Kendrick Lamar etched his name in history last night as the first rapper to headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show, delivering a career-spanning set filled with his biggest hits. The Compton native didn’t just entertain—he used the global stage to send a pointed message to his longtime rival, Drake. Through clever lyric changes and a charged performance of “Not Like Us,” Lamar left no doubt about where he stands in their ongoing feud.
A Not-So-Subtle Dig at Drake
As the show reached its midpoint, Kendrick threw shade at Drake, pausing to speak with his female backup dancers before performing “Not Like Us.”
“I want to perform their favorite song… but you know they love to sue,” he quipped, referencing Drake’s defamation lawsuit against UMG over the song.
During the performance of the diss track, Lamar deliberately skipped the controversial “certified pedophile” lyric, opting instead for a smirk at the camera. However, he didn’t hold back, rapping:
“Say Drake, I hear you like ’em young / You better not ever go to cell block one / To any [bitch] that talk to him and they in love / Just make sure you hide your lil’ sister from him.”
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Adding fuel to the fire, Lamar emphasized the line “Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor”, eliciting cheers from the audience as they sang along.
Serena Williams’ Unexpected Cameo and Hidden Messages
Fans were further stunned when tennis legend Serena Williams—Drake’s former flame—made an unexpected appearance on a raised platform. She Crip Walked as “Not Like Us” transitioned into the grand finale, “TV Off”, in what many interpreted as a deliberate nod to her history with Drake and her Compton roots.
The performance concluded with a dramatic display flashing “Game Over”, reinforcing the video game theme Kendrick had been teasing throughout his set.
Additionally, sharp-eyed fans noticed Kendrick’s chain featuring a lowercase “a” pendant. While some speculated it referenced the “A minor” lyric from “Not Like Us,” it also doubles as the logo for his creative company, pgLang.
More Than 120 Million Viewers Witness a Historic Super Bowl
The Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show wasn’t the only spectacle of the night. On the field, the Philadelphia Eagles delivered a stunning 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, preventing Kansas City from making Super Bowl history as a three-peat champion.
With over 120 million viewers tuning in, Kendrick’s performance is set to go down as one of the most talked-about halftime shows in recent history. From his subtle jabs at Drake to Serena Williams’ symbolic cameo, this was more than just a performance—it was a cultural moment that will be dissected for years to come.
