Kendrick Lamar‘s Super Bowl halftime show was a masterclass in symbolism, storytelling, and shade-throwing. Fresh off his five Grammy wins for “Not Like Us”, the Compton rapper delivered a performance that was equal parts political commentary and Drake diss track. Truly, I aspire to be half the hater that he is.
Let’s break down the layers of meaning packed into those iconic 13 minutes.
The American flag
The show opened with dancers dressed in red, white, and blue, forming the shape of the American flag. This seemingly patriotic display carried a deeper meaning. The all-black arrangement of dancers could be interpreted as a comment on how the US was built on African American labour. The use of red and blue bandanas could also be seen as a nod to the colours of the Bloods and Crips gangs, which Lamar ‘united’ on-stage at his The Pop Out concert in 2024.
The GNX
Kicking off the show, Lamar stood atop a black Buick GNX, recreating his latest album cover. But this wasn’t just about looking cool – the car’s got a backstory. It’s the same model his old man used to bring baby Kendrick home from the hospital.
Uncle Sam Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson‘s appearance as Uncle Sam was one of the most powerful parts of the whole performance in my opinion. . Dressed in a classic patriotic outfit, Jackson opened the performance by saying, “Salutations! It’s your Uncle Sam, and this is the great American game!” But his role wasn’t just to introduce Lamar – it was to challenge him.
Throughout the show, Jackson’s Uncle Sam acted as a foil to Lamar, questioning his choices and critiquing his performance. At one point, after Lamar performed “Squabble Up,” Jackson exclaimed, “Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto,” followed by the pointed question, “Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game?”
Rather than bowing to Uncle Sam’s demands for a more palatable performance, Lamar doubled down on his authenticity. He transitioned directly into “HUMBLE.” which could be interpreted as a critique of how America polices Black voices. Does America just want black people to “sit down” and “be humble”?
Screenrant writes, “Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance is a self-reflective examination of his role as an artist on an entertainer’s stage, with Samuel L. Jackson’s Uncle Sam there to represent the prodding force of the American media.”
PlayStation symbolism
The stage design mimicked a PlayStation controller, with dancers forming the shapes of the iconic buttons across the field. This unexpected element added another layer of intrigue to the performance. Some interpreted it as a comment on the game-like nature of American politics, where power players manipulate the system like a video game.
Others saw it as a potential dig at Drake’s Ovo Sound label’s recent deal with Sony Music, owners of PlayStation. By incorporating gaming imagery, Lamar might have been subtly suggesting that he’s playing the music industry game at a higher level than his rivals.
The show’s art director, Shelley Rogers, told WIRED, “I think the was symbolic, his way to reach young people. A lot of it is showing his journey, traveling through the American dream.”
Serena’s Crip Walk
Tennis GOAT Serena Williams made a surprise appearance, busting out the crip walk during “Not Like Us”. This wasn’t just a random dance move – it was a middle finger to the critics who slammed her for doing it after her 2012 Olympic gold medal win at Wimbledon.
Let’s not forget Williams’ dating history with Drake which added another dig to the ongoing rap feud. Lamar’s lyric warning Drake not to “speak on Serena” took on new meaning with her presence.
This man’s feud with Drake is truly outrageous and incredibly addicting, if you want a full recap watch here:
The ‘a’ chain
Throughout the show, Lamar wore a necklace with a lowercase “a”. While it could be a nod to his company pgLang, many interpreted it as a reference to the controversial “A minor” line from “Not Like Us”.
Game over:
The show wrapped with drones spelling out ‘GAME OVER’ above the audience. But who was Kendrick calling game over on? The current state of American politics? Or was this the final mic drop in his beef with Drake? Maybe it’s both. Lamar is certainly not one to waste a good double meaning.
In just 13 minutes, Kendrick Lamar gave us a performance that was part political manifesto, part diss track, and entirely iconic. He managed to critique American society while simultaneously putting Drake on blast and proving that being a hater can be incredibly powerful.
Lead image: Getty Images
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