Kendrick Lamar Shakes Up the Super Bowl with His Bold Diss Track Performance
Kendrick Lamar commanded one of the world’s most high-profile stages Sunday as the Super Bowl’s halftime headliner, yet another feather in the cap of the rap laureate who has ascended to new heights of pop stardom.
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Lamar played a number of his hits while playing a question for his audience: would he play "Not Like Us," the scathing diss song that was the decisive blow in his eyebrow-raising rap spat with Drake?
In one word? Indeed.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning Lamar, the first solo rap artist to host a halftime show at the Super Bowl, where the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs this year, uses his punchlines to accuse Drake of paedophilia in the wildly contagious song, which was published in May 2024.
At one point during the 13-minute performance, he declared, "I want to perform their favorite song," the Grammy-winning song's catchy, instantly identifiable bass line echoing, "but you know they love to sue."
In one word? Indeed.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning Lamar, the first solo rap artist to host a halftime show at the Super Bowl, where the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs this year, uses his punchlines to accuse Drake of paedophilia in the wildly contagious song, which was published in May 2024.
At one point during the 13-minute performance, he declared, "I want to perform their favorite song," the Grammy-winning song's catchy, instantly identifiable bass line echoing, "but you know they love to sue."
On February 9, 2025, US rapper Kendrick Lamar performs during the Apple Music Halftime Show of the Chiefs vs. Eagles Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Image by AFP/TIMOTHY A. CLARY)
He performed songs from his most recent album, "GNX," which was named after the Buick Grand National, as well as his favorites like "Humble" and "DNA." He started the set with "Squabble Up" before driving the audience into a frenzy with a twisting version of "Not Like Us."
In front of tens of thousands of people and an estimated 100 million viewers, Lamar rapped "tryna strike a chord and it's probably A-minoooooor" on live television. He omitted the obscenity and the word "pedophile," but he didn't stop short of the money line.
He performed songs from his most recent album, "GNX," which was named after the Buick Grand National, as well as his favorites like "Humble" and "DNA." He started the set with "Squabble Up" before driving the audience into a frenzy with a twisting version of "Not Like Us."
In front of tens of thousands of people and an estimated 100 million viewers, Lamar rapped "tryna strike a chord and it's probably A-minoooooor" on live television. He omitted the obscenity and the word "pedophile," but he didn't stop short of the money line.
Lamar looked directly into the camera as he sang the line, "say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young." He was dancing on the Canadian rapper's rap-battle grave and was wearing a chain with a huge pendant that was a lower-case "a."
More legal litigation is almost certain to follow the performance: The current highest-grossing rapper, Drake, has sued his own record label, Universal Music Group, which also represents Kendrick Lamar, in a shocking slander lawsuit.
Although Drake is suing UMG rather than Lamar directly, there were concerns before the Super Bowl game about whether playing the song on one of the biggest stages in the world would lead to more legal action.
More legal litigation is almost certain to follow the performance: The current highest-grossing rapper, Drake, has sued his own record label, Universal Music Group, which also represents Kendrick Lamar, in a shocking slander lawsuit.
Although Drake is suing UMG rather than Lamar directly, there were concerns before the Super Bowl game about whether playing the song on one of the biggest stages in the world would lead to more legal action.
– Uncle Sam, surprise protestor –
Although "Not Like Us" took center stage, the concert also honored the 37-year-old rapper's vast body of work.
The musician, who was born in Compton, California, is widely recognized as one of the most influential authors in modern music. His verses address systemic issues like poverty and racial relations while also providing personal insights.
Many have referred to him as the voice of a generation because of his moving lyrics, which served as the soundtrack for the Black Lives Matter movement.
On the Super Bowl stage, where actor Samuel L. Jackson played Uncle Sam, a symbol of American patriotism who has often been featured in military propaganda, Lamar brought some of that enthusiasm.
The musician, who was born in Compton, California, is widely recognized as one of the most influential authors in modern music. His verses address systemic issues like poverty and racial relations while also providing personal insights.
Many have referred to him as the voice of a generation because of his moving lyrics, which served as the soundtrack for the Black Lives Matter movement.
On the Super Bowl stage, where actor Samuel L. Jackson played Uncle Sam, a symbol of American patriotism who has often been featured in military propaganda, Lamar brought some of that enthusiasm.
Lamar chose the opportunity to give a more symbolic critique of the marginalized treatment of both hip hop and Black Americans in general, rather than directly addressing Donald Trump, who attended the game weeks into his second attempt at the president.
"No, no, no, noooo." Too ghetto, too loud, too careless. Do you actually understand how to play the game, Mr. Lamar? At one point, the Jackson costume mockingly said, "Then tighten up."
At one point, groups of dancers wearing red, white, and blue came together to make an American flag.
Lamar welcomed his tour partner, SZA, onstage before to his last performance of "Not Like Us," which just a week ago earned him five Grammys.
"No, no, no, noooo." Too ghetto, too loud, too careless. Do you actually understand how to play the game, Mr. Lamar? At one point, the Jackson costume mockingly said, "Then tighten up."
At one point, groups of dancers wearing red, white, and blue came together to make an American flag.
Lamar welcomed his tour partner, SZA, onstage before to his last performance of "Not Like Us," which just a week ago earned him five Grammys.
They sang their smash song from the "Black Panther" album, "All the Stars," as part of their duet.
The tennis legend Serena Williams, who is also from Compton and is believed to have dated Drake for a short time, made another noteworthy appearance.
During the performance, a protester also waved a flag in favor of Gaza and Sudan, punctuating the piece. Production company Roc Nation told AFP that this moment was not practiced.
The NFL stated that the protester was a member of the 400-man field cast and that "the individual hid the item on his person and unveiled it late in the show."
The tennis legend Serena Williams, who is also from Compton and is believed to have dated Drake for a short time, made another noteworthy appearance.
During the performance, a protester also waved a flag in favor of Gaza and Sudan, punctuating the piece. Production company Roc Nation told AFP that this moment was not practiced.
The NFL stated that the protester was a member of the 400-man field cast and that "the individual hid the item on his person and unveiled it late in the show."
In AFP images, the protester was seen standing on top of Lamar's showpiece vehicle, brandishing the flag that bore the words "Gaza" and "Sudan" along with pictures of a heart and a fist.
After being tackled, security escorted the individual out.
After being tackled, security escorted the individual out.
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