Fresh off a major night at the Grammys, where he won five awards—including Record and Song of the Year for Not Like Us—Kendrick Lamar took the stage at the Super Bowl 2025 Halftime Show on Sunday (Feb. 9) at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
With the Philadelphia Eagles leading the Kansas City Chiefs 24-0 at halftime, Lamar’s performance opened with a massive tic-tac-toe board and an introduction from Samuel L. Jackson, who welcomed fans to “The Great American Game.”
Lamar kicked off his set with Bodies, rapping from the top of a GNX as dancers in red and white surrounded him. As he transitioned into Squabble Up, Jackson interrupted, advising him to “tighten up” and play the game correctly. Lamar then shifted into a medley of HUMBLE. and DNA., followed by a surprise performance of Euphoria, his diss track aimed at Drake. He later performed Man in the Garden on a street corner set, drawing more commentary from Jackson.
The stage transformed into an X as Lamar performed Peekaboo, teasing the crowd before slowing things down. Instead of immediately performing Not Like Us, he brought out SZA for Luther and All the Stars. Jackson, approving of the move, warned Lamar not to “mess this up.”
Before launching into Not Like Us, Lamar freestyled, addressing his decision to perform the controversial track. When the beat dropped, he delivered the lyrics with intensity, locking eyes with the camera as the crowd rapped along. He closed his set with TV Off, joined by Mustard, as a “Game Over” sign lit up in the crowd.
Lamar’s performance left a lasting impact, adding another defining moment to his career.
