Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl Halftime Show: A Masterclass in Petty, Patriotism, and Pure CHAOS
Last night, Kendrick Lamar didn’t just headline the Super Bowl LIX halftime show—he weaponized it. This wasn’t a performance; it was a 13-minute lyrical grenade aimed at Drake’s career, a Compton-flavored revolution, and the most iconic middle finger to the NFL’s paycheck policy. Buckle up, because we’re dissecting every messy, glorious detail.
Drake Beef? More Like Drake ROAST
Kendrick didn’t just mention Drake—he turned 100 million viewers into a jury for Aubrey Graham’s alleged crimes. The pièce de résistance? “Not Like Us,” the Grammy-sweeping diss track where K-Dot drops the nuclear line: “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophile”.
But here’s the twist: Kendrick CENSORED the “pedo” jab live, smirking as the crowd screamed it for him. Genius? Diabolical? Yes. He even teased, “I wanna perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue”—a direct clapback at Drake’s defamation lawsuit against their shared label, Universal Music Group.
Social media erupted:
- “Someone check on Drake’s wifi—he’s DEFINITELY in a bathtub rn”
- “Kendrick made the Super Bowl halftime show Drake’s personal hell. Satan’s taking NOTES”
Serena Williams: The Ultimate Side Chick Energy
Oh, you thought bringing out SZA was the gag? SERENA WILLIAMS—Drake’s ex-flame and Compton royalty—strolled onstage to CRIP WALK during “Not Like Us.” Let that marinate.
This wasn’t just shade—it was a generational flex. Serena, who Drake once simped over in “Too Good” and dissed her husband in “Middle of the Ocean”, was now twerking for Kendrick’s victory lap. Fans lost it:
- “Kendrick got Serena doing the Crip Walk? That’s not a diss—that’s a WAR CRIME”
- “Drake’s lawyers drafting a lawsuit against tennis now”
Patriotic? Or Propaganda?
Kendrick’s set dripped in red, white, and blue—but this wasn’t your tío’s Fourth of July BBQ. He stood atop a 1987 Buick Grand National GNX (his album’s namesake), while dancers morphed into a human American flag 13. Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as Uncle Sam, narrated the chaos like the hype-man America doesn’t deserve.
But wait—a dancer flashed a Palestinian flag mid-performance! While not confirmed in official reports, fans swear they spotted it—a silent nod to global resistance. Kendrick’s revolution isn’t just hip-hop; it’s intersectional anarchy .
Lyrical Landmines: A Minor Chords & Colonizers
Every bar was a double entendre. When Kendrick rapped “Tryna strike a chord, and it’s probably A minor”, the crowd roared. “A minor” = the musical key AND a dig at Drake’s alleged… preferences.
Then came “Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young”—a line so vicious, even Taylor Swift (watching from the Chiefs’ suite) muttered “Damn…” into her vodka soda 🍸.
But the real kicker? Kendrick framing Drake as a “colonizer” in “Not Like Us,” accusing him of cultural theft. The message? Hip-hop’s throne belongs to Compton, not Toronto.
SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, & Zero Dollars
Let’s talk collabs:
- SZA slinked onstage in red leather, harmonizing on “All the Stars”—a Black Panther anthem that had Twitter thirsting “SZA IS the motherland” .
- Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam? Iconic. He didn’t say “Mtherfcker” once, but we felt it in our souls.
And here’s the tea: Kendrick got $0 for this show. The NFL doesn’t pay halftime acts—but the exposure? Priceless. His GNX album sales spiked 400% post-show .
Ratings? Let’s Just Say Drake Cried Into Them
The halftime show drew 123.7 million viewers—the highest since Rihanna’s pregnancy reveal. Twitter’s trending page looked like a Kendrick stan’s burner account:
- “Kendrick Lamar”
- “Drake delete your account”
- “Serena Williams crip walk tutorial WHEN”
Kendrick Won the Super Bowl—and the Culture
This wasn’t a concert. It was a cultural exorcism. Kendrick Lamar didn’t just perform—he weaponized every second to bury Drake, uplift Compton, and spark a revolution. And he did it for FREE.
So, Drake? Pack your Anita Max Wynn tour merch and pray. Kendrick’s not just coming for your streams—he’s coming for your legacy.
Mic drop.
