Kendrick Lamar made history as the first solo rap artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. While many viewers found his performance bland and underwhelming, dedicated fans like myself realize that Lamar never performs without a purpose.

As the only rapper to win a Pulitzer Prize, Lamar's artistry is extraordinarily deliberate and well thought out, making his Super Bowl performance no exception.

Lamar is known for using his platform to touch on important issues such as race, identity, and discrimination. And he used his Super Bowl performance to do exactly that. Everything from his song choices to the symbolism woven throughout the entire set carried a deeper meaning.

Rewatching his performance on YouTube without people around me complaining that it was “boring” or that they “can’t understand what he’s saying” was refreshing. After going on social media to see if others enjoyed it as much as I did, I was shocked by how many people dismissed it as disappointing without realizing the powerful messages behind it.

If you are one of the people who felt confused or let down by his performance, I hope this breakdown will change how you see it—because every song choice, every visual, and every moment was carefully crafted to make a statement.

1. Uncle Sam

One of the most striking elements in Lamar’s performance was the inclusion of Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam. This character, who is deeply tied to American wartime propaganda, symbolizes the perfect “American man.” Therefore, having a black man known for portraying complex, often villainous characters take on the role of Uncle Sam makes a powerful statement on race and identity in America.

The performance begins with Jackson declaring, “Salutations, it’s your Uncle Sam, and this is the great American game.” Lamar starts the show with “Bodies,” the unreleased teaser song for his newest album, GNX. He raps, “Everybody must be judged / But this time, God only favorin' us,” and “Started with nothing but government cheese, but now I can seize the government too.” This moment sets the tone for the performance, showing that Lamar’s goal is more than just entertainment; he is here to send a message.

Throughout the set, Jackson tries to control Lamar, criticizing him during his performance of “Squabble Up” for being “too loud, too reckless… too ghetto” and scolding him to “tighten up.” However, when Lamar performs more melodic songs featuring SZA, like “All the Stars” and “luther”, Jackson approves, saying, “This is what the American people want.” It’s clear that Lamar is trying to convey government control over the people and the belief that people must look or act a certain way to get by.

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2. American Flag Dancers

During the next song, “HUMBLE.,” the dancers surrounding Lamar are dressed in red, white, and blue, forming an American flag split down the middle, with Lamar standing at the divide. This imagery likely represents division in our country, whether among its citizens or within its political system.

3. Flag Touching the Ground

As the song progressed, all the dancers descended onto the lower stage, which people believe is a symbol of the American flag touching the floor: a bad omen for the United States. Lamar then declared, “The revolution is about to be televised. You picked the right time but the wrong guy.” Many fans believe this was a direct shot at President Donald Trump, who was in attendance.

4. The Stage Set-Up

Another prominent symbol was the stage Lamar performed on. With an X on one side and an O on the other, it clearly was constructed in the shape of a PlayStation console. This could mean several things for Lamar and his performance.

There were 3 interesting theories that stuck out to me: 1. A symbol of how the government “plays” minorities, or people who aren’t pigeonholed into the ideal American; 2. The message of “game over” to Drake, as it’s been over a decade since their beef began; 3. How everyone is playing the “game of life,” desperately trying to survive.

5. Drake Diss (and Serena Williams’ Appearance)

Of course, his performance wouldn’t be complete without a few jabs at his ongoing feud with Drake. (If you are unfamiliar with the Kendrick vs. Drake beef, I also wrote another piece breaking it down... Can you tell I like rap music?)

Before performing ‘Not Like Us,’—the diss track that just won him five Grammys— he said, “I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue.” Recently, Drake’s legal team has filed a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group for releasing the track.

He also invited Serena Williams, one of the most famous tennis players and Drake’s ex-girlfriend, who did the Crip Walk during his performance, a move that got her in trouble in her tennis career. The ex-couple was believed to have dated for a few years, and sources have claimed it didn’t end well, so Lamar bringing out an old flame makes the diss even more monumental.

6. A Minor

Additionally, Lamar notably wore a large “A” pendant, which I immediately speculated represents the A-minor chord, referenced in the line, “Tryna strike a chord, and it’s probably A-minor.” After the lawsuit, Lamar’s decision to include the track was a bold move, especially since many people said he wouldn’t be allowed to at such a high-profile performance.

7. Big as the Super Bowl

Finally, in “First Person Shooter” by Drake and J. Cole, the song that started all of the beef, there is one lyric that almost seems ironic: “Big as the Super Bowl.” Now, Kendrick is performing at the Super Bowl and seems to have put an end to the decade-long fight once and for all.

While Kendrick Lamar’s performance may not have been as flashy or high-energy as others, its depth and meaning set it apart. Whether you loved it or not, his boldness made a lasting impact. Hopefully, this performance will go down in Super Bowl history not just for his artistry but for the influence it has.