This year Kendrick Lamar performed at the infamous Super Bowl Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Lamar is not only known as a great artist but a big activist on many modern issues. =

Here is a review of his very symbolic performance.

Lamar stuns the audience per usual, singing a mix of “GNX” and his other hits like “HUMBLE” and “DNA.” Lamar’s special guest being SZA was enough to expect greatness, but the potential of them performing “All the Stars” made this Halftime show a must-watch. Yet Lamar’s performance was more than music, he commented on social problems that I didn’t expect starting with his special guest.

Samuel L. Jackson played Uncle Sam and critiqued Lamar’s rap songs like “Squabble Up” and “DNA” for being “too ghetto,” but praised his slower tracks like “Luther” and “All the Stars” because they were slower and more friendly. I believe it showcased the many stereotypes that society has put on black culture saying that many black songs or black media are “too loud” or “too ghetto” for the pop culture of today. 

Lamar’s use of lighting and color made this performance so memorable to me. The background dancers were the colors of the American flag, even having them create the flag with formations for Lamar’s performance of “HUMBLE.” Lamar’s guest, SZA, stunned the audience and myself with her live vocals on “luther” and “All the Stars.”

During Lamar’s performance, there was a moment that people watching at home might not have seen due to political discourse. On the stage, as Lamar started the halftime show, his ensemble waved a Palestine flag with writing saying Sudan and Palestine with an illustration of a fist in the air. The TV quickly cut away from the tribute, only seeing it in the background of wide shots every once in a while yet despite this, it was an extremely impactful moment orchestrated by Lamar.

Overall, Lamar’s Super Bowl performance was one of my favorite Halftime shows since Dr. Dre brought out Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Mary J Blige, Eminem and Lamar himself, but no one has been able to send hidden messages through their performance like Lamar did on Sun.