Kendrick Lamar took a bold step by using his platform to deliver a political message during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, rather than performing his contentious song “Not Like Us” against Drake. The five-time Grammy-winning rapper addressed the elephant in the room with a callout of Drake and later introduced SZA to perform the more melodic song “All the Stars.” Instead, Lamar performed hits from his recent album GNX, including “GNX” and “Squabble Up,” alongside background dancers dressed in red, white, and blue. During the performance, Lamar also called out anti-Blackness and racism through defiance, protesting against the ongoing issues in America.
The rapper’s move was seen as a clever balancing act, acknowledging the hurt feelings of Drake without compromising his message. Lamar’s performance included a dramatic twist, with tennis legend Serena Williams joining him for C-walking during “Certified lover boy,” and dancers holding flags depicting children pointing to the lowercase letter ‘a’ from his lyric “A minor.” The set list was also interpreted as containing subtle disses towards Drake.
Kendrick Lamar’s decision to prioritize his message over a potential feud with Drake reflects his understanding of American culture being deeply rooted in Black culture and hip-hop. By embracing this connection, he left it all out on the playing field, taking a stand against anti-Blackness and racism. The performance was met with applause from fans, who appreciated Lamar’s unapologetic approach to addressing these pressing issues.
Source: https://slate.com/culture/2025/02/kendrick-lamar-halftime-super-bowl-drake-2025.html