Compton MC Kendrick Lamar’s record-breaking halftime show started controversy across media on whether it was just a performance. 

In the anticipated Super Bowl 59, many people were not only excited for the Eagles vs Chiefs game, but also 18 Grammy and Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance. 

In the lead up to his headline performance on February 9, 2025. Many of his fans had hoped for his hit song, “All the Stars” with RnB singer SZA or any of his old hits like “DNA,” “Luther,” “HUMBLE,” or “Rigamortis”. Though most people wanted to see the song that shook the rap industry, and had most of California bumping it in their cars or JBL speakers. 

Yes, I’m talking about “Not Like Us” from the Drake and Kendrick beef. This song did win him 5 Grammy, so it’d be kind of disappointing for fans if he didn’t perform it. Kendrick himself addressed the notoriety of the song midway through the performance, saying “You know I’d love to perform it, but you know they love to sue.” His taunt is assumed to be directed toward Drake.

In short, yes he did perform it, and the overall show was widely viewed, garnering a total of 133.5M viewers, making it the most-watched Super Bowl Halftime performance in history, (More than Michael Jackson who had 133.4M viewers).

Though, the songs performed weren’t the only thing that people showed awe in. Kendrick Lamar is seen as a genius lyricist and storyteller, and is known for his deep meanings and lessons in his songs. During and after the performance many viewers had started to notice and realize the other intentions from his performance, which sparked controversy across the media on whether it was just entertainment.

One controversial appearance included Compton raised and 23 Grand Slam/4 time Olympic winning athlete Serena Williams, who made a surprise appearance and crip walked on stage. Since “The C Walk” has its roots in gang culture, according to an article published by Yahoo, “it’s come to be adopted and revered by Black culture at-large and viewed as a specific nod to Black LA.”

Despite backlash, Williams was not bothered, writing on Instagram “I knew my winning dance after the @olympics would pay off one day.”Also sharing how ecstatic she was when saying, “That was the best 10 seconds of my life. Ten seconds!” The fact that she is also Drake’s ex just adds more to her overall appearance. SZA is also coincidentally Drake’s ex as well.

Speaking of Drake, commenters on TikTok feared that Drake would sue Lamar in some sort of way, due to lines in “Not Like Us” including controversial statements portraying Drake and his friends as pedophiles. 

At one point, Lamar performed the line, “Say Drake I hear you like’em young,” with a big grin looking triumphantly at the camera,  wearing a lowercase “a” chain. I wondered what Drake was thinking at that exact moment. Good thing Lamar didn’t perform “Meet the Grahams”, which dissed Drake’s whole bloodline. 

Since the performance, Drake hasn’t sued Lamar, but has sued Universal Music Group and Spotify for supposedly pushing the influence and message in, “Not Like Us.” Drake: icl ts pmo ngl.

Drake – Some $exy $ongs 4 U

When watching Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show you can clearly point out two sides and a deeper meaning within the performance. Lamar portraying himself as an artist,, and Samuel L. Jackson played Uncle Sam, portraying the people of higher power in America, who set the rules on what is acceptable. 

This can be seen when Kendrick performs “Squabble Up” which includes lyrics of fighting and acting crazy. Uncle Sam acts out and says, “No! No! No! No! No! Too Loud! Too Reckless! Too..ghetto.” In Sam’s perspective, Lamar was stepping out of line, and so Lamar changes style for something more clean.

After Lamar and SZA perform “All the Stars”, a hit from the “Black Panther” soundtrack, Uncle Sam is happier. “Yeahh, that’s what I’m talkin’ about! THAT’S what America wants, nice and calm,” 

During a performance of “HUMBLE”, Lamar had dancers dressed up in red, white and blue form a split American flag. People have suggested that the show felt like it was a protest, expressing how it was a message on how America is divided, strict and unfair, showing how America is not really “the land of the free.”  With visuals like that, you can definitely see that point of view.

 The overall opinion on the show was positive, with younger audiences including Gen Z and millennials liking it, as well as fans of hip hop who appreciated the message. On the other hand, people who weren’t fans of the genre didn’t appreciate what it was trying to say. 

Still, Kendrick Lamar’s performance did well, covering concerning topics in “America’s Game”, while still entertaining the audience.