AP – “Hello!”, said actor Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as Uncle Sam as he introduced Kendrick Lamar at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans for the Super Bowl 2025 halftime show, a bold and commanding creative choice by the first solo headlining artist in hip hop on this storied stage.
Just to dispel any doubt about the Pulitzer Prize–winning rapper’s ability to deliver a show.
During nearly 13 minutes of the Apple Music and Roc Nation–sponsored halftime performance, Lamar dominated the field. He kicked things off with “GNX” and then moved into “Squabble Up.”
Dancers clad in red, white, and blue joined Lamar. But even with their patriotic colors, they were labeled “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto” by Uncle Sam on Jackson’s side, who reminded Lamar to “play.” The rapper pressed forward with “Humble.,” “DNA.,” “Euphoria” and “Man at the Garden.”
Lamar launched into “peakboo,” and then teased a performance of “Not Like Us.”
“I want to perform your favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” Lamar told the dancers behind him, referencing Drake.
It’s hard to overstate the ubiquity of “Not Like Us,” with its one billion streams on Spotify; the hit is an anthem for Los Angeles, a rallying cry for the community and against cultural vultures, a diss track that proved a win for Lamar in his highly publicized feud with Drake. It is also the track that won the Grammy for Song of the Year and Record of the Year last weekend.
Before the Super Bowl, the big question was whether Lamar would perform the song for fans and critics alike. Lamar has directed pointed accusations at Drake in his lyrics; Drake sued Universal Music Group for defamation as a result of the song’s popularity. Would a Super Bowl performance complicate things even more?
Little was known about Lamar’s halftime show beforehand. He promised to keep his storytelling-driven approach at the forefront, and SZA had been announced as a guest artist. They are frequent collaborators; she most recently appeared on his latest album “GNX” and contributed to a couple of tracks, including “Gloria” and “Luther,” which also features sampled vocals from Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn via “If This World Were Mine.” The duo will also embark on a 19-city North American tour this spring and summer.
SZA appeared on the stage for “Luther” and “All the Stars.”
“That’s what America wants—pleasant and calm,” Jackson said.
Then Lamar delivered “Not Like Us,” with the word “pedophiles” removed from its lyrics, ending with “TV off.”
Producer Mustard and tennis superstar Serena Williams did the crip walk to the rhythm of “Not Like Us” alongside Lamar.
Is there a better advertisement than the biggest stage in United States sports? This appears to be another step in Lamar’s return to the top.
Although the rapper isn’t unfamiliar with the Super Bowl stage, having previously performed at the NFL championship game in 2022 as a guest artist, alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Eminem.
“Rap remains the most impactful genre to this day,” Lamar said in a September statement when he was first announced as the 2025 halftime artist. “And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They chose the right one.”
There was no doubt about it, that is exactly what happened Sunday night.
