The Super Bowl has something for everybody. Of course, there’s the football for those who are into sports. For Taylor Swift fans, there’s the occasional cut to her on the jumbotron. For music lovers like me, there’s the halftime show.
Halftime shows often go one way or the other: iconic — like Rihanna’s and Katy Perry’s where they performed some of their most well-known songs and used the set to its fullest — or, to put it simply, disappointing — like last year’s performance from Usher, where he didn’t make the most of his platform and performed less popular songs.
This year’s headliner was Kendrick Lamar, a trailblazer in hip-hop whose hit Drake diss “Not Like Us” was awarded five Grammy Awards, including Record and Song of the Year. He performed alongside SZA, arguably one of the biggest R&B artists of the decade known for her unique voice and numerous hit songs.
Lamar was the first rapper to headline alone, so there was a lot of pressure on him to deliver, and he did just that. I am not surprised that he and SZA’s performance went so well and was so perfectly done.
The set had several different platforms, including the main stage, which was in the shape and design of a tic-tac-toe board. The first platform shown up close with a car and a longer runway covered in white canvas material. White border lights surrounded Lamar as he rapped.
Throughout the performance, there were nods to the American flag, Uncle Sam and “The Great American Game.” Samuel L. Jackson, an American actor and producer, portrayed Uncle Sam, a personification of the United States. Dancers also dressed in red, white and blue. I think it’s fair to say that Lamar’s show was all about symbolism.
Jackson began the performance by introducing Lamar, and he was shown right after Lamar performed “Squabble Up,” calling the production “too ghetto” and telling him to “tighten up.” The phrase “too ghetto” during this hip-hop performance played a significant part in the picture Lamar was painting. Since the creation of hip-hop as a musical genre, it has been criticized and judged due to it’s perceived explicit nature. The word ghetto is often used derogatorily and has significant cultural meaning.
After SZA and Lamar’s performance of “All the Stars,” Jackson returned. He said, “That’s what America wants, nice and calm…don’t mess this up,” while Lamar’s hit song “Not Like Us” began to play in the background. Serena Williams, an alleged ex-partner of Drake, cameo-d, doing a crip-walk on stage, a reference to the negative reaction when she did the crip-walk at Wimbledon in 2012.
Lamar’s storytelling and boldness were unmatched, and he executed this daring, dauntless performance perfectly. He started his set with two songs from his newest album “GNX” and rapped “GNX Preview Song” while on top of the car shown in the up-close shot of the set. He then went on to perform “Squabble Up” with many backup dancers dressed in all red performed beside him. Then, they marched onto the stairs in the formation of the flag with Kendrick in the middle. All of these flag colors, formations and outfits tied perfectly into this story he curated through his set and setlist, as well as his choice of guest appearances.
Lamar then performed his hit songs “Humble” and “DNA” from his 2017 hit album “DAMN.” Surrounded by dancers in red, white and blue, he then rapped “Euphoria” and “Man At the Garden.“ Following “Peekaboo” came SZA. She emerged in a red ensemble to then perform her verse on “Luther” as well as, my favorite, “All the Stars.” SZA and her vocals enhanced the performance immensely.
Lamar ended this incredible performance with “Not Like Us” which was nothing short of, at the risk of sounding repetitive, iconic. He finished his show with a performance of his hit “TV Off.”
He chose the perfect setlist for the halftime show. He sang old songs, new songs and, my favorite, his songs with SZA. Not only was his setlist on point, but he brought so much energy to his singing and dancing. You could feel his enjoyment through his expressions and movements, and it was clear everything he was doing was purposeful.
In summary, Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show did not disappoint. He brought the boldness, stage presence, guest appearances and, no doubt, symbolism. He took the 13-and-a-half minutes he was given and made an unforgettable moment in pop culture history.
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Singing
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Set
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Enjoyment
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Impact
Summary
Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s vocals were great throughout their entire Super Bowl performance — hence the five stars in that category. The set enhanced the performance, and the lights helped bring my attention to Lamar during the show. However, I think they could’ve used it to play more into the “The Great American Game” theme they portrayed and mentioned throughout the performance. In terms of impact, there was so much symbolism and recognition of discrimination and censorship once I did some research on the show, though it might not be as evident to those who only watched it during the Super Bowl. Overall, the performance was very enjoyable to watch.
