The Lyrics Of 'Still Not Loving Police'

Officials were particularly offended by words from the rapper's 1999 song "Still D.R.E." - "Still f***ing with the beats, still not loving police" - which the star proudly recited during Sunday's event, much to the chagrin of NFL brass.

However, after singing his popular song Lose Yourself, the rapper's fellow performer and former mentor Eminem brazenly made the gesture during the halftime show, which was universally lauded as the best in recent memory on social media.

The disclosure of the NFL's censorship attempt comes as the league continues to face criticism over its hiring policies for black coaches and the aftermath of Colin Kaepernick's decision to take a knee to protest racial injustice.

The halftime show, which featured Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, and Eminem, has been criticized almost as much as the game itself in the past, and this year's hip-hop-themed performance was no exception.

Despite having no new songs to promote, Dre spent more than half of the $13 million budget required for this year's performance, spending $7 million.

Last year's halftime show featured The Weeknd, who spent $7 million on his performance - however, it wasn't fraught with controversy and was intended to promote a freshly released record.

The NFL's heavy-hitting hip-hop roster this year was a first since the program has traditionally been anchored by pop performers.

Some see the NFL's decision to shift the tone of this year's halftime show as a smokescreen to distract from recent race-related problems.

According to a report by Puck's Eriq Gardner, the NFL had been in contact with Dre's camp about several aspects of the performance.

A line from Dre's 1999 single 'Still D.R.E.' - 'Still f***ing with the beats, still not loving police' - was a major source of the NFL's rage.’

Officials from the league allegedly wanted the hip-hop entrepreneur to remove the line entirely. Dre refused, reading the phrase but without the obscenity during his performance.

To add insult to injury, Eminem, Dre's longtime friend, and fellow celebrity chose to take a knee during the show despite the league's insistence that the performers not do so.

Dr. Dre and the other stars did not engage in the gesture, and neither did any Rams or Bengals players kneel during the National Anthem before the game. There was also no trace of any additional audience members kneeling.

On social media, the show was hailed as one of the best, with many people hailing it as the best. Its success was attributed to the celebrities' performance of a bevy of iconic tunes, including Dre's Still D.R.E., Mary J. Blige's Family Affair, and Eminem's Lose Yourself.

All six musicians are worth a total of $983 million, with Dre's net worth accounting for more than half of the total, at $500 million.

In recent years, the NFL has battled to balance the various social issues that have risen to the forefront for both players and spectators.

Eminem's on-stage performance served as a harsh reminder of the NFL's botched attempt to end Kaepernick's kneeling protest against police brutality and racial inequity in the United States.

The league has recently received criticism and a lawsuit over its lack of black head coaches. There are just two black head coaches in the NFL at the moment.

Brian Flores, the former coach of the Miami Dolphins, is currently entangled in a legal dispute with the NFL and multiple teams over his recent quest for a head coaching post.

Flores was brought in for interviews under the league's 'Rooney Rule,' according to the lawsuit, but teams never intended to hire the ex-New England Patriot linebackers coach.

The 'Rooney Rule' aims to 'raise the number of minorities appointed in head coach, general manager, and executive roles,' according to the NFL's website.

The advice adds that "diversity enriches the game and generates a more effective, quality organization from top to bottom."