On Feb. 9, the Super Bowl halftime show once again became the event’s true main character. This year, Kendrick Lamar headlined, joined by SZA.
The show was already spectacular before Lamar even started singing. Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as Uncle Sam, introduced Lamar, instructing him on how to “play the game.” As the performance unfolded, it became clear that Jackson’s character was the antagonist — a literal government figurehead trying to suppress Kendrick’s message. He warned Lamar about being “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto,” echoing classic Uncle Tom tropes in literature. The role mirrored Jackson’s infamous character, Stephen, in Django Unchained, another figure who aligned himself with the oppressor.
Lamar opened with a powerful statement: “The revolution’s about to be televised. You picked the right time but the wrong guy.” This was a direct reference to Gil Scott-Heron’s 1971 poem “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” which critiques how the media ignores racial struggles. But Lamar flipped the meaning: this revolution was happening right there, live, on the Super Bowl stage.
The stage itself was a statement. Built with massive platforms shaped like PlayStation logo symbols, it injected a layer of irony, implying that everyone onstage was playing characters in the game of survival in America.
Art and politics have always intertwined to bring up societal issues, and hip-hop was born as a movement to amplify marginalized voices. In today’s digital media landscape, music has an even greater platform, and Kendrick Lamar made sure to use it.
Lamar has been in an ongoing feud with Drake, and his song “Not Like Us” became the anthem of that battle. The track, which won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys, features accusations that led to a defamation lawsuit from Drake against Universal Music Group. Because of the legal controversy, the Super Bowl reportedly threatened a hefty fine if Lamar performed it.
Rumors swirled that Lamar was willing to pay the fine himself just to play the song. But instead, he faked out the audience: just when it seemed like Not Like Us was about to drop, he pivoted and handed the stage to SZA, who performed her verse from “Luther” and transitioned into “All the Stars,” their hit from the Black Panther soundtrack.
Lamar’s wardrobe was just as intentional as his lyrics. He wore a custom leather varsity jacket with “Gloria” stitched across the front, a nod to the closing track of his 2024 album, “GNX.” Gloria, meaning “glory” in Spanish, personifies the artistic background and the power of his pen. He paired it with Y2K-style flared bootcut jeans, proving once again that the early 2000s aesthetic is making a comeback.
One of the most eye-catching details is his oversized chain adorned with a sparkling lowercase “a,” which many interpreted as a nod to the famed “A-minor” lyric in “Not Like Us” or his company, pgLang.
The dancers didn’t just fill the background; they were the message. At one point, they formed the U.S. flag using their positions and clothing colors. At first, it was an obvious nod to patriotism, but the colors also represented something else: the Bloods and the Crips, two historical rival gangs from Los Angeles. Lamar had already brought them together onstage at The Pop Out concert last summer, and now, he was doing it again on the biggest stage in the world.
If that symbolism wasn’t clear enough, Serena Williams, who made a surprise appearance, performed a Crip Walk during her segment. The dance, long associated with the Crips, has previously drawn racist criticism when Williams did it after her tennis victories. Here, it was a defiant celebration, reinforcing Lamar’s overarching message: unity in the face of a system designed to divide.
And then, Kendrick took center stage, seemingly splitting the flag apart. The moment was striking and ambiguous — was it a representation of America’s deep political fractures? A reminder of the country’s foundations built on oppression? Or was it a victory lap, proving that even in a divided society, cultural power could bring people together?
Whatever the meaning, one thing was certain: this wasn’t just a performance. It was a cultural moment.
With DJ Mustard on the beat, Kendrick closed his halftime set with “TV Off.” His final lyrics?
“Might as well turn your TV off now. This show won’t be topped.”
And honestly? He was probably right.
