As Samuel L. Jackson stepped onto the field for Kendrick Lamar‘s Super Bowl LIX halftime show introduction, he took on the persona of a well-known figure: “Greetings, I am your Uncle Sam,” the actor declared, sporting a blue top hat adorned with white stars, “and this is the grand American game.
Fans recall Uncle Sam from Lamar’s album “To Pimp a Butterfly“. In the song “Wesley’s Theory“, this cunning figure tempts Compton’s rapper with the insatiable desire for material possessions. “What do you crave? / A house or a car? / Forty acres and a mule, a piano, a guitar?/ Anything, see, my name is Uncle Sam, I’m at your service,” Lamar sings, lending the character an eerie voice, reminiscent of the serpent in the Garden of Eden. The rapper uses this specter to depict a struggle between the American artist and capitalism, highlighting both its allure and destructive aspects within their relationship.
On Sunday evening, Lamar directly addressed the topic during his skillful and captivating halftime show, marking the first time a solo rap artist headlined this event. Throughout the streamlined performance, the rapper – under increased commercial and critical scrutiny these days – maintained his unique approach. With a Pulitzer Prize win, nearly two dozen Grammy Awards, and high-profile feuds with Drake, Lamar has reached new heights of stardom. The buzz surrounding this evening’s performance led to articles and editorials speculating whether Lamar would use the platform to discuss “Not Like Us,” his globally renowned diss track, or showcase his biggest hits. Some also pondered the implications of a rapper who has been critical of the industry and inspired by Black revolutionary imagery, agreeing to perform for an organization that blacklisted Colin Kaepernick for protesting police brutality. The question was: what would Lamar do, and what message did he wish to convey about his identity?
The rapper’s act fluctuated between respecting and challenging conventions. He transformed Uncle Sam into a game master, evaluating the artist’s growth. When this character, adorned in a bespoke Bode suit, greeted spectators to the grand American game, he was alluding to both football and stardom. Lamar’s performance incorporated the triangle, square, and circle symbols, famously used in Squid Game. His dancers donned red, white, and blue costumes, often forming shapes similar to the American flag.
At the event, it was Uncle Sam who took charge, keeping a watchful eye on Lamar. (It’s worth mentioning that Donald Trump, currently in his second term as the U.S. president, was among the spectators.) Following Lamar’s performance of “Squabble Up,” backed by an imposing troupe of dancers dressed in red, Uncle Sam criticized the act as being too boisterous, too risky, and too street-like, then questioned if Lamar truly understood the rules of the game.
Tonight’s performance by Lamar was influenced by this ongoing debate between artistic authenticity and popular success. Unlike many artists who usually play their biggest hits at such events, Lamar chose to focus on songs from his GNX project instead, with tracks like “Man at the Garden” and “Luther,” which featured SZA’s vocals. These choices were surprising given that songs like “Alright” and those from “good kid, mA.A.d city,” such as “Swimming Pools” or “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe,” are typically crowd favorites.
During Lamar’s performances of “Luther” and “All the Stars” alongside SZA, Sam gave his approval to their duets. The officiant commented, “America appreciates tranquility,” before reminding Lamar to avoid disrupting the positive vibes. However, even while playing by the rules, Lamar demonstrated a preference for adding his unique style to the mix.
During his entire show, Lamar frequently hinted at his biggest hit “Not Like Us”. At one instance, when the initial chords started playing, the artist, adorned with a diamond chain symbolizing A minor, told a dancer that he wanted to perform their preferred song. However, he mentioned that they tend to sue, alluding to the defamation lawsuit Drake filed against his and Lamar’s label, UMG.
The rapper wasn’t intimidated by the prospect of a lawsuit, ultimately choosing to perform the popular song and introduce Serena Williams, another special guest for the evening. Kendrick Lamar embraced the performance, enjoying the quick-witted and humorous style reminiscent of his early successes. During the performance, it appeared that Lamar was unburdened by responsibility and excited to have some fun while poking fun at his main rival. However, there seemed to be a dark undertone: At one point, Lamar, in reference to Drake, flashed a mischievous smile towards the camera. While this final performance was intended to be rebellious, showcasing that Lamar will play this game on his own terms, it couldn’t help but feel like an attempt at appeasement – given the stage and the year in which it took place.
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2025-02-10 10:24