The Biggest Moments From Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

On Sunday night during the Super Bowl, it was Kendrick Lamar’s turn to shine, as he broke new ground by being the first solo hip-hop performer to take center stage at the halftime show.

22-time Grammy Award-winning rap artist, also honored with a Pulitzer Prize, made his entrance following an introduction by Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam. The show featured guest appearances by SZA, Serena Williams, and DJ Mustard during the performance.

Accompanied by dancers wearing tracksuits in red, white, and blue, Lamar took to the stage at the Grammys on Feb. 2nd, where he performed a medley of his popular songs such as “Squabble Up,” “HUMBLE,” and “DNA.” Currently riding a wave of success, this artist’s career has reached new heights. Just a few months prior, his song “Not Like Us” from the 2024 album, which was targeted at Drake, set a record by garnering the most awards in Recording Academy history. Interestingly, there had been speculation about whether Lamar would perform “Not Like Us,” given that it is at the center of a lawsuit filed against Universal Music Group by Drake late last year. However, during the halftime show, he did choose to play this controversial track, sparking cheers from the audience.

At a press conference earlier in the week, when asked about his Super Bowl halftime show, he highlighted that it would focus on “storytelling,” a tribute to all the creative spirit within him, and how there’s even more to come. He went on to say, “This is who I am – Kendrick Lamar, aged 37 – and I still feel like I’m growing, like I’m still embarking on a journey.

Here are the highlights from Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl 59 halftime show.

What songs did Kendrick perform? 

Kendrick Lamar commenced his performance seeming to be in a 1987 Buick Grand National GNX, symbolizing the title of the GNX. The New York Times reported that his show started with a snippet from an unpublished track destined for the album. Additionally, he paid tribute to Gil Scott-Heron’s 1971 song “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” by reinterpreting it as “The revolution is about to be broadcast on TV.

He subsequently performed songs such as “Squabble Up,” “HUMBLE,” “DNA,” “euphoria,” “man at the garden,” “peekaboo,” “Luther” and “All the Stars” alongside SZA, as well as “Not Like Us” and “TV OFF” with Mustard.

Who were Kendrick’s guests? 

Prior to the Super Bowl, it was revealed that SZA would be performing with Kendrick Lamar during his set. They performed their hit song “luther,” which is the third single from GNX, and also “All the Stars” from the Black Panther soundtrack. Additionally, Kendrick Lamar invited Mustard to join him on stage, who has produced tracks like “Not Like Us” among other songs by Kendrick.

Among his standout visitors, it wasn’t a musician who stole the show. Instead, Samuel L. Jackson, disguised as Uncle Sam, hosted the event, introducing the music and delivering witty commentary in between performances.

Towards the end of the show, Serena Williams appeared onstage alongside Lamar, dancing and performing the crip-walk to “Not Like Us.” Both Williams and Lamar hail from Compton, California, a place that has played a significant role in Lamar’s music and career. It is said that she had a relationship with Drake around 2011 as well.

What did Kendrick and guests wear? 

Kendrick donned a jersey in red, white, and blue, along with a necklace bearing a small “a”. This led some internet spectators to guess that this was connected to the “a minor” lyric from one of his songs. Surrounding him were dancers attired in matching red, white, and blue tracksuits who arranged themselves into an American flag formation as he performed his popular song “HUMBLE”. Some of these dancers sported two-tone wigs in shades of red and blue.

Kendrick’s flared jeans also attracted a lot of attention online.

Did Kendrick reference Drake?

During the show, Kendrick Lamar asked four other artists onstage, “I’d like to perform their favorite song, but you know they’re prone to lawsuits.” The crowd then started shouting “a-minorrr,” a nod to a joke in the lyrics of “Not Like Us,” where there are claims that Drake had improper relationships with underage girls. However, Drake has refuted these allegations.

At the end of his show, “Game Over” was displayed by the audience behind Kendrick, implying a message to Drake, as there was still more time left in their hypothetical football game.

A spectator crashed the show

It’s said that an individual was allegedly spotted waving a Palestinian flag on the stage during Lamar’s live performance, and later removed from the scene by security personnel.

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2025-02-10 07:06