Kendrick Lamar had the chance to perform at the Superbowl halftime event and gave the nation’s 127.7 million live viewers a show to remember. The 22-time Grammy-winning artist provided many messages besides what was presented at face-value in his 13-minute performance. Special guest appearances, such as Samuel L. Jackson, SZA, and Serena Williams, joined Kendrick alongside the stage to boost the already-exciting performance
Just a week before the Super Bowl, the highly-anticipated Grammy Awards were held, creating a wave of excitement in the music industry. Lamar left the event with an impressive total of five Grammys. Less than a week later, he was set to perform at the Super Bowl for the entire nation to see.
The songs performed follow in order: “GNX (Teaser)”, “Squabble Up”, “Humble.”, “DNA”, “Euphoria”, “Man at the Garden”, “Peekaboo”, “Luther”, “All the Stars”, “Not Like Us” and “TV Off.”
The performance began with Lamar and his backup dancers emerging from a Buick GNX and stepping onto a stage that featured a design inspired by PlayStation shape icons. Samuel L. Jackson made an appearance in a recurring role as Uncle Sam, offering satirical insights and guidance to Lamar between tracks to highlight the cultural divide in the United States.
Lamar made it very clear when he called out Drake and teased the song “Not Like Us” multiple times during his performance. He also featured “Not Like Us” at the Grammys, where the audience shouted “A Minor!” on both occasions.
Lamar performed “Luther” and “All the Stars” alongside SZA before finally playing “Not Like Us.” Professional tennis star Serena Williams, who comes from Lamar’s hometown of Compton, made a brief appearance as a dancer crip-walking during “Not Like Us.” The performance concluded with “TV Off,” featuring Mustard as a special guest, and ultimately, Lamar “turned the TV off,” displaying the phrase “GAME OVER” through the lights in the crowd.
It is fair to assert that Lamar is, without a doubt, one of the pettiest men in the world. In light of Kendrick v. Drake, not only did Lamar manage to come out on top of the rap battle, but he also released a new album that resonated deeply with fans and critics alike. Not only did Kendrick win five Grammys for a direct diss track at Drake and permanently alter Drake’s image, but he also performed at the Super Bowl and called him a pedophile in front of the whole nation.
The Super Bowl LIX halftime show is a show to forever remember and is without a doubt an once-in-a-lifetime performance. This performance will be remarked as a classic in due time and is sure to be a fond memory to look upon. Everyone except Drake.
