Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance has received mixed reactions. While some praised it as one of the best hip-hop halftime shows ever, others found it underwhelming or hard to understand. There’s no doubt that Kendrick is a talented artist with incredible songs, but his performance didn’t fully live up to expectations.
Lamar’s performance included deep symbolism and clever Easter eggs, which fit his style perfectly. However, his song choices and guest appearances left much to be desired. Many of the tracks that made fans fall in love with him were missing, and the entire show seemed to be leading up to ‘Not Like Us.’
Unlike Dr. Dre’s 2022 halftime show, which took fans on a journey through his career, Kendrick focused heavily on his recent work. Instead of showcasing his musical evolution, the performance felt like a recap of the last five years. Fans had hoped for nods to his early days with TDE and the Black Hippy collective, including fellow rappers like Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and ScHoolboy Q. A throwback to classics like ‘HiiiPower’ would have been a welcome surprise, but it didn’t happen.
A highlight of the show was a guest appearance from Serena Williams, which made sense given its connection to ‘Not Like Us’ and Kendrick’s feud with Drake. Unfortunately, this rivalry overshadowed much of the performance.
Kendrick’s outfit and stage design included references to Drake, such as the ‘A-minor’ symbol on his chain and flags carried by dancers. However, these elements didn’t truly represent Lamar’s full career. Many fan-favorite tracks, like ‘Backseat Freestyle’ and ‘Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe,’ were missing. He also didn’t perform any songs from his critically acclaimed album To Pimp A Butterfly.
Instead of pulling from his first three albums, Lamar focused on songs from his 2024 album GNX and two diss tracks. His only special guest was SZA, who will be joining him on tour, making the performance feel more like a promotional event than a celebration of his career.
Dr. Dre’s halftime show worked so well because he carefully walked fans through his journey, bringing out artists who played key roles in his life, such as Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and 50 Cent. In contrast, Kendrick’s setlist felt like a GNX listening party mixed with references to his beef with Drake.
While playing ‘Not Like Us’ made sense, performing ‘Euphoria’ felt unnecessary. Adding more classic songs would have helped highlight his full range of talent. The focus on his feud with Drake took away from what could have been a legendary performance. Considering many already see Kendrick as the winner of the battle, he didn’t need to emphasize it so much during the Super Bowl.
Ultimately, while Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show had powerful symbolism and high energy, it missed an opportunity to showcase his full career and connect with all his fans.
