Kendrick Lamar Declares ‘Game Over’ in Drake Battle With Triumphant Super Bowl Halftime Performance

A Landmark Halftime Spectacle

Kendrick Lamar put on an unforgettable showcase during the Super Bowl Halftime Show, enlisting the talents of SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, and Mustard for a grand homage to Compton under the brightest spotlight imaginable. The entire production, filled with spirited performances and vivid visuals, served as a reminder of just how much anticipation surrounded this moment.

The presence of Jackson in the role of a colorful master of ceremonies underscored the event’s theatrical flair, while SZA’s soulful energy complemented the setlist. Meanwhile, Serena Williams and Mustard helped elevate the spectacle, seamlessly fitting in as dancers, hype collaborators, and cultural icons in their own rights. This early revelation of special appearances alone generated intense excitement, suggesting that Lamar aimed to deliver a show unlike any other. The overall look of the performance embraced a palette drawn from the colors of the American flag, bathing the stage and dancers in bold shades of red, white, and blue. This design choice, though patriotic on the surface, ultimately underlined Lamar’s commentary on social realities and community pride.

Building on that striking visual theme, Lamar performed tracks primarily from his brand-new album “GNX”, mixing them with some deeper cuts from his back catalog that fans had craved for years.
Serving as a modern-day Uncle Sam, Jackson carried out the comedic yet symbolic duty of introducing songs, weaving humor into transitions between each mini-set. Lamar’s robust team of backup dancers constantly shifted their formations, adding motion and impact to songs such as “DNA,” “Peekaboo,” “Squabble Up,” and “Humble.” Fans watching from across the globe absorbed both the dynamic movement on the field and the music’s profound messages, as Lamar effectively showcased Compton’s authenticity and creativity on one of the world’s largest platforms.

The Controversy Over “Not Like Us”

In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, the pressing question in many minds was: Would Kendrick Lamar include “Not Like Us,” the 2024 anthem in which he explicitly labels his rival Drake a pedophile? For months, observers debated whether or not the star would invoke that highly charged track on such a wide-reaching broadcast. The immediate counterargument to the possibility revolved around the universal scope of the Super Bowl’s audience and the controversy that might arise from spotlighting an incendiary composition, particularly one containing severe accusations. However, “Not Like Us” was undeniably the song that had captured the collective consciousness throughout 2024, and with it winning five Grammys—among those, Song and Record of the Year—it felt nearly impossible for Lamar to sidestep it.

Speculation soared as to whether he would seize the chance to use the Halftime Show as a culminating statement in his ongoing feud with Drake or, conversely, set the controversy aside in favor of more neutral crowd-pleasers. The suspense about “Not Like Us” built up to a fever pitch, making it the most anticipated moment of his set. Ultimately, Lamar did choose to perform “Not Like Us,” delivering far more than just a casual nod to the track. Before launching into the high-stakes number, he positioned himself in an “X” formation on the turf, pausing to address the crowd. In a dramatic flourish, he stated, “I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” a sly reference to Drake’s legal action against Universal Music Group over the release and promotion of the track.

A Lasting Cultural Impression

By the end of the halftime event, Lamar’s entire showcase had etched itself into Super Bowl history as one of the most boundary-pushing yet. He successfully managed to celebrate Compton’s musical heritage, weave in new album pieces, and reignite a highly publicized rivalry all within the scope of a brief but impactful set. Jackson’s Uncle Sam persona, SZA’s smooth voice, Mustard’s DJ flair, and Williams’ athletic presence collectively shaped a performance that stood out for its ambition and edge. As the stadium buzzed with applause, it was clear that Kendrick Lamar took advantage of every second, merging the rebellious spirit of his songs with the conventional glitz and spectacle of a major halftime show.

The inclusion of “Not Like Us” confirmed that he was not shying away from any controversy, reinforcing his belief that an artist should confront conflicts openly—even on the biggest stage. From start to finish, the performance underscored Kendrick Lamar’s central place in modern hip-hop and pop culture, signaling his readiness to continue pushing conversations and creative boundaries in a single, electrifying display. Though Kendrick Lamar’s conflict with Drake has dominated much of the cultural discourse over the last year, it was merely one slice of a bigger spectacle during his Halftime Show. The performance itself was continuous and impeccably delivered, focusing primarily on Lamar’s presence.

In earlier years, many halftime acts utilized the event as a stage for sudden, star-studded cameos. By contrast, Lamar centered on his own artistry, kicking off the show with a brand-new track teased in a YouTube video just a few hours prior to the official drop of “GNX.” Observers were intrigued to see if the performance would highlight more controversy or maintain a balanced focus on fresh music.

Bold Moves on Stage

Continuing his plan, Kendrick Lamar positioned himself in the midst of dancers who formed the American flag during “Humble,” creating a striking visual that seamlessly tied into his broader commentary on identity and nationhood. He then traversed a lengthy rectangular stage fitted with lamp posts, pausing at different spots to deliver verses from “Man at the Garden” and “Peekaboo.” As he performed, a group of men stationed themselves around one of those lamp posts, providing a dramatic backdrop to his verses. Soon after, SZA joined for “Luther” and “All the Stars,” adding a melodic counterpoint to Lamar’s forceful delivery and injecting the performance with another layer of excitement. Finally, Lamar ventured toward the end zone of the field in a carefully orchestrated slide, unifying the choreography and lyrics as a cohesive narrative.

Kendrick Lamar was in Super Bowl LVI and he performed with the biggest names in the industry and he bridge the gap between different eras of music during an highly viewed performance. The high profile lineup featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, and Anderson Paak. In a fantastic 15 minute window, the group showed the world how different generations and genres can be interlaced without boundaries. Having such an eventful show in the past, the expectations were naturally high for Lamar’s feature solo. Nevertheless, he still found a way to outdo the high anticipations with a mind-blogging visual display, a tailor-made song list, and a top-notch use of light, sound, and structure of each part and collaboration.

The Start of a Hot Streak

Lamar’s show arrived on the heels of a year marked by non-stop triumphs, ignited in part by his groundbreaking verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That” from last March. In that track, he unequivocally challenged both Drake and J. Cole for referencing him in the “big three” of hip-hop, a label he bluntly rejected. This brash refusal unleashed a lengthy back-and-forth exchange of words among the three artists, thrusting their rivalry into the spotlight. The friction ultimately fed into heightened curiosity about Lamar’s next moves, intensifying the significance of each public appearance he made. By the time he reached the Super Bowl, the fuse had already been lit, and fans eagerly waited to see how he would weave or address these tensions during his short but crucial stage time.

Throughout the show, Kendrick Lamar skillfully balanced the weight of past conflicts with the grand scale of the Super Bowl platform. While the rumblings of his feud undeniably hovered, the overall production was not solely anchored in that discord. Instead, it underscored his commitment to artistry, unearthing new tracks and reaffirming older favorites without reducing the performance to mere controversy. He let the music do the talking, occasionally underscoring the rivalry with a pointed lyric or sudden gesture, but never allowing it to eclipse his dedication to top-notch entertainment. As the final notes rang out, viewers could confirm that, for Lamar, the Halftime Show was a testament to creativity and expression—perfectly summing up the unstoppable drive that has carried him through a year of heated debates and unstoppable momentum.

Cole Backs Out

While J. Cole quickly stepped away from the brewing conflict, Kendrick Lamar and Drake settled into a prolonged face-off that played out over the following months. Both artists released a succession of increasingly confrontational diss tracks, each one laced with sharper barbs than the last. Whispers of infidelity issues and even allegations of pedophilia pervaded these lyrical takedowns, boosting the feud’s prominence in public discourse. By the time spring arrived, it was evident that the fight had become more than just a passing spat—this was evolving into the kind of hip-hop showdown fans would debate for years to come. Then, in May, Lamar unleashed “Not Like Us,” a single backed by Mustard’s production that caught the West Coast scene by storm. As soon as the track dropped, it was clear that this record wasn’t just fan service or random baiting; it was a rallying cry.

From the moment “Not Like Us” hit the streets, Kendrick Lamar found himself on the winning side of the Drake rivalry. This single exploded on streaming platforms, breaking multiple charts and quickly ascending to the top of the Billboard Hot 100—becoming Lamar’s inaugural number-one song as a solo artist. Despite the fierce back-and-forth that had preceded it, this single pivoted momentum firmly in Lamar’s favor. His brash and unfiltered verses tapped into the energy swirling around the West Coast rap scene, making the track an anthem that blared from radios, clubs, and earbuds across the country.
The victory extended into high-profile awards season, as the track garnered multiple accolades culminating in a spectacular night at the Grammys. There, Lamar secured triumphs such as Song and Record of the Year for “Not Like Us,” capping off an already remarkable run by walking away with three additional trophies in other genre categories.

Surprising Album Reveal

Capitalizing on the runaway success of “Not Like Us,” Lamar unexpectedly released his latest album, “GNX,” in November. Speculation had been swirling, given rumors that the Compton MC had been quietly toiling on fresh material. But the music world was caught off-guard nonetheless when “GNX” appeared without the typical months-long hype cycle. The album made a powerful entrance at the top of the Billboard 200, giving Lamar his fifth straight debut at number one, while all twelve tracks landed on the Hot 100—five of them clinching top spots. This rapid commercial surge was a testament to his ability to satiate public curiosity.

Critics lauded the album’s lyrical heft and cohesive production, further cementing Lamar’s hold on the cultural conversation. Fans combed through each track looking for hidden references to Drake, and many concluded that Lamar’s pointed messages ran deeper than any single track might reveal. With “GNX” conquering charts, Lamar found himself at the apex of a year that started with a monumental verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That,” a moment that fundamentally shifted the relationship among Lamar, Drake, and J. Cole. By opting to confront references to the so-called “big three” head-on, Lamar kindled a rivalry that soon spiraled into something more extreme than typical hip-hop banter.

Even so, he methodically translated the conflict into creative fuel, consistently delivering intricate bars and well-timed releases. The broader hip-hop community took note of his uncompromising stance, elevating him from a respected rapper to a larger-than-life cultural figure. As the tension with Drake only highlighted Lamar’s determination to push boundaries, both fans and industry insiders kept a close watch on what he would do next. Meanwhile, the public drama catapulted “Not Like Us” into extended success on airwaves and playlists, priming the stage for Lamar’s upcoming endeavors.