Kendrick Lamar delivered a standout performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, recruiting SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, and Mustard to pay tribute to Compton on the world’s grandest platform.
The collection, featuring an American flag color scheme, primarily included songs from his recently launched album “GNX” along with some rarities from his extensive repertoire. With Jackson acting as the emcee (dressed as Uncle Sam, of course), Lamar showcased a strong group of backup dancers who moved in and out of formation while he performed hits from his discography, including “DNA,” “Peekaboo,” “Squabble Up,” and “Humble.”
The crucial question heading into the Super Bowl: Would he, or wouldn’t he, perform “Not Like Us,” the track in which he alleges his rival Drake of pedophilia, on the grandest platform in the world? Counterargument: What reason would he have not to? “Not Like Us” emerged as the most culturally significant song of 2024, maintaining its influence into this year after securing five Grammys, including song and record of the year.
And so, he did, and even more. Before diving into “Not Like Us,” the huge success from last year’s exchanges with Drake, he marked an X on the field and declared, “I want to sing their favorite track, but you know they enjoy suing,” alluding to the lawsuit Drake filed against Universal Music Group concerning the release and promotion of “Not Like Us.”
This resulted in the victory lap, the occasion to confirm the definitive champion in the ongoing verbal battle with Drake, transforming the Super Bowl field into a block party while numerous dancers — along with Serena Williams — grooved to the rhythm. (The suggestion, naturally, is that Williams was said to have been in a relationship with Drake previously.) While he omitted the term “pedophile” in the song, Lamar allowed the audience to echo “A minor,” further compounding the offense. In summary? Lamar concluded with “TV Off,” smiling at the camera while “Game Over” lit up the audience behind him.
While the beef has significantly overshadowed much of the cultural dialogue in the past year, it constituted merely a segment of the broader picture of Lamar’s Halftime Show, an unending, meticulously performed display. The spotlight primarily remained on Lamar — historically, artists have transformed the Super Bowl platform into a showcase of unexpected appearances — as he kicked off the performance with a new track showcased in a teaser uploaded to YouTube merely hours prior to the release of “GNX.”
Lamar maintained his position in the middle of the dancers to create the American flag while performing “Humble.” He moved across the stage, a lengthy rectangular area scattered with lampposts, for “Man at the Garden” and “Peekaboo,” performing rap in front of a cluster of men gathered around one of the posts. SZA quickly appeared for “Luther” and “All the Stars” just before Lamar made his move toward the end zone.
This is not Lamar’s initial Super Bowl experience, as he performed at the 2022 Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show with a group of hip-hop and R&B icons. In a 15-minute showcase, he shared the stage with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, and Anderson Paak, creating a grand spectacle that connected different generations.
Lamar’s Super Bowl performance follows a year-long winning streak that began with his culture-defining verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That,” which came out last March. On the track, he challenged Drake and J. Cole for listing him among the “big three” of hip-hop, a label he rejected, which in turn ignited a feud of words among the three.
As J. Cole quickly stepped away from the conflict, Lamar and Drake engaged in a back-and-forth battle in the ensuing months, dropping progressively harsher diss tracks that made allegations of infidelity and pedophilia. It all culminated in May with the launch of Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” the Mustard-produced song that quickly turned into a West Coast anthem.
With the single track from his clash with Drake, Lamar emerged as the clear winner of the bout since “Not Like Us” was an instant sensation, shattering streaming records and achieving his first solo record to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Earlier this month, he celebrated his success at the Grammy Awards, winning both song and record of the year for “Not Like Us,” along with three additional victories in genre categories.
Following the continuous success of “Not Like Us,” Lamar unexpectedly dropped his newest album “GNX” in November after speculation that he had been diligently working on a new project. “GNX” ascended to the top of the Billboard 200, marking his fifth straight number one album, with all 12 tracks entering the Hot 100, including five in the top spots.
All of this prepares the way for Lamar’s forthcoming “Grand National Tour” with SZA, beginning on Apr. 19 in Minneapolis, MN. The journey will pause in Atlanta, East Rutherford, and Los Angeles before concluding at Northwest Stadium in Washington, DC on June 18.
