By Singyi Lo

March 2025

On Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar performed at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana. Lamar’s performance will be remembered for years to come, as he opened it with the epic line: “The revolution ‘bout to be televised / You picked the right time, but the wrong guy.”

According to Billboard Magazine, Lamar’s halftime performance attracted nearly 133.5 million viewers, becoming the most-watched halftime show in Super Bowl history. 

Performing his greatest hits from “Squabble Up” to “T.V. Off”, there was a deeper message presented on Lamar’s stage. Right off the bat, audiences were introduced to actor Samuel L. Jackson’s version of Uncle Sam, who welcomed them to “The Great American Game.” Jackson’s appearance didn’t stop there though, as throughout Lamar’s performance, he criticized Lamar for “being too loud” or “too ghetto.” In addition, there were guest appearances from former Tennis player Serena Williams, who performed her infamous crip walk from 2012, along with the famous singer, SZA, who duetted with Lamar in his songs “Luther” and “All the Stars”.

The stage was set up like a game controller. The show began with Lamar perched up on a shiny Cadillac and slowly, dancers poured out of it. Throughout the 13-minute performance, audiences were taken through various stages of said game. When the show began, it was upbeat and hyped, building up the anticipation. That was, until Uncle Sam broke in and demanded Lamar and his dancers to “tighten up”. They complied with Uncle Sam’s request, slowing things down for SZA’s performance. Lamar then performed his Grammy award winning hit, “Not Like Us,” a proclaimed “diss track” aimed at another popular rapper, Drake, referencing their long feud in the industry. The performance ended with Lamar’s “TV Off”, signaling that the game was over. 

But what did Uncle Sam mean when he welcomed us to “The Great American Game?” Many would think that it was a simple reference to the American football game taking place that night. However, that did not seem to be the case. Truthfully, it could have been about the ongoing climate in the nation, as we are currently in President Donald Trump’s second term. Or it could be about the racial inequality that has existed since the birth of the nation. Regardless, “The Great American Game” could be interpreted in various ways.

With so much symbolism and meaning set on the stage, many things could be missed in Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance if not watched multiple times. It is important to pay attention to artistic stages like these, regardless of their magnitude. Sometimes, there may be a deeper meaning to them if we look closer.