At America’s biggest sporting event of the year, the Super Bowl, an entertainer is chosen to perform a halftime show on the field. Often featuring high-profile artists and Grammy award winners, the performance quality is held to a high standard. This year, Kendrick Lamar took the stage, featuring SZA, and making this a continuation of their joint tour. Lamar took the stage with a purpose, brimming with political symbolism, alluding to the demise of America under President Trump’s new administration.
Along with SZA, Lamar enlisted a variety of beloved collaborators, among these actors, singers, and athletes. First, the “game” was introduced by actor Samuel L. Jackson, portraying America’s emblematic character, Uncle Sam. Jackson set the adventurous tone for the performance, selling the stage as a game for Lamar to play. Later, SZA took the stage, joining Lamar in their collaboration on ‘Luther.’ After, they segued to “All the Stars,”another song that showed the artistic chemistry between the two performers. As “Not Like Us” faded on, the viewers saw Serena Williams, Drake’s ex-girlfriend, crip walking on the side, as she danced along to the diss track against Drake. And finally, as strobe lights illuminated the stage, the rap producer Mustard entered the stage, joining Lamar.
Though this thrilling performance was full of energy and pride, there were also many underlying political messages. The show started with Uncle Sam’s introduction, selling the performance as “The Great American Game,” showing the stage as a game board. After Lamar’s first song, “squabble up,” Uncle Sam criticized Lamar and called him “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto.” Lamar then went into “HUMBLE,” and his dancers formed into an American Flag, where they later separated, showing the political divide in America over current issues. A few songs later, the dancers spread throughout the stage, until all fell, except for the inner circle who were “coincidentally” still standing. He likely was referencing the uprising of political affiliation between the wealthy class and government. And to conclude his performance, the stage lights went out, and only a few lights were left, illuminating the message, “GAME OVER.”
After this performance, Lamar maintained his reputation as an activist who is not afraid to use his platform and influence to raise awareness of social injustices. His ability to keep an engaged audience engaged with his many features, as well as his energetic stage presence shows that he has made, and will continue to make, profound impacts on the music industry.
