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Did Y’all Really Think He Wasn’t Gonna Perform It?

Black History Month is off to a powerful start, and the culture continues to win. Fresh off sweeping the Grammys with five wins, Kendrick Lamar takes the excellence to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, alongside SZA, making history as the first Hip-Hop and R&B duo to headline a Super Bowl Halftime Show.

With the Kansas City Chiefs leading 24-0 against the Philadelphia Eagles, the game pauses for a performance that instantly cements itself as a cultural moment. This wasn’t just about music—it was about storytelling, symbolism, and an undeniable message. Earlier this week at the Apple Music Halftime Show press conference, Kendrick promised a performance rooted in storytelling, and that’s exactly what we got. But if you thought he’d water it down for mass appeal, you don’t know Kendrick. The layers ran deep, with the internet left to dissect the hidden metaphors long after the lights dimmed.

Samuel L. Jackson set the tone, stepping into the role of “Uncle Sam”—a living embodiment of the U.S. government, guiding Kendrick through the complexities of Black existence in America. Dressed in a custom Bode suit, Jackson reappeared throughout the set, attempting to control Kendrick’s movements, a nod to the historical policing of Black identity.

“NO. NO. NO. NO. Too loud! Too reckless. Too… ghetto,” he narrates, as Kendrick launches into an unreleased snippet from the GNX trailer:
"The revolution about to be televised. You got the right time but the wrong guy."

From there, the performance unfolded as a masterclass in artistry and intention. Kendrick ran through GNX favorites like squabble up, peekaboo, and tv off, before throwing it back to DAMN. classics HUMBLE. and DNA.—all while his dancers used their bodies to form a red, white, and blue flag, a powerful commentary on Black existence in America. The cinematography, the PlayStation symbolism—it was all a spectacle. But then came Euphoria—the moment that truly shook the stadium. The track, a victory lap from his 2024 rap battle against Drake, sent social media into a frenzy.

This marked Kendrick’s second Super Bowl appearance, the first being in 2022 alongside Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem. But this time, the stage was his alone, and he used it to amplify Black narratives, making history as the first solo Hip-Hop artist to headline.

During man in the garden, Kendrick stood under a streetlight surrounded by young Black men with gold teeth—a visual metaphor for street mentorship. As he delivered affirmations of self-worth, it was clear: this was more than a performance. It was a statement.

Speaking with Apple Music earlier this week, Kendrick reflected on the significance of records like reincarnated and man in the garden:
"To know I have the tools necessary to communicate myself properly and effectively, I gotta do it for them. I gotta make records like reincarnated. I gotta make records like man in the garden. I have to, because they feel that way, but they cannot project it. When they hear somebody actually giving them the affirmations, it allows them to speak more freely and be open, because I come from the same place they come from."

Just when we thought the night couldn’t get bigger, Kendrick teased Not Like Us, only to pivot—meeting SZA on the opposite end of the field for the first-ever live performance of luther, building even more anticipation for their upcoming Grand National Tour.

Days after dropping LANA, the extended edition of SOS Deluxe, SZA made her Super Bowl Halftime Show debut in a custom red Born x Raised leather jacket, wax-coated lace-up pants by Ashton Michael, a mesh lace corset, and dark red flowy curls.

Together, Kendrick and SZA didn’t just deliver a halftime show—they created a moment that will be studied, dissected, and celebrated for years to come. And if this was just the preview, April’s Grand National Tour is about to be legendary.

While Samuel L. Jackson’s surprise appearance was a highlight, Kendrick took it up a notch by inviting none other than legendary tennis champion Serena Williams to hit her signature C-walk during Not Like Us. Featuring both SZA and Serena in the same performance? A diabolical move. But what else did we expect from Kendrick?

And if that wasn’t enough, Kendrick’s “a” chain instantly had the internet in a frenzy. The chain, part of the sublogo for his independent creative agency pgLang, could also be a double entendre—possibly referencing the “a” in “a minooooooooor”. Coincidence or fate? Either way, the entire stadium chanting along to Not Like Us was a moment that will live in Hip-Hop history.

Since we’re on the topic of legendary moments, fashion lovers everywhere are already predicting a bell-bottom resurgence thanks to Kendrick’s Celine flare denim jeans. Styled by Taylor McNeill, Kendrick rocked a custom Martine Rose leather jacket featuring “Gloria”—the final track on his most recent album—on the front, with pgLang branding on the back. He completed the look with black and white Nike Air DT Max ‘96 sneakers and a backwards cap adorned with diamond brooches.

SZA, making her Super Bowl Halftime Show debut just days after dropping LANA, stunned in a custom red Born x Raised leather jacket, wax-coated lace-up pants by Ashton Michael, a mesh lace corset, and dark red flowy curls.

Bringing the storytelling aspects from Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, To Pimp a Butterfly, and DAMN. to the Super Bowl was exactly what the culture needed, further pushing the argument for rap to be recognized as a legitimate and respected art form. Even without highly anticipated tracks like Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe, Alright, and Swimming Pools, the setlist did not disappoint, closing with tv off and the surprise appearance of none other than MUSTAAAAAAAAAARD!

As arguably the Blackest Super Bowl ever, this performance was never just about a rap beef. While Kendrick’s battle with Drake may have lit the fire, the message was much bigger. This was a story of triumph—of being born into a system designed to break you and coming out victorious.

Some fans took the GAME OVER moment as the final knockout in the battle against Drake. But in reality, this was bigger than him—this was Kendrick declaring that he has beaten America’s game of oppression, capitalism, and control.

Super Bowl LIX will be hard to top, but one thing is for sure—whoever takes the field next year has a very tough act to follow.

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