Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show with SZA features commentary by 'Uncle' Samuel L. Jackson.

 As he delivered his hit diss track, Not Like Us, the crowd at the Superdome erupted in song, chanting along.

Kendrick Lamar performs at the halftime show at the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday.

 

Updated Feb. 10, 2025, 8:14 AM GMT+6

Fresh off winning five Grammy Awards, a "humble" Kendrick Lamar took the stage at the Superdome on Sunday, making history as the first solo rapper to headline the Super Bowl halftime show.

Lamar was joined by SZA and DJ Mustard for parts of the performance. In a surprise appearance, actor Samuel L. Jackson—dressed as a modern-day Uncle Sam—opened the show and made periodic appearances to keep the energy high. Tennis star Serena Williams also made a cameo during the set.

Lamar kicked off his performance with "GNX," delivered from atop a black Grand National car. He then transitioned seamlessly into "Squabble Up" before launching into one of his earlier hits, "HUMBLE."

Dressed in a red, white, and blue bomber jacket, bell-bottom jeans, and sneakers, Lamar paid homage to American culture alongside dancers outfitted in matching patriotic colors. At one point, they formed a human American flag on stage, adding a visually powerful moment to the spectacle.

Following performances of "DNA" and "Euphoria," SZA joined Lamar onstage for "Luther" and "All the Stars." Staying on theme, she was dressed entirely in red.

The most highly anticipated moment of the night arrived later in the set when Lamar performed "Not Like Us," the diss track that played a key role in securing his recent Grammy wins. Throughout the performance, Lamar teased elements of the song’s famous beat, building anticipation before finally launching into the track. The crowd responded with a thunderous singalong to the track, which is aimed at Canadian rapper Drake.

Lamar and Drake’s ongoing feud reached new heights last month when Drake filed a federal lawsuit against Universal Music Group, alleging defamation due to the promotion of "Not Like Us." A UMG spokesperson dismissed the allegations as "untrue."

For the grand finale, DJ Mustard rejoined Lamar onstage for "TV Off," as the words "GAME OVER" lit up over the field, bringing another electrifying Super Bowl halftime show to a close.

February has been a monumental month for Lamar, who is riding the momentum of a scorching 2024.

“Rap music remains the most impactful genre today, and I’ll be here to remind the world why. They got the right one,” Lamar, 37, said in a statement last September when he was announced as the headliner.

Speaking at an Apple Music news conference on Thursday, Lamar reflected on his journey, saying he never imagined performing at the Super Bowl in his early career.

“What I know is the passion I have now is still the passion I had then, and I think that carried me to the Super Bowl,” he said.

Lamar previously performed at the Super Bowl in 2022 as part of a West Coast-themed halftime show at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, where he shared the stage with fellow hip-hop legends.

Ahead of Sunday’s show, Lamar promised audiences a strong narrative-driven performance.

“I always want to make people listen, but also see and think a little,” he said.

As one of the most decorated rap artists in history, Lamar boasts 22 Grammy Awards and 29 BET Awards. In 2018, he became the first musician outside the classical or jazz genres to win a Pulitzer Prize for Music.

Lamar surprise-released his latest album, "GNX," on November 22. The album features the newly debuted track "Squabble Up," which was first teased in the "Not Like Us" music video. This latest release follows his 2022 album, "Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers," and includes collaborations with SZA on two tracks.