Once upon a time, J. Cole rapped, “Me and Drizzy, this shit like the Super Bowl” in "First Person Shooter" — the track that inadvertently ignited the high-profile rap beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Well, look how that turned out. Less than a year later, Lamar not only won five Grammys for his scathing Drake diss "Not Like Us," but he also performed the track at one of the biggest televised events in the world: Super Bowl LIX.

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THE FINAL BLOW: A SUPER BOWL STATEMENT

Lamar’s halftime performance was a masterclass in layered symbolism, blending jabs at Drake with broader social and political commentary following Donald Trump’s re-election. The 13-minute spectacle featured special appearances from SZA, Mustard, and Serena Williams, as well as striking imagery that left audiences dissecting every moment. One of the most telling moments? Lamar’s cryptic tease before launching into "Not Like Us": “You know they like to sue.”

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THE AMERICAN FLAG AS A SYMBOL

National imagery played a crucial role in the performance, with backup dancers clad in red, blue, and white forming the American flag during the opening beats of "HUMBLE." Some viewers interpreted the all-Black arrangement of dancers as a nod to the labor of African Americans in building the U.S. More subtly, the presence of red and blue bandanas referenced the Bloods and Crips—rival gangs that Lamar famously united on stage during his The Pop Out concert in 2024. Wearing a blue jacket, Lamar subtly acknowledged his Compton roots, reinforcing his connection to the message.

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RECREATING THE GNX ALBUM COVER

As the stage lights rose, Lamar stood atop a black Buick GNX, perfectly recreating the cover of his critically acclaimed 2024 album GNX. The limited-edition muscle car holds deep personal significance for Lamar, as it was reportedly the vehicle his father drove him home in after his birth in 1987. The moment was both a callback to his album and a statement of identity, anchoring his legacy in personal history.

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"GAME OVER" FOR DRAKE

One of the most talked-about visuals was the striking recreation of a PlayStation controller during the performance of "Not Like Us." As Lamar delivered his bars, backup dancers formed the iconic PlayStation symbols—X, Square, Triangle, and Circle. While the deeper meaning remains speculative, some fans linked it to Drake's OVO Sound label recently signing a distribution deal with Sony Music. The gaming analogy reached its peak when drones lit up the sky, spelling out "GAME OVER" above the stadium.

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LAMAR MOCKS DRAKE'S LAWSUIT

Lamar knew exactly what the audience wanted. Before dropping "Not Like Us," he turned to his four female backup dancers and quipped, “You know they love to sue,” referencing Drake's ongoing lawsuit against Universal Music Group for defamation and harassment. The dig was a direct response to Drake’s legal team's pre-Super Bowl statement, which attempted to frame the lawsuit as a fight against corporate greed. Unfortunately for Drake, the public reception leaned heavily in Lamar's favor. As The Guardian put it in their review: "The Chiefs might have been losing by 27 points at halftime, but it was Drake at that moment who was the biggest loser in North America."

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SERENA WILLIAMS CRIP WALKS ON STAGE

Another standout moment came when tennis legend Serena Williams made a surprise appearance during "Not Like Us," crip walking across the stage. The dance move, created by first-generation Crip member Robert "Sugar Bear" Jackson, holds cultural weight, especially given the backlash Williams faced in 2012 for celebrating her Olympic gold medal with the same move. Her presence on stage served as both a reclamation and a pointed reference to her complicated history with Drake, whom she allegedly dated in 2011. Lamar's lyric "Don't speak on Serena" took on a new level of significance with her involvement in the performance.

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SAMUEL L. JACKSON AS UNCLE SAM

Adding another layer of political commentary, Samuel L. Jackson appeared dressed as Uncle Sam, a striking twist on the classic American symbol. Wearing the traditional blue coat, striped trousers, and star-spangled hat, he played the role of an authority figure chastising Lamar for being “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto.” The moment served as a commentary on how America polices Blackness, highlighting the tension between cultural identity and national allegiance. The performance hinted at a deeper critique: no matter a person’s race, if they pledge loyalty to the American empire, they will always put it first. As the saying goes, "Not all skin folk are kin folk."

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A NIGHT DRAKE WOULD RATHER FORGET

While the Super Bowl is usually remembered for its on-field action, this year’s halftime show was the real highlight. Kendrick Lamar not only cemented his dominance in the rap world but also delivered a visually stunning and politically charged performance that will be dissected for years to come. And for Drake? This was a very, very bad night. 😔

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