The Super Bowl is a long-loved American tradition. Rooting for your favorite teams, making food, watching the commercials, and spending time with family are typical. But for those who aren’t avid football fans, the halftime show is one of the most awaited parts of the Super Bowl.
In previous years, musicians such as Janet Jackson in 2004, Shakira in 2020, and Rihanna in 2023 have made waves with their Super Bowl performances. It is not just a concert but a way for artists to express themselves.
The choice of musician Kendrick Lamar to perform at the 2025 halftime show was extremely controversial, as his infamous beef with Drake is still going strong. With Lamar’s release of “Not like Us” during a rap battle with Drake, he won the most support.
Whether you are a rap listener or not, most people have heard the song all over the radio and in the media.
In labeling Drake a ‘certified pedophile’ along with implying he likes minors, Lamar made sure to stir the pot as much as he could, and did not tone it down at all during the Super Bowl.
Lamar’s performance was filled with controversy and symbolism, not just concerning his beef with Drake but also his thoughts on the state of the country. In showing a split American flag and his stage being set up as a playstation controller, he expressed his thoughts on the “Great American Game.”
He started his performance with Samuel L Jackson welcoming the crowd to the show dressed as Uncle Sam, offering a touch of patriotism to his unconventional performance.
At the 2025 Grammys, Lamar won 5 awards for his song bashing Drake, including song of the year, best music video, best rap song, and best rap performance. This immense recognition contributed to the hype surrounding Lamar performing this song at halftime.
Along with the symbolism, Lamar brought some special guests on to the stage.
Junior Mia Winters says, “I wish SZA was performing for longer, she was definitely my favorite part of the show. I thought all the symbolism was cool and the whole show had a lot of meaning.”
She went on, “Both Serena Williams and SZA are Drake’s ex-girlfriends, so it was interesting to have them both in the show. It definitely was a message.”
Junior Aarush Paalve had a lot of positive feedback concerning the halftime. “Well, I liked it, but I know a lot of people didn’t. The music, and just him calling out Drake.”
He expressed, “I think a lot of people didn’t like it because they are Drake fans because he was calling Drake out. His exes were like dancing on the stage so.”
Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s dispute has started to fizzle, but it will likely go down in rap history.