Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Performance Seemed to Clinch Victory in Rap Feud with Drake
Rapper Kendrick Lamar appeared to settle the score in his highly publicized rap battle with Canadian rapper Drake during Sunday night’s Super Bowl halftime show. The performance, which included a large “A” worn on a chain around his neck and a nod to his lyrics that referenced pedophilia, seemed to aim directly at Drake.
Lamar took aim at Drake in his song “Not Like Us,” released last year after the rapper won five Grammys for the same track, including song of the year, record of the year, and music video of the year. The song’s release sparked a lawsuit from Drake against UMG Recordings, Inc., Lamar’s label.
During his performance, Lamar rapped “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles” before referencing A Minor, which appeared to be an indirect jab at Drake without directly stating the word “pedophile.” The crowd responded with cheers, appearing to echo the lyrics.
The performance also included a subtle shade towards tennis star Serena Williams, who has been linked to Drake in the past. When Lamar rapped about not speaking on Serena, the camera cut to Williams doing a Crip walking dance style that originated in Harlem but was popularized in Compton.
Williams previously referenced the issue when hosting the ESPY Awards last year and fired back at Lamar’s comments. The two seemingly put their differences aside during the performance, with Williams even celebrating by dancing to “Not Like Us.”
The victory lap may not have been complete for Lamar, as he has won a high-profile lawsuit against UMG Recordings over issues of promotion and publishing of his music.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/10/entertainment/drake-serena-williams-kendrick-lamar/index.html