Kendrick Lamar took center stage at the Super Bowl halftime show with a performance that was equal parts electrifying and provocative. From the very start, he set the tone for what was to come.
“I want to play their favorite song… but you know they love to sue,” Lamar teased, a clear reference to his viral diss track Not Like Us, aimed at rap rival Drake. The song, which dominated streaming platforms with over a billion plays and won five Grammy Awards—including Song of the Year—was at the heart of a legal battle, with Drake filing a defamation lawsuit over its controversial lyrics.
A Performance That Kept Everyone Guessing
Lamar kept the audience on edge, hinting at the track multiple times before finally delivering the highly anticipated moment. However, he self-censored the most contentious lyric, refraining from calling Drake a “certified [expletive]” while still maintaining the song’s cutting energy.
One of the most striking moments came when Lamar, looking directly into the camera with a sly grin, called out Drake’s name. He also left intact the song’s clever wordplay: “Tryin’ to strike a chord and it’s probably A minor.” This single line echoed throughout the Caesars Superdome, proving that legal battles couldn’t overshadow the song’s cultural impact.
With over 120 million viewers tuning in to the game, Lamar’s performance was one of the most-watched Super Bowl halftime shows in history.
Unexpected Surprises: Serena Williams Joins the Stage
The spectacle reached another level with a surprise appearance by tennis legend Serena Williams, who performed the Crip Walk—an iconic Los Angeles dance move—while Lamar commanded the stage.
The performance also featured a dynamic visual setup, with Lamar performing on a giant noughts-and-crosses board, shifting between introspective deep cuts (performed inside the “X” spaces) and high-energy hits (marked by the “O” spaces).
Adding to the theatricality, legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as Uncle Sam, served as an emcee, playfully criticizing Lamar’s more introspective moments and celebrating his duets with R&B sensation SZA.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Jackson quipped after Lamar and SZA performed All The Stars, the hit track from Black Panther. “That’s what America wants—nice and calm.”
A Setlist Packed with Power
Lamar delivered an unforgettable lineup of songs, including:
- HUMBLE. and DNA. – explosive hits from his Pulitzer Prize-winning album DAMN.
- Squabble Up and Man At The Garden – adding fresh energy to the set.
- Euphoria – another track aimed at Drake.
While Lamar isn’t known for elaborate choreography, his natural swagger and perfectly timed movements with his dancers kept the energy high. Creative stage design further elevated the experience, especially during tension-filled tracks like Peekaboo.
SZA’s powerful vocals and fluid choreography brought an added layer of dynamism, balancing Lamar’s raw intensity with moments of elegance.
The Climactic Moment: ‘Not Like Us’ Takes Over the Stadium
The performance reached its peak when Lamar finally played Not Like Us. The entire stadium erupted as he took a victory lap with the West Coast anthem TV Off, proudly proclaiming, “Yeah, somebody gotta do it.”
Joining him on stage was producer Mustard, holding a football while rocking oversized jeans. In a dramatic final moment, Lamar pointed an imaginary remote at the camera and declared: “Game Over.”
A Statement Beyond the Music
Beyond the musical spectacle, Lamar’s performance was packed with symbolism and deeper messages. Fans noticed a surprising omission—his civil rights anthem Alright, which had become a rallying cry during the Black Lives Matter movement.
This was especially notable in a year when the NFL removed the phrase “End Racism” from the field’s end zones—a slogan that had been present since 2020. Many expected Lamar to make a more explicit statement, particularly with former President Donald Trump in attendance, but his set remained focused on the music—unless, of course, your name is Drake.
Final Thoughts
For hip-hop fans, Lamar’s Super Bowl show was a masterclass in performance, strategy, and cultural impact. Packed with hidden Easter eggs—like a snippet of the unreleased track Bodies—it was both a celebration of his artistry and a reminder of his dominance in the rap game.
Casual viewers may have been left puzzled by the intricacies of his lyrics, but for those who understood, this was one of the boldest halftime shows in Super Bowl history.
