At New Orleans’ Caesar Superdome for the Super Bowl halftime show, Kendrick Lamar, AKA MC K. Dot, with his special guests Samuel L. Jackson, SZA, and Serena Williams, gave a historic performance at the 2025 Super Bowl.
Very little was known about Lamar’s performance ahead of time, aside from his promises to keep his storytelling at the forefront of it all, and having SZA as a guest performer. Back in September, when Lamar was announced to be this year’s star of the halftime show, he made multiple statements following the announcement.
“Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.”
And as promised this is exactly what he did, as he showcased his great lyricism once more in his lineup.
Samuel L. Jackson played the role of “Uncle Sam” and introduced Kendrick to the stage, saying that.
“This is the great American game!”
The stage itself was that of a video game console, and to start it off, Kendrick began with a snippet of an untitled teaser in his new album, GNX.
“Twenty years in. Still got that pen dedicated to bare hard truth… I’m carryin’ heavier hearts right now. I can power lift with Olympians too. I’m carryin’ various darts right now.”
With the case of Sean “Diddy” Combs, the dark truths of Hollywood and the music industry were further exposed. As it is known that artists were black mailed into silence, and that there is much more to their contracts than just a simple sign to a label.
The dancers that emerged from the Buick GNX car were separated into three groups: red, white, and blue. At first staying in their individual groups.
“The revolution is about to be televised; you picked the right time, but the wrong guy.”
And the song changed to ‘Squabble up.’Now the definition of, squabble up means to engage in a petty quarrel with someone else. If we take this meaning and the symbolism of the dancers being divided into their different groups, we may interpret this as the current socio-political scene in America right now.
“Pipe down, young, these are some whole other politics.”
Kendricks songs have always had substance to them, it just requires an attentive ear to watch for these lyrics. The dancers then joined Lamar on the steps. But even in their patriotic colors, Uncle Sam was not amused.
“No,no,no,no.Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto. Mr.Lamar, do you really know how to play the game? Then tighten up”
Lamar then launched into ‘Humble,’ having the dancers all come together to form the American Flag. As known, being humble is a means of being modest of one’s own importance.
“Tell ’em, be humble (hol’ up). Sit down (hol’ up, hol’ up, lil’, hol’ up).”
For boasting produces pride, and nothing good has ever really come up when a person exalts themselves to the highest of degrees.
See within rap music, or poetry, you have three main types. One is a narrative, made to tell a story. The other is more showboating, or battle rapping, when you lift yourself up. And the last is bringing to light social or world issues and to raise awareness. Of course all of these can be blended together, and within artists like Lamar you see it quite often.
He then jumped into ‘DNA’.
“Quarter piece, got war, and peace inside my DNA. I got power, poison, pain, and joy inside my DNA.”
Bringing to light the fact that humans are flawed, that we are not perfect, and therefore all have these said flaws in common. But it is these flaws, this bad blood if you will that help fuel conflicts and selfish ambitions that run the world. And it is rap music that has direct links to these things, in fact it encourages them. Which pairs perfectly with his next song ‘Euphoria’.
“I ain’t thinkin’ about no reaper…, I’m reapin’ what I sow, okay.”
Words hold power. Despite what some may say or like to believe, what you say reveals the content of your character. And if you say something enough, you will eventually begin to think that way as well. Therefore indeed, repairing what you choose to sow. Be that good, or bad.
We see the song switch again to ‘man at the garden’. Dancers in white with gold grills are now behind Lamar harmonizing together on the track.
“Everything Heaven allowed us..I deserve it all.”
This song is about deservingness and self-reflection, as it keeps repeating this one line. The title of the song itself is symbolic of the Bible, referring specifically to the Garden of Eden, where man was at the pinnacle of his existence. It is here we see even more narrative from Lamar as he touches on his life per his sacrifices and endurance to get to where he is now. While simultaneously urging the listener to reflect the same way to consider what they’ve done in the pursuit of their own success.
“Dangerously, nothin’ changed with me, still got pain in me. Flip a coin, want the shameless me or the famous me? How annoying..”
The shameless him, of course meaning his authentic self, and the famous him, the one that the industry or Uncle Sam wants him to play. To which he is less than pleased.
“Ah, see you brought your homeboys with you. The old cultured cheat code. Score keeper, deduct one life”
Throughout America’s history, every time a Black man stands up for their rights and the rights of others, they’re shot down. Every time they challenge the system and speak truth within the next couple of moments, they’re gone. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, artists like Tupac, or Michael Jackson. Unity is our most powerful weapon.
Which is exactly why it’s so hard to achieve. And given Sam’s last words here, it’s an indicator that in order to keep us in line, they will make an example of others to do so.
Lamar then launched into ‘Peekaboo’ with a recurring refrain.
“What they talkin about? They ain’t talkin about nothin.”
A dismissal of those who lack credibility and their fake bravado. Going perfectly well with his teaser of ‘Not like us’. As he continues to not play the game that Sam wants him to play. Until Lamar goes into ‘Luther’ and ‘All the Stars’ with his guest artist SZA.
Both songs discuss love, and how it looks ideally versus its reality. The overall vibe of them is calm, and smooth. A great shift from the earlier songs Lamar had performed, and though his message is still there it is not as explicitly said or against the industry or the government. Regardless, we now see Uncle Sam greatly pleased.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about! That’s what America wants. Nice, and calm. You’re almost there, don’t mess this-”
