Movies

Kendrick Lamar brings ‘Not Like Us’ to the Super Bowl halftime show

BBG News

On Sunday during Super Bowl LIX, Kendrick Lamar showcased his hometown of Compton to New Orleans by performing at halftime. This was a significant milestone in an impressive year for the rapper, who has risen even higher in mainstream popularity as hip-hop’s most intellectual artist.

37-year-old Lamar, the first solo rapper to grace pop music’s main stage, spent a significant portion of his 13-minute performance at the Caesars Superdome hinting about playing “Not Like Us,” a powerful track from his ongoing rivalry with Drake.

At one point in ‘Not Like Us,’ he mentioned wanting to sing his fans’ favorite song, but you understand that they’re quick to take legal action if they perceive anything offensive, especially since the lyrics of the song have been criticized for implying Drake as a pedophile.

As a dedicated cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at the extraordinary journey of “Not Like Us” over the past year. This track reigned supreme on Billboard’s Hot 100 charts for two whole weeks and has now surpassed a staggering billion streams on Spotify. Just last week, it clinched the Grammy Awards for both Record and Song of the Year – an impressive feat considering it’s only the second rap track to achieve this in the six-and-a-half-decade history of these prestigious awards.

However, amidst its resounding success, “Not Like Us” has also found itself embroiled in a federal lawsuit filed by Drake against Universal Music Group, the label we both call home. The lawsuit alleges defamation on the part of the record company. Quite an intriguing twist to such a triumphant tale!

Indeed, I was thrilled to witness Lamar perform “Not Like Us” on Sunday, and it was an added joy to see a fellow Compton native like Serena Williams dance along on the field during the performance. However, during the song’s most renowned line, he allowed the crowd to fill in the word “pedophiles,” giving them the opportunity to express themselves.

Kicking off the show, Lamar made his entrance under the guidance of actor Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam, perched atop a Buick Grand National – the car that inspired the title of his newest album. He serenaded the audience with tracks like “Squabble Up,” “Humble,” “DNA,” “Euphoria,” “Man at the Garden” and “Peekaboo.” Later, he invited singer SZA to join him on stage for performances of “Luther” and “All the Stars.” This year, they will be touring stadiums together.

Following “Not Like Us,” I closed the episode with “TV Off.” In that moment, I was accompanied onstage by none other than the talented producer, Mustard.

On Sunday, Lamar didn’t make his Super Bowl debut for the first time. In fact, he had previously performed at the NFL-Roc Nation event in 2022, which took place at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium and was headlined by Dr. Dre. This star-studded hip-hop spectacle also included Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige. The performances were part of a multi-year agreement between the NFL and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation company, an alliance that garnered attention when it was announced in 2019 due to Jay-Z’s past criticism of the league over its treatment of Colin Kaepernick following his protests during the national anthem against police brutality towards Black people.

In a 2018 rap, Jay-Z expressed his refusal for the Super Bowl performance by saying, “I turned down the offer, it’s not about needing you, you should need me.

Roc Nation has garnered significant acclaim for their management of the NFL’s high-profile musical performances at halftime. Their work has been lauded for its impressive production quality as well as the diversity they’ve brought to the talent lineup. Lamar’s performance was the sixth consecutive one headlined by a performer of color, following Usher in 2024, Rihanna in 2023, Dr. Dre in 2022, The Weeknd in 2021, and the duo of Shakira and Jennifer Lopez in 2020.

Before kickoff Sunday, Jon Batiste sang a jazzy rendition of the national anthem for which he accompanied himself on piano, and the duo of Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle performed a cheerful “America the Beautiful.” Lady Gaga also appeared in a pre-recorded segment that had her playing her song “Hold My Hand” on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street — the site of a terrorist attack on New Year’s Day that killed 14 people — while surrounded by police officers, firefighters, soldiers and other first responders.

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2025-02-10 05:31

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