The Super Bowl LIX halftime show wasn’t just a performance – it was a necessary triumph for listeners in Trump’s America.
Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles faced off in the Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome on Feb. 9, Sunday.
After a disappointing first half of the game for the Kansas City Chiefs, Kendrick Lamar took the stage for halftime.
While his performance was only thirteen minutes in length, Lamar managed to say a lot.
On the surface, Lamar performed his latest hits to an enamored stadium of fans.
For those who were looking, Lamar criticized the current political landscape of America through symbolism and storytelling.
The show starts off with African American actor Samuel L. Jackson dressed up as Uncle Sam. He addresses the Super Bowl as “the great American game”. The game metaphor can be extended to encompass the experiences of minorities in America. Minorities are expected to conform (or “game” the system) to white American ideals in order to avoid discrimination.
Lamar opens his performance by saying “the revolution ‘bouta be televised. You picked the right time, but the wrong guy.” This is a play on the 1970 Gil Scott-Heron poem “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”, and also directed at President Donald Trump, who was in attendance at the Super Bowl.
While Lamar stands on a Buick GNX singing “Squabble Up”, dancers dressed in solid red, white and blue attire exit the car.
After he finishes his performance, Uncle Sam reprimands Lamar for being “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto.” This is a criticism that African Americans often experience.
Lamar then shifts to performing “Humble.” As he raps on the steps of the monochromatic stage, the dancers line up to form an American flag. With Lamar in the middle of the dancers, he represents a divide. This divide can be interpreted as a divide between the American public, as the latest presidential election made apparent the extremity of ideology between Republicans and Democrats.
Kendrick played many of the songs from his latest album “GNX,” as well as his critically acclaimed album “DAMN.”
The inclusion of these two albums acts as a point of tension for the performance as “DAMN.” is Lamar’s most recognized and mainstream rap album, whereas “GNX” is less commercial in nature, mixing Lamar’s style with West Coast hip-hop elements.
Throughout the performance, the instrumental of Lamar’s breakout hit “Not Like Us” teases the audience. Near the end of the show, Lamar finally performs the song.
Fans were not sure if Lamar was going to be performing the single, despite its massive popularity last year. The song accuses Drake of pedophilia, human trafficking and cultural appropriation, among other things. While the accusations were unsubstantiated, public opinion mostly aligned with Lamar, ultimately winning his “beef” with Drake. In response, Drake filed a lawsuit against Lamar for the accusations.
“Not Like Us” swept at the 67th annual Grammys, winning Lamar five awards, including “Song of the Year” and “Record of the Year”.
Almost as predicted by Lamar, people were upset with the halftime show, particularly in conservative circles. Right-wing influencers criticized the NFL for selecting Kendrick Lamar to perform at halftime, citing him as “an unknown rapper”, “talentless”, or saying his music doesn’t appeal to a broad enough audience, despite it being the most-watched halftime show of all time.
Keep in mind, Kendrick Lamar is currently the most popular hip-hop artist in the US, with the highest number of listeners on Spotify for a hip-hop artist. Lamar has won numerous awards for his music, including a Pulitzer Prize. His music has consistently been acknowledged as some of the most influential of all time.
Lamar’s performance marks the first time a hip-hop artist has headlined the halftime show for the Super Bowl.
With many conservatives condemning Lamar’s performance, it’s reasonable to assume the next four years of halftime shows will be more geared toward conservative audiences – featuring pro-MAGA or non-partisan commentary.
However, performances like Kendrick Lamar’s are important. When people feel oppressed, influential figures like Lamar need to inspire hope. Whether that be through representation or calling for a revolution, it’s yet to be seen.