Before we get into Kendrick Lamar’s set at the Super Bowl last night, a word on Jay-Z and his involvement in the halftime show. The initial partnership between him and the NFL was for five years, valued at $25 million. That deal was renewed back in October but when he became legally implicated in the Diddy mess, there was some speculation that the partnership could be in jeopardy, although sources later insisted that the NFL had no immediate intentions of pulling back. 

 

And Jay certainly had the same kind of access and profile before the game, continuing his pre-game on-the-field appearance with the Blue Ivy Carter and now Rumi. 

But then Kendrick stepped on stage. And his performance was unmistakably political, from Samuel L Jackson showing up as Uncle Sam/Tom, to the dancers in formation as the American flag, to the dance sequence in what was quite obviously a prison yard, and Kendrick’s “40 acres and a mule”, the halftime show was about identity politics, mass incarceration, reparations, and resistance. Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show was unapologetically Black and proudly hip-hop. In the presence of the criminal who is currently the president of the United States. At a time when people are kissing his ring. At an event belonging to an organisation representing owners who, by and large, have supported him. Maga, naturally, had a meltdown over it.

 

It’ll be interesting, then, whether or not the NFL gets any heat about Kendrick’s performance, and if they choose to pay attention to it, and transfer some of those demands/expectations/complaints over to Jay. And whether or not Jay gives a sh-t. 

To go back to Kendrick, what he produced last night was a show that expands on his target in what’s now become the biggest song of his career, “Not Like Us”. It started out as a diss track against Drake – but Kendrick’s borders of criticism aren’t limited to Drake either. “Not Like Us” is at once about Drake and about also about those who have been complicit in upholding the status quo, the colonialist ideas that have enabled a person like Trump to come to power and return to power. It is also a defiant IDGAF to those who were expecting a show that catered to the middle, to a more general experience rather than a specific one. Because you can’t have “Not Like Us” without “For Us”. 

 

Kendrick’s intention, then, was to design his performance for those who know it, those who have lived and are still living it – his community, both Compton and hip-hop, or at least the hip-hop that he considers to be authentic and representative. And if you happen to not be a part of that? I include myself in that latter group. Well then so be it, we can choose to learn something. Or accept that not everything has to be for us. That acceptance is one way we can begin to challenge systemic anti-Black racism and its institutions. 

This was Kendrick’s intention. Whether or not he executed it well, whether or not it worked, is up to interpretation, I suppose. Drake fans, obviously, weren’t feeling it and the main argument there seems to be that, well, Drake was the main character, everything was directed at Drake. I don’t agree with this but that’s because, in my opinion, I loved Kendrick’s show – the energy, the layers, and the hip-hop showcase, his skill and delivery, how he made his case for supremacy with his lyrics and the way he performed them, as a proud rapper glorifying his chosen artform. 

 

After all, what is rap without a beef, without taking aim at an idea or a person who embodies that idea that runs counter to everything you believe in. If you’re a Drake fan, you might counter that Kendrick hates Drake way more than Drake hates Kendrick. If you’re a Kendrick fan your response may be that Drake has had the privilege of not having to hate anyone all that hard because he doesn’t know the struggle. 

Kendrick put all that hate into the most high-profile performance of his career, but also gave it an update. The kids online, they call it edging – teasing it multiple times, winking at the audience, it’s coming, it’s coming, but pulling back until he was ready to unleash. 

And when he did unleash, even though he changed the lyrics (“certified p*dophile” was dropped), the way it’s worked out for him, he didn’t need it anyway because, well, “a minorrrrrr” is the power punch, the line that everyone was waiting for, waiting to shout at the top of their lungs. And that was before SHE showed up. 

 

Pretty sure my neighbours three blocks away heard me scream “SERENAAAAAAAA!” when the camera came to her cripwalking and also with the deeper meaning. 

https://x.com/notdanilu/status/1888764437412430256

They dragged her for this when she was competing, policing her behaviour, her Blackness. Kendrick inviting her to do it at the Super Bowl, while he themed his performance around Black identity and culture, was a reminder about the contributions that Black athletes have made to sport while having to endure the indignities of the gatekeepers who dictate who’s allowed to play and how they have to play. Just in case it wasn’t clear, Serena made it clear. 

But also, of course, the Drake of it, LOL. Because they dated and then he disrespected her. And before you ask – yes, Alexis was in New Orleans with Serena, they’re fine. 

Back to Kendrick though and what was, for me, the best moment was the smile. Specifically when he hit that line and actually named Drake: 

The memes about this are, as expected, hilarious. 

 

I wonder if he read that tweet last week that Maria referenced, about how he looks like a chipmunk or whatever but is actually diabolical. That would be the moment when he made that tweet immortal, his devilish but also adorable smile as he looked into the camera – not only because he knew it was Game Over, but also because…

He was having a GREAT time. And this, for me, works with everything he was intending last night too. Delighting in destroying his opponent, like a proper petty king. But also… resilience cannot be sustained without joy, joy is resistance, joy is the reminder of why you resist, joy is manifestation of what cannot be broken. People keep saying that it was a halftime of hate. But has hate ever looked so happy? 

PS. That lower case “a”, not just around his neck but the flags. Did you see those flags? Here’s my screen shot of the flag. 

Kendrick Lamar's flag

 

That lower case “a” and the minors pointing up at it…

This is the merch, isn’t it? For his tour? Lower case “a” on everything – from tees to hoodies and hats etc. If this is what he’s doing, people will be wearing his hate all over the place, LOOOLLLL. 

 

Kendrick Lamar performed at Super Bowl LIX's halftime show, joined by SZA and Mustard, while Serena Williams attended a Super Bowl party.
Photo credits: CJ GUNTHER/ EPA-EFE/ Frank Micelotta/ PictureGroup for Fox Sports/ Shutterstock

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