There was by no means a query what Kendrick Lamar’s era-hopping Tremendous Bowl LIX halftime present was constructing as much as.
For the previous 9 months, Lamar’s “Not Like Us” has been the pop-culture anthem, the gem of the rapper’s decade-long feud with Drake, which reached a fever pitch with the track’s launch final spring.
It was a matter of when, not if, Lamar would carry out the ruthless diss monitor on the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
Lamar started with “Squabble Up” and cruised by means of a medley of his largest hits, together with “HUMBLE,” “Loyalty” and “All the Stars.”
He had assist from Samuel L. Jackson, who interjected all through the present with an Uncle Sam impersonation; Serena Williams, who danced on stage; and from SZA and Mustard, who carried out cameos.
Dancers in crimson, white and blue contributed to the fashionable scene, at one level surrounding Lamar in a picture resembling an American flag.
And when Lamar lastly obtained to “Not Like Us,” a capability crowd roared in unison.
There was no earth-shattering shock, like some had speculated Lamar would ship.
Taylor Swift, who options Lamar in her “Bad Blood” remix, was within the constructing to cheer on her boyfriend, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce. However she didn’t carry out with Lamar like some overly optimistic followers had prayed for.
However Sunday marked the fiercest salvo but in Lamar’s spat with Drake, who was midway internationally for a tour cease in Australia.
The NFL chosen Lamar as its Tremendous Bowl halftime present performer in September, 4 months after “Not Like Us” got here out.
The track peaked atop the Billboard Scorching 100 chart, giving Lamar’s fifth No. 1 single. In November, Lamar launched a shock album, “GNX,” that topped the Billboard 200 chart, giving him his fifth No. 1 album.
“I think I’ve always been very open about storytelling through all my catalog and my history of music,” Lamar mentioned Thursday at a press convention. “I’ve always had a passion about bringing that on whatever stage I’m on.”
Sunday’s efficiency continued a momentous month for Lamar, who gained 5 awards not less than week’s Grammys, together with Track of the 12 months and Document of the 12 months for “Not Like Us.”
Lamar grew to become the primary rapper to be the solo headliner of a Tremendous Bowl halftime present.
In 2022, he was a visitor performer on the hip-hop-centric halftime present in Los Angeles, the place Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Eminem had been among the many others to take the stage.
Lamar and SZA are set to start a tour in April, with a pair of concert events scheduled at MetLife Stadium on Might 8-9.
Initially Printed: February 9, 2025 at 9:03 PM EST
