kendrick lamar
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Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show was one for the ages as it tackled the social political climate in the United States today while continuing to throw dirt on the grave where Drake’s popularity currently lies, and while most of the culture was able to pick up on the symbolism and metaphors that the show presented, a lot of viewers simply didn’t.
Unfortunately, it seems like NBA superstar and future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant was one of those viewers who allegedly didn’t comprehend what Kendrick Lamar was telling the masses and dismissed the entire Super Bowl as “boring.” This past Monday (Feb. 10), Dana Scott of The Arizona Republic asked the Slim Reaper about his opinion on K. Dot’s Super Bowl Halftime Show and his performance of “Not Like Us” and without batting an eye KD simply shook his head and responded with “Meant nothing to me.”
Scott then brought up Durant’s previous statement in which he said Drake was “great,” as the reasoning behind his question about his thoughts on Kendrick’s performance. Durant went on to say “No thoughts. I ain’t really pay attention to it to be honest. It was a pretty boring game as far as the Super Bowl… The game got outta hand. The Super Bowl Halftime Show it was just… I ain’t pay attention to it. I kinda skimmed through the whole thing to be honest.”
KD just made Drake happy with that response.
https://x.com/iam_DanaScott/status/1889066473517412814
Still, this shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone as Kevin Durant and Drake do seem to have some history together as Drizzy has name dropped Kevin Durant in one of his past songs, “No Face.”
https://x.com/ComplexMusic/status/1827123996682547316
KD for his part has also showed love to Drizzy on his social media account, so y’all already know the man isn’t going to join in on the bashing of Drake regardless of what he may think of the situation.
https://x.com/realalmightee/status/1861490029303832813
Well, at least Drake does have a few loyal friends left in the game.
What do y’all think about Kevin Durant’s response to Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Kendrick Lamar and his current status in the industry is no longer a mystery after taking home several Grammy Awards trophies on the back of his smash “Not Like Us” single. While performing the hit at the halftime show during Super Bowl LIX, Kendrick Lamar’s grin and stare during the “Say Drake” line is currently getting the meme treatment on X.
The grand spectacle of the Super Bowl LIX halftime show is still front of mind for many some two days later. Featuring Samuel L. Jackson in the role of Uncle Sam, a C-walking Serena Williams, and vocal features from SZA, the production was amazing and Kendrick Lamar sounded in tip-top shape. During the set, Lamar teased “Not Like Us” and even mentioned Drake’s reported legal moves in getting the song shut down alleging baked numbers and other unfavorable maneuvers by UMG.
The next to last song in his set, “Not Like Us” got the requisite reaction from the crowd after it appeared it wouldn’t happen. With the crowd rapping almost in unison, Lamar rapped into the camera the lyrics that started the latest meme trend on X.
From “Not Like Us”:
Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young
You better not ever go to cell block one
To any b*tch that talk to him and they in love
Just make sure you hide your lil sister from him
With the moment now frozen in time, fans on X are sharing gifs and memes captioned “Say Drake” along with taking other shots at the Canadian superstar, who is currently on his Anita Max tour in Australia and New Zealand.
During the tour, Drizzy seemingly acknowledged the aftermath of the beef, donning a hoodie riddled with bullet holes and engineered smoke coming from said holes to signify all the damage he took during the battle with Kendrick Lamar.
On X, Drake’s name is trending mentioning Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl jab and more. Check out those reactions below.
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Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty
Yes, you read that right.
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show was hands down one of the Blackest moments of 2025. In just 13 minutes, he flipped Gil Scott-Heron’s The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, seemingly took aim at Trump, and delivered a powerful American story—all while throwing lyrical haymakers at Drake.
Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty
The Black Pride and Political Messaging
Let’s start with the deeper themes. The entire performance felt like a message to Drake, but it also paid homage to Spike Lee’s Bamboozled. Samuel L. Jackson, playing the role of Uncle Sam, wasn’t just a jab at Drake and the industry—it was also a shot at the executives and critics who wanted Kendrick to dial down his relentless lyrical assault on Drizzy. It even took aim at those who dismissed Lamar as doing Civil Rights Rap—as if calling out injustice is a bad thing.
Jackson’s narration made that clear when he introduced Lamar saying, “It’s your Uncle…Sam, and this is the great American game.” The line exposed how America polices Black artistic expression, punctuated by Jackson’s follow-up: “Too ghetto”—right before his mic was cut.
The symbolism didn’t stop there. The American flag served as a double entendre: a reminder that the country was built on the backs of enslaved Black people, but also a critique of how racism continues to divide. Lamar’s dancers even wore outfits reminiscent of The Mau Maus, the militant culture purists in the film Bamboozled, underscoring his message about protecting Black culture from exploitation.
Then came the “Not Like Us” moment. Looking his dancers dead in the eye, Lamar declared: “This is bigger than the music.” Highlighting the phrase—40 acres and a mule—refers to the unfulfilled reparations promise from 1865, a theme Lamar has touched on before in To Pimp a Butterfly. In the song “Wesley’s Theory,” he rapped about the illusion of prosperity for Black Americans: “What, you want you a house or a car? / Forty acres and a mule, a piano, a guitar?” By bringing it to the Super Bowl stage, he made it clear: the fight for equity isn’t over—especially in his home state of California, where reparations debates are ongoing—hence the sign in the crowd saying “wrong way” because he was speaking up in a sanitized forum.
WARNING WRONG WAY! Nothing but respect for Kendrick 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/hnxCXlIr8C
— ECP408 (@ecp408) February 10, 2025
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The Direct Shots at Drake
Now Let’s discuss the direct jabs at Drake.
During the performance, Lamar teased the crowd with the possibility of performing his Drake diss and L.A. anthem, “Not Like Us.”
“I want to play their favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” he quipped, referencing Drake’s defamation lawsuit. As the beat dropped, Lamar flashed a sly smile and rapped, “Say, Drake, I hear you like ‘em young,” before letting the audience complete the lawsuit-inspiring line—”certified pedophile.” The litigious remark comes after Drake took his issues with “Not Like Us” to court, in January filing a federal lawsuit against Universal Music Group over the diss track that accuses him of being a pedophile, allegedly.
Midway through, Lamar locked eyes with the camera and dropped another bombshell: “They tried to rig the game, but you can’t fake influence.” The line was widely seen as a response to Drake’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group, which accuses the label of helping spread the allegations fueling “Not Like Us.” With that one line, Lamar dismissed both the lawsuit and any industry attempts to undermine his influence.
The Subtle (and Not-So-Subtle) Jabs
Despite its deep cultural messaging, Lamar’s performance was full of layered shots, including the set designed as a giant PlayStation controller—pointing to Sony, the parent company of Drake’s label, OVO as he was literally controlling the narrative while fueling conspiracy theories about hidden messages.
And then there was Serena Williams. The tennis legend hit the C-walk on the X button to “Not Like Us”—a callback to the backlash she faced for using the dance to celebrate her Olympic gold medal win in 2012. This wasn’t just shade at Drake, but also a broader message about respectability politics and Black joy being policed.
Lamar closed with an electrifying performance of “tv off” with DJ Mustard, bringing the show full circle. The track’s message? Stop getting distracted—wake up to reality. And, of course, it doubled as a parting shot at Drake and J. Cole’s “First Person Shooter,” proving once again that Lamar plays the biggest game of all.
The Bigger Picture
Before the big night, Lamar told Apple Music that his performance would be culturally significant and an evolution of everything he’s done before. He wasn’t lying. The internet is still dissecting every line, every symbol, every move. But as Jay-Z said back in 2001, “You fools don’t listen to music, you just skim through it.”
Kendrick wasn’t just putting on a show. He was making history.
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*Respectfully.
This year’s Super Bowl has made television history, with the broadcast setting a ratings record for the second year in a row.
According to FoxSports, an average of 126 million viewers tuned in to watch their broadcast on Sunday (Feb. 9), which saw the Philadelphia Eagles emerge victorious over the Kansas City Chiefs with a final score of 40 to 22. According to the network, those figures measure viewers across Fox, Fox Deportes, Tubi, Telemundo and NFL digital properties.
That number is a 2% increase on the 123.7 million viewers who watched last year’s event, which outshone any audience previously recorded by Nielsen. Fox also noted that their peak audience of 135.7 million viewers occurred around the game’s second quarter, between 8:00-8:15pm ET.
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Though the evening’s big takeaway was undoubtedly related to the game itself, a sizable portion of the Super Bowl’s viewership likely came thanks to the halftime show, which featured Kendrick Lamar in the spotlight.
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Much of the discourse relating to Lamar’s appearance revolved around the potential content of his performance – specifically whether he would perform his Drake diss track “Not Like Us”.
Having inspired a defamation lawsuit from its subject matter against Lamar (and Drake’s) record label, Universal Music Group in January, and having taken home five Grammys (including Record of the Year and Song of the Year) just a week earlier, Lamar ensured that the song received pride of place in his already-iconic set. Samuel L. Jackson, SZA, and Serena Williams also joined Lamar onstage for the performance at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome.
Currently, specific break-out numbers for the halftime show have not been made available, though it would likely be in contention for the title of the most-watched halftime show in history. According to The Hollywood Reporter, that honor belongs to the 1993 Super Bowl, which saw Michael Jackson change the face of halftime entertainment, bringing in 133 million viewers for his appearance.
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Source: Patrick Smith / Getty / Kendrick Lamar / PlayStation
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime performance had more easter eggs than a Marvel Studios film. One in particular caught the attention of gamers who were tuned in.
You were absolutely correct if you thought Kendrick Lamar’s performance had a video gamey-feel. Super Bowl LIX halftime show art director Shelley Rodgers confirmed to Wired that Lamar uses PlayStation imagery, mainly the icons on the PlayStation controller.
In the interview, Rodgers revealed that K.Dot devised the video game-themed performance, adding that “each performance space was shaped like a button on a PlayStation-style controller, a performance intended to portray Lamar’s life as a video game.”
No one knows why Lamar chose PlayStation or decided to go that route while he bullied Drake again, but the art director did have some suggestions.
“I think the was symbolic, his way to reach young people,” Rodgers told Wired. “A lot of it is showing his journey, [showing him] traveling through the American dream.”
Creative Director Mike Carson added more insight, adding that Lamar and his production company, pgLang, are “really into keeping things clean and minimal.”
“We went with a monochromatic concrete look and allowed the video game motif to come alive through dialogue, lighting, choreography, and music.”
There is no word on whether PlayStation knew about Lamar’s vision, but if they did, do you think Drake would also be BIG MAD at the video company for being involved, or nah?
Fans Loved The PlayStation Inclusion
Fans also had plenty to say about the moment. “Kendrick Lamar brought out the PlayStation symbols and said,’ Game Over,’” one user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote following the performance.
Another user added, “Serena Williams, Samuel Jackson, PlayStation references, the GNX, the whole stadium yelling “AMINORR” ugh the dancers in red, white & blue, SZA?! Thank you Kendrick. The revolution will be televised.”
Kendrick Lamar did that! Debate your auntie.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
4. Still need an answer
6. So cool
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Lil Wayne became a trending topic on social media in the wake of Kendrick Lamar’s grand Super Bowl LIX halftime show performance in New Orleans. Lil Wayne saw his name trending on X just mere moments after Kendrick Lamar concluded his set, with fans wondering how he would’ve fared in his hometown.
Much has been made of Lil Wayne’s public expressions of disappointment for not being selected as the chief act for the Super Bowl LIX halftime set considering its location. Naturally, the expectation that a hometown act should grace the world’s biggest stage makes sense and, to the planning committee’s credit, the inclusion of Grammy Award-winning native son Jon Batiste and his rendition of the National Anthem satisfied some of those concerns.
Still, Weezy F. Baby believed that the halftime show should have been his moment, expressing hurt for being passed over. That said, Kendrick Lamar’s Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show set was full of dazzling imagery, choreography, and surprises such as Samuel L. Jackson playing a very tongue-in-cheek version of Uncle Sam with some veiled messages as the state of the nation. Also, Serena Williams showed up and hit her steps during Lamar’s “Not Like Us” performance, and SZA provided some support by way of “Luther” and the crowd-pleasing “All The Stars.”
In an alarming bit of backlash, some fans are criticizing Lamar’s performance, with one X user calling the performance “Black Panther Raps” and other digs. Some other fans thought that Wayne’s big hits would’ve played well at the Caesars Superdome while plenty of others didn’t believe he would’ve had what it took to deliver.
On X, folks are taking shots at Lil Wayne and dressing down the Young Money honcho by speculating that he may not have measured up to what Lamar delivered. Weezy’s homeboy Skip Bayless, however, defended his friend on X. With the show in the rearview, there is no way to know how well Wayne would’ve done but fans on X have their strong opinions out front and center.
Check out the reactions below.
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Photo: Getty
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Source: Patrick Smith / Getty
Super Bowl LIX was not only about the game, but also about the star power that filled the stands with some of the biggest names in entertainment. Celebrities like Jay-Z, Summer Walker, Ice Spice, Doechii, and many more made their mark at the event, bringing their drip and undeniable presence to the spotlight. As the Philadelphia Eagles triumphed with a commanding 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, the energy wasn’t just coming from the field. The celebrity crowd added to the electric atmosphere, offering their support and soaking in the excitement of one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
Rappers Glorilla and Megan Thee Stallion were among the notable attendees, but their presence came with a bit of drama (well, atleast for Glo). The two had made a high-stakes bet on the game, with Big Glo putting down $128,000 on the Chiefs, while Megan backed the Eagles. Unfortunately for Glorilla, her bet didn’t pay off, and she left the stadium upset after the Eagles’ victory, making it a memorable moment off the field.
Beyond the excitement of the game, the event showcased the fusion of sports, music, and fashion. some of our favorite artists brought out all their signature styles, further solidifying the Super Bowl as a gathering not just for football fans but for those with a passion for entertainment and pop culture. Super Bowl LIX wasn’t just about the Eagles’ victory—it was a night where the worlds of music, fashion, and celebrity collided, leaving fans with unforgettable memories both on and off the field.
Father John Misty had a timely reaction to Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show performance on Feb. 9, which happened to coincide with the 10th anniversary of his second studio album I Love You, Honeybear.
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The singer-songwriter, born Josh Tillman, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Feb. 9 to acknowledge the moment with a dry, understated jab. “Had to do his super bowl performance today of all days nice,” he wrote, referencing Lamar’s blockbuster set.
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The timing of Lamar’s high-profile performance was particularly on brand for Tillman, who has joked about his albums frequently dropping in the same years as Lamar’s.
In response to a fan pointing out the pattern, he previously noted, “It’s okay only other times it’s happened was 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2022.”
The playful back-and-forth between the two artists resurfaced in November when Lamar surprise-released GNX on the same day as Tillman’s Mahashmashana. Misty responded by posting a mock “diss track” titled “God’s Trash” on Instagram, featuring parody cover art inspired by Lamar’s recent diss records aimed at Drake.
The I Love You, Honeybear anniversary wasn’t just marked by social media quips. The album, originally released in 2015, was praised upon arrival for its satirical, deeply personal take on love and existentialism. It debuted at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 and became a defining release of the indie-folk singer’s career. To celebrate its milestone, Misty recently announced a remastered reissue, set for release on Feb. 14.
Meanwhile, Lamar’s Super Bowl set was widely discussed for its inclusion of his Grammy Award-winning “Not Like Us,” the Mustard-produced track that became a viral cultural moment in 2024.
His halftime performance also made headlines when Serena Williams joined him onstage, dancing to the song’s most cutting lyrics—fueling further speculation about the ongoing tensions between Lamar and Drake, who is currently in Australia for his Anita Max Win Tour.
Misty and Lamar both remain booked and busy this year. The former Fleet Foxes drummer will hit the road for a UK and Ireland tour in June and August, making stops in Liverpool, Nottingham, Leeds, Glasgow, and Dublin. Lamar, on the other hand, is gearing up for a North American tour with SZA, set to take place this spring.
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Source: Cindy Ord / Getty
Did Kendrick Lamar’s show live up to the hype?
There was already plenty of will he or won’t he when it came to performing his Grammy Award-winning, Drake demoralizing “Not Like Us” diss song. Well of course he did, but more on that later.
The Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show (that’s the official name) opened with an intro from actor Samuel L. Jackson dressed like a no-joke and woke patriot, and Kendrick Lamar rapping on the hood of a vintage whip auto, then kicking off with a rousing rendition of “squabble up” with a lot of dancers.
“Mr. Lamar do you really know how to play the game?” asked Jackson. K. Dot then proceeded to roll through a bunch of his newer-ish hits like “HUMBLE,” with the dancers creating great, US flag-like visuals, along with “DNA” and “Peekaboo.”
“I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue” – Kendrick Lamar pic.twitter.com/x1Ke3W3NLr
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 10, 2025
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Lamar then teased “Not Like Us,” with Jackson saying to exercise caution, but first, he brought out special guest SZA to perform “Luther” from GNX and “All The Stars.”
KENDRICK DID IT AND BROUGHT SERENA OUT TOOOOOOOOO LMAO #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/RBxAvXcesc
— Qondi (@QondiNtini) February 10, 2025
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With a final warning from Jackson, K. Dot kicked off the DJ Mustard portion of the show, performing “Not Like Us,” with an entire stadium roaring “A Minor…” in unison before shifting into “tv off.” Oh yeah, that was Serena Williams on stage crip walking. And yes, he looked right into the camera when he uttered, “Say, Drake…”
“Say Drake, I hear you like ‘em young”
Why Kendrick look at the camera like 😭 pic.twitter.com/IDCt6sY5LZ
— Ms. Andry Noir, PhD (@keatingssixth) February 10, 2025
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There were a lot of joints Lamar left in the tuck such as “Alright,” “Swimming Pools,” and “Backstreet Freestyle” to name a few. But hey, time was limited. Speaking of, sort of, how many people just tuned in for the K. Dot concert with no care at all for the game? Asking for a friend.
Check out some of the more powerful reactions to Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show in the gallery.
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Photo: Getty
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With all eyes on New Orleans for the Big Game, with the Kansas City Chiefs batting against the Philadelphia Eagles, Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar is set to headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on Sunday, Feb. 9.
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Keep reading for a breakdown of ways to watch Super Bowl 2025 Halftime Show live from the Caesars Superdome.
And Kendrick Lamar with special guest SZA are not the only music act performing during Super Bowl LIX. Ledisi opens the Super Bowl with a performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” while Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle sing “America the Beautiful.” Ahead of kickoff, Jon Batiste performs the U.S. National Anthem.
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When Does Super Bowl Halftime Show Start?
The Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show broadcasts live, with a start time around 8-8:15 p.m. ET/5-5:15 p.m. PT. The halftime show airs on Fox.
Where to Watch Super Bowl Halftime Show for Free
For cord-cutters, there are a few ways to watch Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show — especially if you want to watch for free. DirecTV Stream has a five-day free trial, while other streaming services — such as Fubo and Hulu + Live TV — also offer a free trial so you can watch Fox for free.
Keep reading for more details on how to watch the Super Bowl Halftime Show with DirecTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV.
How to Watch Super Bowl Halftime Show with DirecTV Stream
A subscription to DirecTV Stream’s “MySports” — which comes with Fox for Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $49.99 per month for the first three months of service and $69.99 per month after that. The service’s new “MySports” package even offers a five-day free trial to watch for free if you sign up now.
You can watch local networks such as NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox, while you can also watch many of the best sports networks, including ESPN, FS1, CNBC, NBA TV, NHL Network, Big Ten Network, TNT Sports, The Golf Channel and many others.
How to Watch Super Bowl Halftime Show with Hulu + Live TV
The Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show with Kendrick Lamar on Fox is available to watch with Hulu + Live TV too. Prices for the cable alternative start at $82.99 per month, while each plan comes with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ at no additional cost.
Hulu + Live TV might be best for those who want all of these streaming services together in one bundle. It also features many other networks, including ABC, Hallmark Channel, BET, CMT, Disney Channel, NBC, Fox Sports and more.
How to Watch Super Bowl Halftime Show with Fubo
To watch Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on Fox, Fubo starts at $59.99 for the first month, $84.99 per month afterwards (the streamer’s current deal) with more than 210 channels — including local and cable — that are streamable on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and on web browsers.
The service even gets you live access to local broadcast networks including NBC, CBS and ABC, while it also has dozens of cable networks, such as ESPN, Bravo, CMT, ID, TV Land, VH1, TLC, E!, FS1, MTV, FX, Ion, OWN, Paramount Network and much more.
Additionally, the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show livestreams on Tubi.
How to Buy Super Bowl Halftime Show Tickets Online
Want to attend the Super Bowl Halftime Show? There are still last-minute tickets available via Vivid Seats (get $20 off purchases of $200 and over with code BB2024), SeatGeek (your first purchases can get $10 off ticket order $250 and with code BILLBOARD10), StubHub and GameTime (score $20 off ticket orders of $150 and over with code SAVE20). Prices vary depending on the city and seats available.
Moreover, you can save $150 off when you spend $500 with promo code BILLBOARD150, or $300 off when you spend $1,000 with promo code BILLBOARD300 at TicketNetwork.com.
Starting at 8-8:15 p.m. ET/5-5:15 p.m. PT, Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show broadcasts on Fox. It’s also available to livestream on DirecTV Stream for free today.
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