Three years ago, Kendrick Lamar joined a fleet of hip-hop legends for the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show. It was the Pulitzer Prize-winning songwriter’s first time on the massive stage. Fittingly, 2022’s big game took place in Inglewood, California—just a stone’s throw from Lamar’s hometown of Compton.
Videos by American Songwriter
Now, it’s 2025, and the stage was entirely Lamar’s own. The “Not Like Us” hitmaker commanded New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome during halftime of Sunday’s (Feb. 9) Super Bowl matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Here are the top three viral moments from Kendrick Lamar’s epic Super Bowl LIX halftime show performance.
1. Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams Make Cameos
Kendrick Lamar promised a surprise guest during his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance. He delivered in the form of actor Samuel L. Jackson, who guest starred as “Uncle Sam.” However, social media’s reaction was mixed.
What was Kendrick’s big surprise ? I wasn’t surprised!
— FLOWERS🌺 (@flo_hauz) February 10, 2025
At one point, Lamar also brought out tennis legend (and fellow Compton native) Serena Williams to dance around. It’s probably not a coincidence that Williams dated rapper Drake, Lamar’s archrival, for a brief time around 2011.
Super Bowl halftime show babyyyyyyyyy pic.twitter.com/zufoSNdNhe
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) February 10, 2025
2. SZA Joins Kendrick Lamar For Thunderous “Luther” Performance
The crowd at Caesars Superdome got a taste of what was to come when Kendrick Lamar welcomed his future tour mate, SZA, to the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show stage. The pair performed their latest collab, “Luther,” along with “All The Stars,” off the Black Panther soundtrack.
Where were you when SZA saved the Super Bowl LIX halftime
— BackGoesAlonso (@backgoesupton) February 10, 2025
3. The Lyric Change in “Not Like Us”
Kendrick Lamar came into the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show riding a high. After trading lyrical barbs with Drake last spring, the 37-year-old rapper lobbed a grenade in the form of “Not Like Us.” The diss track added five GRAMMY Awards to Lamar’s hardware collection last weekend, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
Due to an ongoing defamation lawsuit filed by Drake against Universal Music Group, fans wondered whether Lamar would play his hottest song. They soon got their answer.
“I want to perform they favorite song,” the 22-time GRAMMY Award winner said at one point. “But you know they love to sue.”
Cue the opening notes. “Yeah, that song,” Lamar said with a mischievous smile. “Hold on, maybe I’ll think about it. You know what? I slow it down.”
Just noticed the devilish smile when Kendrick Lamar namedrops Drake on Live TV that so fucking peak holy shit https://t.co/ZuCP4uxpLE pic.twitter.com/UPaqO8QvbQ
— Agentwo (@Twognt) February 10, 2025
Later, Lamar carried that roguish vibe into the actual performance. Although he replaced the word “pedophile” with a scream, the entire stadium still chimed in on the infamous “A-Minor” line.
Featured image by Annie Lesser/imageSPACE/Shutterstock
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.