Kendrick Lamar’s Tremendous Bowl halftime efficiency in New Orleans on Sunday drew criticism from some followers, who labeled it the ‘worst halftime present ever.’
Recent off his Grammy wins, the rapper, 37, did not appear to hold that momentum into his efficiency on the Caesars Superdome, as he hit the stage earlier than the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
The Pulitzer Prize winner showcased his lyrical prowess as he began out the efficiency on high of a automobile earlier than taking a swipe at his hip hop rival Drake, 38.
Regardless of Drake lately suing his and Lamar’s report label, Common Music Group, over the controversial diss tune, Not Like Us, which calls Drake a ‘licensed pedophile’, Kendrick nonetheless carried out the tune, nevertheless, he omitted the phrase.
He did go on to ship two different controversial traces, together with ‘Say Drake, I hear you want them younger’ and ‘making an attempt to ring a bell and it is most likely a minor,’ as the group sang alongside.
The rapper had a shock introduction from actor Samuel L. Jackson, 76, who was dressed up as ‘Uncle Sam’, and carried out a medley of his hits, earlier than he was joined by R&B singer SZA, 35.
Kendrick Lamar, 37, was slammed for having the ‘worst halftime present ever’ after he hit the stage on the Caesars Superdome for his Tremendous Bowl efficiency in New Orleans on Sunday
Recent off his Grammy wins, the rapper did not appear to hold that momentum into his efficiency throughout the showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
The Pulitzer Prize winner took a swipe at his hip hop rival Drake throughout the efficiency as he carried out his diss monitor Not Like Us
Kendrick additionally wore a giant silver chain pendant with a small letter ‘a’, in one other reference to ‘A minor’ within the lyrics.
The scathing diss monitor about Drake gained Lamar a Grammy for Document of the 12 months and Track of the 12 months final weekend.
Launched final Could, the viral tune noticed Kendrick sensationally accuse Drake of being a ‘licensed pedophile’ and pursuing minors. Drake denied the allegations in his rebuttal monitor The Coronary heart Half 6, saying his was ‘not a reputation you gon’ see on no intercourse offender listing’.
Tennis champion Serena Williams, who was as soon as linked to Drake, was pictured dancing throughout Kendrick’s efficiency of Not Like Us.
At one level throughout the charged efficiency a person with a Palestinian flag tried to storm the halftime present however was intercepted by safety.
Followers contained in the stadium noticed the drama unfold however TV cameras did not present it to viewers.
Kendrick rocked a blue and white jacket, a black shirt, blue denims and a backwards hat.
He was joined by a crew of backup dancers who shaped an American flag whereas wearing purple, white and blue.
At one level throughout the efficiency Jackson returned, and informed the group: ‘Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto. Mr. Lamar, do you actually know the right way to play the sport?’
Lamar perfumed wacced out murals, Our bodies, Squabble, Euphoria, Humble, DNA, man on the backyard, and Peekaboo by himself, earlier than he was joined by SZA.
The duo carried out their collabs Luther and All of the Stars. SZA wowed in an all-red look.
He completed off his efficiency with the tune Television Off.
The LA native showcased his lyrical prowess as he began out the efficiency on high of a automobile
Regardless of Drake lately suing his and Lamar’s report label, Common Music Group, over the controversial tune Not Like Us, which calls Drake a ‘licensed pedophile’, Kendrick nonetheless went on to carry out the tune
He omitted the phrase, nevertheless he delivered two different controversial traces from the tune, rapping, ‘Say Drake, I hear you want them younger’ and ‘making an attempt to ring a bell and it is most likely a minor’ as the group chanted alongside
Kendrick additionally wore a giant silver chain pendant with a small letter ‘a’, in one other reference to ‘a minor’ within the lyrics
Tennis champion Serena Williams, who was as soon as linked to Drake, was pictured dancing throughout Not Like Us
In contrast to a few of the followers, the athlete appeared to benefit from the present as she danced to the Drake diss monitor
The scathing diss monitor about Drake gained Lamar a Grammy for Document of the 12 months and Track of the 12 months final weekend
Later within the efficiency he was joined by SZA, 35
SZA wowed in an all-red look
The rapper was launched by Samuel L. Jackson
Lamar stated he was aiming to infuse his Los Angeles hip-hop taste into New Orleans whereas staying true to his storytelling roots throughout his halftime efficiency
He was joined by a crew of backup dancers who shaped an American flag whereas wearing purple, white and blue
Lamar’s tune Not Like Us – which accuses Drake of being a pedophile – turned a viral sensation over the summer time as the 2 artists sparred; Drake pictured in 2022
Followers blasted the present on social media, with one writing, ‘worst halftime present ever not a fan.’
‘I genuinely can’t inform if I’m being biased towards Kendrick however I believe that is the worst halftime present I’ve seen in a minute,’ one other added.
‘I believed The Weekend was dangerous however Kendrick Lamar took that spot! Worst half time present ever!’
‘To this point the most effective a part of the halftime present is Samuel L Jackson,’ one other complained.
‘One way or the other Kendrick is worse than the sport itself.’
‘This half time present at The Tremendous Bowl by Kendrick Lamar is sizzling rubbish… Worst of all time…’ one other wrote.
The evening ended with the Philadelphia Eagles destroying the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs 40-22.
Lamar’s tune Not Like Us turned a viral sensation over the summer time as the 2 artists sparred.
The hit diss tune has been the topic of litigation from the Canadian rapper, who lately filed a defamation lawsuit towards Common Music Group. Within the monitor, Drake is known as a ‘licensed pedophile.’
Within the federal defamation lawsuit filed earlier this month, the Canadian rapper sued Common Music Group for spreading the ‘false and malicious narrative’ that he’s a pedophile.
Drake says in courtroom paperwork that UMG knew Lamar’s diss monitor would come with lyrics and pictures in a music video that referred to him as a pedophile.
He additionally accused UMG of permitting the ‘inflammatory and stunning allegations’ as a result of the tune was a ‘gold mine’ for the corporate.
Previous to the efficiency there was a lot debate about whether or not Kendrick would carry out the diss monitor
Kendrick rocked a blue and white jacket, a black shirt, blue denims and a backwards hat
Lamar perfumed wacced out murals, Our bodies, Squabble, Euphoria, Humble, DNA, man on the backyard, and Peekaboo by himself, earlier than he was joined by SZA
The duo carried out their collabs Luther and All of the Stars
He completed off his efficiency with the tune Television Off
Followers expressed their disappointment over the halftime present
One of many greatest popular culture moments of 2024 was Drake and Kendrick’s rap battle that noticed them trade a complete of eight diss tracks between March 26 and Could 4.
Nevertheless, it seems Kendrick has had the final chortle after Not Like Us turned the primary ever ‘beef tune’ to win a Grammy on Sunday, February 2, 2025.
The monitor additionally earned Kendrick all 5 awards that he was nominated for, together with Document of the 12 months, Track of the 12 months, Greatest Rap Track, and Greatest Music Video, on the ceremony in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Kendrick’s success led followers on X/Twitter to declare Kendrick because the undisputed winner of the feud between him and Drake that started in 2013 and continues to this date.
Drake, who did not attend the Grammys ceremony, was talked about quite a few occasions on X/Twitter after Kendrick swept the Grammys – with one individual praising the Compton native as an ‘insane genius’ for his lyrical talents and no-holds-barred verses.
Drake and Kendrick’s longstanding feud was reignited once more in October 2023, when Drake and rapper J Cole referred to themselves and Kendrick as ‘the large three’ of rap of their tune First Particular person Shooter.
‘Love once they argue the toughest MC / Is it Ok. Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me? / We the large three, like we began a league.’
Kendrick fired again in an uncredited verse on Metro Boomin’ and Future’s monitor Like That that was launched on March 26, 2024, as he claimed: ‘Motherf**ok the large three, n***a, it is simply large me.’
The next month, Drake launched one other Kendrick Lamar diss monitor Push Ups, taking intention on the rapper’s small ft within the monitor’s promo artwork, which featured solely a measurement 7 shoe tag.
Lyrics to the tune embody: ‘High say drop, you higher drop and provides ’em fifty / Pipsqueak, pipe down / You ain’t in no large three, SZA acquired you wiped down / Travis acquired you wiped down, Savage acquired you wiped down.’
He additionally hit out with ‘Taylor Made Freestyle,’ the place he used the AI-generated voices of Tupac and Snoop Dogg, two of Lamar’s idols, to go after him. Nevertheless, it resulted in a stop and desist from Tupac’s property.
SZA wore a lace high with purple pants and an identical jacket
Her purple tresses had been styled in curls
She confirmed off some enjoyable choreography
She thrilled followers
At one level throughout the efficiency Jackson returned, and informed the group: ‘Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto. Mr. Lamar, do you actually know the right way to play the sport?’
Serena confirmed off her toned legs as she danced to the diss monitor
The tennis celebrity wore all blue
One of many greatest popular culture moments of 2024 was Drake and Kendrick’s rap battle that noticed them trade a complete of eight diss tracks between March 26 and Could 4
This was adopted by Kendrick releasing euphoria (seemingly a reference to Drake’s producer credit score on the hit HBO present) because the six-minute takedown touches on his rap rival’s racial identification, ghostwriting accusations, and relationship with son Adonis.
Accusing Drake of being an absent father, he rapped: ‘That’s ho s***. I acquired a son to boost. However I can see you don’t know nothing ‘bout that.’
The lyrics had been extensively thought-about to be a callback to US rapper Pusha T’s notorious Drake diss monitor The Story of Adidon, which revealed Drake had fathered a son with French grownup star Sophie Brussaux.
Drake confirmed he had a son named Adonis with the discharge of his fifth album Scorpion.
Earlier than he had an opportunity to answer euphoria, Kendrick doubled down with 6:16 in LA – seemingly a parody of the Canadian musician’s well-known timestamp songs akin to 4 PM in Calabasas (2013) and eight AM in Charlotte (2023).
Within the lyrics, Kendrick disses Drake by going after his OVO crew and his music.
He raps: ‘Have you ever ever thought that OVO was workin’ for me? / Faux bully, I hate bullies, you should be a horrible individual / Everybody in your group is whispering that you simply deserve it.’
He even performs on certainly one of Drake’s viral hits Toosie Slide from 2020, rapping: ‘Cannot Toosie Slide out of this one / It is simply gon’ resurface.’
At one level throughout the charged efficiency a person with a Palestinian flag tried to storm the halftime present however was intercepted by safety
Followers contained in the stadium noticed the drama unfold however TV cameras did not present it to viewers
Drake then performed his hand in one other diss monitor titled Household Issues, as the meat dragged into Could 2024.
Asserting the tune on Instagram, Drake captioned the publish, ‘FAMILY MATTERS out on YouTube now. Cease making an attempt to piece collectively what I do know and go decide up the items of your damaged dwelling.’
Mere minutes after Drake launched his tune, Kendrick fired again with Meet the Grahams – his third diss in per week.
On his quick-witted rebuttal, Kendrick suggests Drake has a secret daughter.
‘You lied about your son, you lied about your daughter, huh, you lied about them different children that is on the market hoping that you simply come,’ go the lyrics.
In response, Drake shared a selfie to his Instagram Story and wrote, ‘Nahhh maintain on can somebody discover my hidden daughter pls and ship her to me…these guys are in shambles,’ with a crying-laughing emoji.
Then got here Not Like Us – Kendrick’s Grammy-winning tune that was launched on Could 4 and even compelled a few of the most loyal Drake followers into his nook.
The monitor was launched on YouTube with what seemed to be a graphic of Drake’s mansion with intercourse offender symbols, as he accused the musician of being a ‘licensed pedophile’ over his alleged interactions with youthful girls.
‘Say Drake, I hear you want ’em younger,’ the Kendrick rapped, encouraging others to ‘conceal your little sister from him’.
He then goes on to say ‘They inform me Chubbs (Drake’s safety guard) the one one which get your hand-me-downs’.
He hit the stage earlier than the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
‘And Social gathering on the occasion playin’ wit’ his nostril now,’ focusing on Canadian artist PartyNextDoor.
Referring to their ongoing feud, he continues with, ‘Why you trollin’ like a b****, ain’t you drained? You are tryin’ to ring a bell and it is most likely A minor.’
Drake defended himself towards the allegation within the The Coronary heart Half 6, rapping: ‘I by no means been with nobody underage however now I perceive why this the angle that you simply actually mess with.
‘Only for readability, I really feel disgusted, I’m too revered / If I used to be f***ing younger ladies, I promise I’d have been arrested / I’m means too well-known for this s*** you simply advised.’
However, within the battle for rap glory, The Coronary heart Half 6 felt like a whimper after Kendrick roared in Not Like Us.
The tune has racked up a staggering 194 million views since Kendrick dropped it eight months in the past.
Inside days of its launch, it climbed to the highest of the Billboard’s Sizzling 100 listing – marking Lamar’s first solo entry for the reason that launch of ‘Humble’ in 2017.
Off the again of Not Like Us, Kendrick was named because the 2025 Tremendous Bowl Halftime Performer.
The feud between Drake and Kendrick has now entered its thirteenth 12 months, after the One Dance singer filed a federal defamation lawsuit over Not Like Us.
It comes after Lamar stated he was aiming to infuse his Los Angeles hip-hop taste into New Orleans whereas staying true to his storytelling roots throughout his halftime efficiency.
‘Being within the now and being simply locked-in to how I really feel and the power I’ve now, that is the L.A. power for me,’ he stated Thursday at a press convention hosted by Apple Music.
‘That is one thing I wished to hold over to New Orleans and for the world to see. That is me. That is Kendrick Lamar, 37 years outdated, and I nonetheless really feel like I am elevating, I am nonetheless on a journey.’
When requested what viewers can count on, Lamar answered: ‘Storytelling. I believe I´ve all the time been very open about storytelling by way of all my catalog and my historical past of music. And I´ve all the time had a ardour about bringing that on no matter stage I´m on.’
Lamar will likely be bringing hip-hop again to the NFL´s championship recreation, the place he carried out as a visitor artist with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Eminem in 2022.
On Sunday, he turn out to be the primary solo hip-hop artist to headline the halftime present. ‘It jogs my memory of the essence and the core response of rap and hip-hop and the way far it may well go,’ he stated.
‘It places the tradition on the forefront, the place it must be and never minimized to only a catchy tune or verse. It is a true artwork kind, so to characterize it on this sort of stage is like all the pieces that I´ve labored for and all the pieces that I imagine in so far as the tradition.’
Taylor Swift was seen cheering on her boyfriend Travis Kelce, earlier than the Chiefs misplaced
The rap megastar took the stage contemporary off a Grammy triumph, the place he claimed two of the evening’s greatest awards – tune and report of the 12 months – for his diss monitor Not Like Us.
The Tremendous Bowl pregame had some Louisiana taste: Jon Batiste hit the stage to sing the nationwide anthem, whereas Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle carried out America the Lovely.
It was beforehand reported that the character of Lamar’s halftime present ‘hangs within the steadiness’ amid authorized conferences.
Recent off releasing his highly-acclaimed album GNX, Lamar can also be gearing up for a significant tour alongside SZA, his former High Dawg Leisure labelmate. The Grand Nationwide Tour kicks off April 19 in Minneapolis and concludes June 18 in Washington, D.C.
‘I am honored to be subsequent to her expertise,’ Lamar stated of SZA.
