Kendrick Lamar got the world talking with his attention-grabbing Super Bowl halftime on Sunday night. As the Pulitzer-winning hip-hop legend took centerstage in the New Orleans’ Caesar Superdome, everyone wondered what he might do — and the main question was whether he’d perform “Not Like Us,” the ubiquitous, chart-topping diss track aimed at his rap rival Drake.
Lots of fans thought Lamar would steer away from drama, especially since “Not Like Us” is now embroiled in some pretty serious legal issues (Drake filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group, accusing them of defamation for allowing the song to be published, particularly because Lamar calls him a pedophile in the track.) Lamar shocked everyone by not only mentioning the lawsuit, but also singing the song’s most controversial lyrics on one of the biggest stages in America. However, that was just one part of the performance. Lamar packed the whole halftime show with all-star cameos, political undertones, and choreography moves that not everyone watching picked up on. Here are some of the Easter eggs from the performance explained.
Serena Williams performs during the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Serena Williams’ Cameo
Ahead of Kendrick Lamar’s set, people were hungry to know both how much more salt he would pour in Drake’s wound as well as who would be joining him on the field. The answer to both were unexpected when the camera panned to Serena Williams crip walking during “Not Like Us.” The layers to the appearance were endless, but the most damning is that Williams was rumored to date Drake years ago. He’s referenced her on songs like “Worst Behavior” and once called her husband Alexis Ohanian a “groupie.” Williams gets a defensive shout out from fellow Compton native Lamar on “Not Like Us,” when he rapped “better not speak on Serena.” But outside of the beef, Williams’ cameo was a full-circle moment: back in 2012, she was criticized for doing the same dance after she beat Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon. She joked about it after the Super Bowl. “Man, I did not crip walk like that at Wimbledon,” she said. “Ooh, I would’ve been fined.”
The Flag Formation
Divided States of America? For the rap star’s performance of “Humble,” Lamar took the stage surrounded by 60 dancers dressed in red white and blue, lined up to look like the American flag. Lamar rapped the DAMN track’s lyrics standing in the middle of the flag, cut in two opposing halves. For many viewers, the “Humble” section of the performance (and the dancer formation) symbolized the state of America today following the election of President Trump, who was in the audience Sunday night. — T.M.
Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam
Before Lamar kicked off his set, the first person we saw was none other than Samuel L. Jackson. The legendary actor was dressed as Uncle Sam, in a star-spangled suit. He welcomed the audience to the “great American game” and served as the emcee helping move the set along. He calls the set “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto” at one point, showing a contentious relationship between Lamar and Uncle Sam as a figure of American idealism. Uncle Sam is also keeping score as the show goes on, deducting “one life” when Lamar is joined by his “homeboys” on stage. —B.S.
Samuel Jackson and Kendrick Lamar are seen onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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The Buick GNX
Lamar opened the Halftime Show by stepping out of a 1987 Buick GNX, a motif from his 2024 album, named after the muscle car. The vehicle symbolized both the classic roots of Lamar’s rap style and a subtle homage to his father, who drove that same vehicle when Lamar was born in ‘87. “My pops put me on to rap,” he said of Buick Regals back in 2012. “When I was born, I came home from the hospital in an ’87 Buick Regal while my pops was bumping Big Daddy Kane.” — T.M.
Kendrick’s ‘A’ Chain
Kendrick performed adorned in a gleaming “a” chain that caught viewers’ attention. Many perceived it as a subtle reference to his “a minor” chant in “Not Like Us,” the scathing diss that accused Drake of being a “certified pedophile.” Others speculated that the a is an alternate logo for his company PgLang. Who knows what the significance behind the chain is, but we all know how intentional Kendrick is; he wasn’t wearing it just because he likes the shape of the “a.” —A.G.
Mustard’s Appearance
At the end of Kendrick’s set, he brought out Mustard, the LA-based producer who produced “Not Like Us,” as well as “TV Off” and “Hey Now” on Kendrick’s GNX album. Mustard said he made the “Not Like Us” beat in 30 minutes and sent it to Kendrick in a pack of other beats. That half hour of work got him an iconic song and a platform at the world’s biggest concert. —A.G.
