Just when we thought the peak had already passed — yes, we’re looking at you, Rihanna — Kendrick Lamar delivered a truly stellar Super Bowl Halftime Show. It was a full-blown extravaganza.
Samuel L. Jackson took centre stage as Uncle Sam, issuing marching orders to the nation. Serena Williams appeared to perform a Compton c-walk. “Muuustaaard” became a panoramic rallying cry. Iconic, frankly.
The performance also felt perfectly timed — a full-circle moment following Lamar’s very public feud with fellow rapper Drake. Ahead of the show, speculation swirled over whether Kendrick would perform Not Like Us, given FCC and legal concerns. In the end, he did. Williams’ appearance was widely interpreted as an additional diss, given her rumoured past relationship with Drake.
That said, the show wasn’t without controversy. Several major figures in hip-hop criticised the decision to have Kendrick perform in Louisiana, viewing it as a snub of local rap legend Lil Wayne.
Much like U2’s politically charged halftime show, this was more than just a performance. It sparked widespread analysis for its social commentary on civil rights in the United States. The moment was further intensified when a protester waved Sudanese and Palestinian flags, with “Sudan” and “Gaza” written across them alongside a heart and raised fist, before being removed by security.
2. Prince (2007)
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A true music industry legend delivered a Super Bowl performance for the ages. Prince wielded his iconic purple, unpronounceable-symbol-shaped guitar in unapologetically flamboyant fashion, playing behind a screen before launching into his classics: Baby, I’m a Star, 1999, and Let’s Go Crazy. He even threw in surprises from other artists’ discographies, including Proud Mary, Best of You, and All Along the Watchtower.
But the true climax was Purple Rain. As the actual sky began to pour, the performance became electrifying — and incredibly risky, considering Prince and his dancers were in heels and surrounded by live electric guitars. Prince reportedly loved every second, even asking showrunners if they could “make it rain harder.”