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Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Superbowl Performance- and How it Was More Than Just Music

Kendrick Lamar made history this Superbowl as the first solo Black rapper to headline the Super Bowl halftime show in its 58-year existence. He turned the stage into a fiery, unapologetic mirror held up to America. Packed with symbolism, political defiance, and a masterclass in storytelling, Lamar’s performance left audiences buzzing, debating, and dissecting every layered detail. Here’s why his show was more than just entertainment.

Uncle Sam vs. Black America: A Battle on Stage

Samuel L. Jackson stole the show early, dressed as a stern, satirical “Uncle Sam” who policed Lamar’s every move. “Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto!” Jackson barked, mocking America’s long history of surveilling and silencing Black culture. His warnings—like demanding Lamar “tighten up” and play “the great American game”—set the tone for a performance that doubled as a critique of systemic oppression.

The American Flag, Split in Two

During HUMBLE., Lamar and his all-Black male dancers formed a fractured American flag—a visual gut punch. Was it a nod to a divided nation? A reminder of the Black labor that built it? Fans have been posting their predictions online, debating its meaning. Meanwhile, Lamar’s red, white, and blue wardrobe and SZA’s glittering stars-and-stripes outfit screamed Americana, but with a twist: Whose America?

 

Lamar’s Revolution Will Be Televised”

“The revolution about to be televised. You picked the right time but the wrong guy,” Lamar declared early on. The line, echoing poet Gil Scott-Heron’s iconic words, felt like a direct challenge to power—including former President Trump, who watched from the crowd. Was Lamar calling out political hypocrisy? The line blurred art and activism, leaving viewers to decide.

Serena Williams’ Crip Walk: Reclaiming Culture

Serena Williams who belongs to the same hometown as Lamar, ‘Crompton’,  shut down critics with a defiant crip-walk cameo during Not Like Us, Lamar’s diss track on Drake. Years ago, media outlets condemned her for the same dance at Wimbledon. Now, flanking Lamar, her moves became a middle finger to cultural gatekeepers—and a celebration of Black authenticity.

Lamar’s “Great American Game”

The show opened with a glowing tic-tac-toe grid, dubbed “the great American game”—a metaphor for Black survival in a rigged system. Jackson’s jabs about “culture cheat codes” and deducting “lives” hammered the theme home. In a twist, a protester, disguised as a dancer, unfurled flags for Sudan and Gaza mid-show before being dragged off. Lamar’s team denied planning it, but the message was clear: No stage is apolitical.

How Kendrick Lamar Created History

Lamar told Apple Music pre-show that his goal was “storytelling” that makes people “see and think.” Mission accomplished. From fractured flags to Serena’s redemption, he turned football’s biggest stage into a canvas for Black resistance, joy, and complexity. Critics called it “too radical” while fans hailed it as a cultural reset.

Whara are your thoughts on Kendrick Lamar’s performance? Tell us in the comments below.

 

About The Author

Kaasvi Bhatia is a Media Studies student at the University of British Columbia with a passion for digital storytelling and content creation.
Outside of work, Kaasvi enjoys playing tennis, running, and spending time with her friends.

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