Earlier last month, on February 9th, Kendrick Lamar performed at the Super Bowl’s halftime show and made history as the first solo rapper to headline the halftime show in its 58 years. With a setlist that blended powerful lyricism and bold visual storytelling, Lamar’s performance entertained the audience while making a statement through symbolism that spoke to the current state of the U.S. and how it systematically treats Black people. As Kendrick said on stage, “This is bigger than the music.”
One thing about Kendrick is that he will not hold back. And this applies to his level of pettiness as well. Throughout his performance, he repeatedly teased his song “Not Like Us,” saying he’d “think about it” since “they like to sue” until he finally performed it. He also sang “Euphoria,” two diss tracks towards Drake, which has grown in popularity. While singing “Not Like Us,” Kendrick smiles directly at the camera, saying, “Say, Drake,” before continuing to expose him in the lyrics. The chain he wore was a lowercase “A,” referencing the line “Trying to strike a cord, and it’s probably a minor” from the very same song. Between winning multiple Grammys for “Not Like Us” and having the entire crowd at the Grammys and Super Bowl singing along to the song, Drake took some hard hits. It would not be surprising to see him stay on the down-low for some time. The incredibly talented former tennis player Serena Williams also made an appearance. This, in a way, was also a jab at Drake since Serena is his ex-girlfriend.
However, Serena’s presence was not just because she was Drake’s ex-girlfriend. At the Super Bowl, she did the Crip Walk, the dance that she was admonished for doing after winning an Olympic match at Wimbledon in 2012. Lamar also performed alongside SZA. Together, they sang their hit “Luther” as well as “All the Stars” from the Black Panther soundtrack. The film was praised for its cultural impact and celebration of Black culture, and Kendrick and SZA’s song contributed to the impact.
Lamar is known for his ability to weave narratives of struggle, triumph, and systemic oppression, and his visual aids throughout the performance confirmed that. The performance was full of symbolism, some political in nature, as he used his platform to highlight themes of resilience and empowerment. The performance began with a lit-up layout of what appears to be a tic-tac-toe board or Playstation symbols and Uncle Sam welcoming the audience to the “great American game.” The concept of “game” could be taken literally, as in football being the American game. However, it can also be understood as a reference to the Black experience of having to constantly navigate American life, culture, and politics, as if in some video game, where mistakes or certain choices could lead to negative outcomes.
“Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto!” – Samuel L. Jackson (aka Uncle Sam)
Samuel L. Jackson’s name not only fit perfectly with Uncle Sam’s, but the choice to have a Black man act as Uncle Sam was a statement in itself. Uncle Sam is a popular character who has historically symbolized the U.S. and is a white man in most, if not all, the portrayals. Samuel L. Jackson, or “Uncle Sam” interjects with commentary on Kendrick’s performance that is reflective of how America systematically views and monitors Black culture and people. The word “ghetto” is often used in slang to refer to places that are unappealing or “trashy.” The word in itself refers to a poor urban area primarily occupied by minorities. Though some may not see the problem with the word, within the US, it has been used to describe predominantly Black or African American neighborhoods, causing an association with the word ghetto to Black people or Black culture, as it has now been transferred to describing not just a location but behavior as well.
Further expanding on the concept of “game,” Uncle Sam asks Kendrick if he knows “how to play the game,” meaning does he know how to walk the line between speaking on these topics and not making anyone uncomfortable, even though these topics are meant to make people uncomfortable so that they can be addressed. Once again, this can be expanded to a broader context, as Black people have had to manage to express their culture while ensuring that others don’t view them in a negative way for doing so. In his opening song, Kendrick says, “You would not get the picture if I were to sit you for hours in front of the Louvre,” and what this could mean is that he knew from the beginning that many people would not understand or get his message, no matter how much he tried to make it clear. Mid-performance, Kendrick says the phrase “40 acres and a mule”, which is a direct reference to the reparations promised to slaves but were ultimately never given. Later on, when Kendrick disobeys Uncle Sam’s rules of dialing it down, Uncle Sam tells the scorekeeper to “deduct one life.” Therefore, the game is the U.S. system in which defiance could lead to harm, especially for the Black community, where the stakes are high and could put in jeopardy a person’s success and life.
Notably, Kendrick, SZA, and the dancers (who were all Black dancers) were all dressed in red, white, and blue, the colors of the American flag. During his performance of “HUMBLE” Kendrick and his dancers literally formed the American flag, but it was split down the middle. This could be interpreted as a representation of the current polarization in the nation and, at the same time, represent how the U.S. was built on the labor of slaves and Black Americans.
Kendrick also chanted, “The revolution about to be televised. You picked the right time but the wrong guy”, which could be a response to Uncle Sam’s critiques of the music, meaning that Kendrick wasn’t going to try and sugarcoat his messages to ensure the comfort of others, but rather that he was going to perform the way he chose to. Many have also interpreted this as a direct call-out to the state of America and President Trump, who was present at this year’s Super Bowl. The show ended with the message “Game Over” in the crowd, as the game, or in this case, his performance, is, in fact, done. This could also be seen as another blow to Drake since Kendrick could be solidifying that he won their feud.
Whether enjoyed or not, this Super Bowl performance was a valuable lesson on Black culture, history, struggles, and achievements, especially during Black History Month. With multiple icons showing up, the performance was truly one to remember, and with the understanding of the references made throughout, we can appreciate the artistry even more.
