Kendrick Lamar takes the stage at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, right between the second and third quarter of the game.
His performance became the most hot topic discussion, as he incorporated political, cultural, and artistic symbolism with some of his biggest hits to create a message to viewers this past Sunday.
The performance begins with Lamar standing on an 1987 Grand National GNX, which shares the same title of his most recent album, GNX.
This album highlights his early life and upbringing in his hometown, Compton, and the culture that shaped him to the kind of artist he is today.
Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as Uncle Sam, appears intermittently during the performance. Uncle Sam is the embodiment of America, who is commonly depicted as a white man representing American patriotism and pride through political cartoons and propaganda
during the 19th century.
Jackson playing Uncle Sam highlights the “Great American Game” and its double meaning, being the Superbowl game itself and also the struggles of being black in America.
During the rapper’s performance of one of his hit songs “HUMBLE”, the backup dancers form an American flag, at one point being split into two.
This intentionally symbolizes how America has always preached about being one nation, but marginalized groups are constantly being purposely excluded and forced to face the realities of discrimination.
Alongside the political symbolism– he also makes room to diss Canadian rapper Drake. The tension between Drake and Lamar has been well-known within the entertainment industry, shifting from respectful peers to rivals.
Lamar performs his recent biggest hit, “Not Like Us,” which takes jabs at Drake as an artist and his personal reputation throughout the song. At one point in the performance, the singer looks directly at the camera and smiles while saying “Say, Drake?”, dissing him out once more for his lack of human decency throughout the years towards the industry and other individuals.
Viewers have also noticed that Lamar wearing a chain with an lowercase “a” is a reference to the lyric “a minor” in “Not Like Us”, calling out Drake for his behavior towards young underaged women in the past.
Serena Williams also made a surprise appearance during the performance. For many, it was a big deal since Serena appearing during the show highlighted her support for Kendrick’s side of the feud, even after dating Drake momentarily around 2011 to 2015.
Williams’ “crip walking” during “Not Like Us” emphasizes the embracement of black identity and culture even more.
Right at the end of Lamar’s performance, the stadium lights form the words ‘GAME OVER’, leaving the Superbowl stage with a bold and strong statement that demands change within America.
Not only did the 37-year old rapper make history by being the most watched Super Bowl Halftime Show of all time, but he also used his platform to call out America as a whole for its lack of respect towards Black culture.
It also functions as a letter to his community in embracing their identity despite the centuries of oppression they have endured, while at the same time urging for justice and equality.
