Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show has received widespread praise online for its clever references and pointed critiques, targeting figures like Donald Trump and Drake.
On February 9, the Kansas City Chiefs faced the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX to determine the NFL champion for the 2024 season.
However, Kendrick Lamar stole the spotlight during the halftime performance, delivering a show filled with both obvious and subtle messages. While some of these messages were clear, it’s possible that the energy of the performance overshadowed them for some viewers.
Lamar started his set by announcing: “The revolution is about to be televised; You picked the right time but the wrong guy.”
This opening line seems to be a clear reference to the recent 2024 presidential election results, with Donald Trump being inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States.
A Twitter user observed: “Kendrick literally protested, and taunted America in front of the president during America’s biggest sports event. Chef’s kiss.”
Another Twitter user reflected: “Still thinking about Kendrick opening with the line ‘the revolution will be televised and you chose the wrong guy’ while Trump was sitting right there. Incredible move.”
A third user commented: “The amount of political references and symbolism is INCREDIBLE and the fact that Kendrick did all that while Trump was watching makes it even better.”
Lamar, dressed in red, white, and blue, had a moment in his set where his dancers formed a shape reminiscent of the American flag.
Then, they split apart, a move that social media users interpreted as a representation of the nation’s division.
One Twitter user noted: “Kendrick creating the American flag and then splitting it in half to symbolize the country’s divineness… the amount of amazingly executed political symbolism in this one performance… I’m going to have to sit down with a notebook and pen.”
Another added: “The more I think about the details of Kendrick’s #HalfTimeShow, the more the intentionality of the divided flag during ‘Humble’ blows me away. There was 4D level messaging in that performance, for every single person watching.”
The concept of America’s split and misguided direction was further highlighted by the message ‘WARNING WRONG WAY’ displayed in lights in the crowd, as reported by USA Today.
Additionally, the significance of all the dancers being Black did not go unnoticed by viewers.
One Twitter user commented: “Black folk representing the American flag because modern America was built on our labor… Kendrick I see you.”
Another added: “Kendrick making the American flag out of Black men was absolutely beautiful, and the message was clear. Black people built America.”
In his performance of ‘Not Like Us,’ Lamar also referenced ’40 acres and a mule,’ turning to his dancers to declare: “This is bigger than the music.”
The phrase ’40 acres and a mule’ is often associated with American Civil War Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, who issued a wartime order promising land and mules to formerly enslaved Black families—a promise that was never fulfilled.
Lamar also performed his track ‘Not Like Us,’ which has led to legal action from Drake against Universal Music Group over allegations of being called a ‘pedophile.’ Before performing, Lamar quipped, ‘I want to perform they favorite song, but you know they love to sue,’ and proceeded without the contested word.
Additionally, Serena Williams joined Lamar on stage.
Given past rumors of a relationship between Williams and Drake, and Drake’s mention of Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian in his 2022 album “Her Loss,” this moment stood out.
On the track ‘Middle of The Ocean,’ Drake raps: “Sidebar, Serena, your husband a groupie / He claim we don’t got a problem but / No boo, it is like you coming for sushi.”
Ohanian responded on Twitter at the time, and in ‘Not Like Us,’ Lamar states: “Better not speak on Serena.”
Including her in his Super Bowl halftime performance, along with bringing out SZA—who was also linked to Drake—was a bold statement.
The performance concluded with the words ‘GAME OVER’ displayed in the crowd—not just a potential nod to the end of Lamar’s feud with Drake.
Shelley Rodgers, the art director of the performance, explained to Wired that the show was designed to represent Lamar’s life as if it were a video game, with each space reflecting the PlayStation controller’s buttons—triangle, square, circle, and X.
Rodgers stated: “I think the was symbolic, his way to reach young people. A lot of it is showing his journey, traveling through the American dream.”