Kendrick Lamar made history Sunday as the first solo hip-hop artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. His game-stopping performance, fueled with hate and steeped with political allegory, was the highlight of this year’s game.
New Orleans hosted this year's Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome stadium. The Philadelphia Eagles rose to victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, with a final score of 40-22. From the second Eagles touchdown, it was clear this year’s game would be a blowout.
Instead, the highlight of the annual football game was Kendrick Lamar.
Lamar, originally known as K.Dot, is a well-established rapper. The Compton, California native has been making music since 2003. He has since sold 7.5 million albums and 41 million digital singles units in the United States alone, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
Currently, he boasts over 86 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Lamar’s latest studio album, “GNX,” was released Nov. 22, 2024. Given his lengthy track record, it is no wonder why he was chosen to headline this year’s halftime show.
Lamar was announced as the 2025 Super Bowl headliner in early September 2024, following an eight-song back-and-forth battle with Canadian rapper Drake. Lamar released the final song in the feud, “Not Like Us,” May 4, 2024. The diss track surged to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 within two weeks.
On Feb. 2, he received five Grammy wins for “Not Like Us,” the very song that sent Drake scrambling to the courts. The diss track won five Grammy Awards: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance and Best Music Video.
Months of hype and anticipation led up to Lamar’s performance at the most-watched football game of the year — and the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper did not disappoint.
Over 83,000 audience members and over 100 millionviewers at home tuned in across a variety of streaming platforms for the show.
Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as Uncle Sam, opened the performance with a short monologue. “This is the great American game,” Jackson announced, greeting the audience to the show.
Lamar appeared on the field atop a Buick Grand National GNX — the very car his latest album was named after. He began with a snippet of an unreleased song, known by fans as “Bodies.” Dozens of backup dancers dressed in red, white and blue emerged from below the car.
“[The] revolution ‘bout to be televised, you picked the right time for the wrong guy,” Lamar announced before playing “Squabble Up,” the lead single of his newest album. With President Donald Trump in attendance, the message behind this sentiment was clear.
The Uncle Sam-dressed “Pulp Fiction“ (1994) actor interrupted “Squabble Up” by shouting “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto,” followed by telling Lamar to “tighten up.”
After the interruption, Lamar kicked off “Humble,” another Grammy-winning song. Patriotically clothed dancers formed the US flag around the singer. Lamar split the flag down the middle.
“DNA,” “Euphoria” and “Man at the Garden,” followed. “Peekaboo” was next, notable for its impressive choreography and camerawork.
SZA joined the stage to a roar of cheers and performed “Luther,” followed by “All the Stars.” The duo will co-headline the Grand National Tour later this year, performing across the U.S. and Europe.
Throughout the set, Lamar teased “Not Like Us” by playing its familiar four-beat lick and referencing its meaning.
“I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” Lamar told his background performers. This quip was most likely a reference to Drake taking the feud to court.
Finally, following the SZA performance, the audience got what it was waiting for. Lamar kicked off “Not Like Us” surrounded by a quartet dressed in white. The crowd's cheers could be heard over the broadcast.
The internet has found a few favorite moments from the performance, including Lamar grinning toward the camera while addressing Drake and the Superdome audience screaming “A-Minor.”
Serena Williams, tennis superstar and four-time Olympic gold medalist, also made a surprise appearance on the field. She happens to be Drake’s ex-girlfriend, another punch to the Canadian rapper’s ego.
During the “Not Like Us” chorus, Williams' crip walked along to the beat. The tennis player was previously criticized for performing this dance move at the 2012 Summer Olympics tennis tournament at Wimbledon.
The halftime show wrapped up with a performance of “TV Off,” with a surprise appearance by DJ Mustard. Lamar introduced the rapper by screaming “MUSTAAAARRRD,” which has become an internet meme since “TV Off” was released last year.
To end his performance, the stands lit up with “Game Over,” a message not just for Drake, but to fans that Lamar’s unrivaled performance was over.
Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance was one for the ages. His performance was stellar, with impressive background dancing and vocals bringing the set together.
It is no surprise the performance was bursting with political symbolism. Lamar’s music has always been political, and he is outspoken against America’s inherent racial injustice and systematic oppression.
Jackson’s role as Uncle Sam highlighted America’s stigma against rap and Black performers, as well as Lamar’s refusal to conform to standards set by white America. The division of the American flag was a not-so-subtle reference to the current political divide seen throughout the country.
Every moment of the performance could be interpreted in a million different ways, making it unparalleled to any halftime show before it. The performance also put the proverbial nail in the coffin of Lamar’s feud with Drake and transformed the song from a well-done diss track to a cultural movement.
Super Bowl LIX was a sweep for the Philadelphia Eagles and another major success for Lamar. One can safely say that both the Eagles and K.Dot will be celebrating their wins for the foreseeable future.
