Kendrick Lamar delivered a show-stopping performance during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, captivating millions of viewers worldwide.
The 37-year-old rap icon took the stage at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, delivering a setlist packed with some of his biggest hits.
The stage was set with a nostalgic touch, featuring a 1980s Buick Regal coupe as Lamar and his dancers emerged with electrifying energy.
Actor Samuel L. Jackson made a surprise appearance as Uncle Sam, offering commentary that added layers of cultural critique to the performance.
Lamar opened his set with high-energy tracks like Bodies and Squabble Up, keeping the crowd on their feet from the very first beat.
The atmosphere intensified when R&B sensation SZA joined him on stage to perform Luther and All the Stars, showcasing their undeniable chemistry.
Fans eagerly anticipated the next song on his setlist, knowing that the performance was leading up to a moment that had been widely speculated about.
As the opening beats of Not Like Us played, the energy in the stadium shifted, with the audience erupting in excitement.
The song, which has been at the center of Lamar’s ongoing feud with Canadian rapper Drake, has sparked major controversy since its release.
Lamar’s track includes pointed accusations against Drake, which has fueled one of the biggest hip-hop rivalries in recent memory.
The track, originally released in 2024, was a direct response to a series of diss tracks exchanged between the two rappers.
Despite the controversy surrounding the song, Not Like Us has become a cultural phenomenon, amassing over a billion streams on Spotify.
The track recently won multiple Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year, further solidifying its impact.
Fans had been debating whether Lamar would perform Not Like Us unfiltered, given the legal dispute it has triggered.
Drake has repeatedly denied the allegations made in the track and even took legal action against Universal Music Group over its release.
As the moment arrived, Lamar delivered the song with his usual intensity, but one crucial change caught everyone’s attention.
When he reached the controversial lyric, “Certified Lover Boy? Certified p**dophile,” he noticeably left out the final word.
Instead of rapping it, Lamar let out a visceral scream, sending the crowd into a frenzy as they rapped the missing lyric themselves.
He then continued with, “Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor,” a clever double entendre that the audience echoed back.
The decision to self-censor was a calculated move, especially given the ongoing lawsuit that Drake has filed against Universal Music Group.
Drake’s legal team argues that the claims in the song are baseless and damaging, while Universal has dismissed the accusations.
“Not only are these claims untrue, but the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist—let alone Drake—is illogical,” Universal stated.
The Lamar-Drake feud, once rooted in mutual respect and collaborations, took a hostile turn in early 2024 after a string of diss tracks.
Lamar first took aim at Drake in Like That, which featured on Future and Metro Boomin’s album, marking the start of their lyrical war.
Drake retaliated with Family Matters, but Lamar quickly responded with back-to-back diss tracks, including the now-infamous Not Like Us.
Many viewed Lamar’s Super Bowl performance as his final statement in the feud, leveraging the global stage to make a strategic statement.
By choosing to omit the explicit lyric, Lamar managed to maintain the song’s presence while respecting the mainstream platform he was performing on.
His decision sparked immediate reactions from fans, with some praising his restraint while others argued it made the song’s message even louder.
The halftime show proved to be more than just a performance it became a cultural moment that will be dissected for years to come.
Kendrick Lamar, yet again, demonstrated his ability to command a stage while making a powerful artistic statement.
Featured Image Credit: (Gregory Shamus)
