Kendrick Lamar Tackles America’s Game—and Wins
Kendrick Lamar Chris Graythen/Getty Images
For many, watching the Super Bowl is an annual tradition filled with competitive banter, food, gatherings, and celebrations. While there may be disagreements between opposing team fans and players, one aspect of the event that nearly every viewer experiences in unison is the Super Bowl halftime performance. This year’s Super Bowl, held on February 9, was one for the books—and here we are, still talking about it weeks later.
This year, with a record-breaking 133.5 million viewers, multi-Grammy Award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar took center stage for his highly anticipated halftime show (Fox Sports, 2025). Some have called it one of the best halftime performances in years, referring to it as a masterpiece or an exhibition, while others have criticized it as dull or not that entertaining. Despite the mixed reviews, one thing is undeniable—it was widely watched. In fact, Lamar's performance surpassed Michael Jackson’s 1993 halftime show viewership record (Fox Sports, 2025).
But why was Kendrick Lamar’s performance so heavily watched and anticipated? Several major components contributed to the significance of this spectacle.
Samuel L. Jackson and Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, Feb. 9, 2025. Photo via Rolling Stone.
Lamar opened his performance alongside actor, philanthropist, and long-time civil rights advocate Samuel L. Jackson, who portrayed a modernized version of Uncle Sam. The stage was set with over twenty Black dancers emerging from a black two-door Buick GNX, a nod to classic American car culture and a possible reference to economic mobility (The New York Times, 2025). One of his opening statements was, “The revolution about to be televised. You picked the right time but the wrong guy.”
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The stage design was meant to resemble a video game controller, symbolizing that America is a game continuously being played. Jackson, throughout the performance, reinforced this theme by calling attention to how Black Americans are often treated as pawns in a system stacked against them (Rolling Stone, 2025). The background dancers, dressed in red, white, and blue, formed an American flag formation as part of the choreography. The show concluded with “GAME OVER” displayed across the audience—a stark and pointed message.
The phrase "GAME OVER" can be interpreted in multiple ways. It may signify a rejection of societal expectations, particularly regarding how Black Americans are expected to behave or assimilate. It could also be a call to action, urging Black communities to push back against systemic racism and embrace their cultural identity (The Atlantic, 2025).
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Additionally, the phrase may have had a double meaning—a reference to Kendrick Lamar’s highly publicized rap feud with fellow Grammy Award-winning rapper Drake. Speculation surrounded whether Lamar would perform his controversial diss track "They Not Like Us," which he ultimately did. Reports suggested that Lamar risked legal repercussions if he performed the track, fueling further anticipation and making the performance even more of a cultural moment (Billboard, 2025). Leading into another major highlight of the halftime show was the surprise appearance of tennis legend Serena Williams, a Compton native-like Lamar. During the performance, Williams performed the Crip Walk, a dance deeply embedded in Los Angeles street culture.
This moment was especially significant because, in 2012, after winning an Olympic gold medal in tennis at Wimbledon, Williams performed the same dance but faced widespread criticism. Some even suggested she should be fined for it, with commentators arguing that it was inappropriate for an international stage (ESPN, 2012). Now, more than a decade later, Williams reclaimed the moment—dancing on one of the biggest global stages without consequence (People, 2025).
While interpretations of Kendrick Lamar’s performance may vary, many Black Americans viewed it as a powerful and necessary statement, particularly as it coincided with Black History Month (The Root, 2025).
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Additionally, the Super Bowl victory by the Philadelphia Eagles, a team with a predominantly Black roster, carried cultural significance—particularly for Philadelphia, a city with a deep Black historical presence (The Philadelphia Inquirer, 2025).
Whether viewers loved or criticized Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show, one thing is certain—it sparked conversation and delivered a bold, thought-provoking statement to millions watching worldwide.
Sources:
Fox Sports. "Super Bowl LIX Breaks All-Time Viewership Record with 133.5 Million Viewers." February 2025. www.foxsports.com
The New York Times. "Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Performance: A Cultural Breakdown." February 2025. www.nytimes.com
Rolling Stone. "Decoding the Messages in Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show." February 2025. www.rollingstone.com
The Atlantic. "The Social Commentary Behind Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Set." February 2025. www.theatlantic.com
Billboard. "Lamar vs. Drake: How the Feud Played Out on the Super Bowl Stage." February 2025. www.billboard.com
People. "Serena Williams’ Super Bowl Moment Claps Back at Past Criticism." February 2025. www.people.com
ESPN. "Serena Williams Criticized for Crip Walk Celebration at Olympics." August 2012. www.espn.com
The Root. "Why Kendrick Lamar’s Performance Resonated with Black America." February 2025. www.theroot.com
The Philadelphia Inquirer. "The Eagles’ Super Bowl Victory: A Cultural Moment for Philadelphia." February 2025. www.inquirer.com