Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show: A Missed Opportunity on Music’s Biggest Stage
The Super Bowl Halftime Show is more than just a musical performance—it’s an event, a spectacle, and an undeniable cultural moment. With a viewership that consistently surpasses 100 million people, artists chosen for this stage are tasked with delivering something that will live on in the pop culture zeitgeist. Prince (2007), Beyoncé (2013), Shakira & Jennifer Lopez (2020), and Rihanna (2023) all understood the assignment, crafting shows that blended visual innovation with musical excellence.
Despite Kendrick’s lyrical genius and cultural impact, the performance fell short of expectations. While his setlist featured massive hits like HUMBLE., DNA., and the chart-topping Drake diss track Not Like Us, the energy never quite reached the electrifying levels expected for a show of this scale. Even a guest appearance from SZA couldn’t lift the performance beyond what felt like a standard festival set.
That’s why Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show felt like a missed opportunity. It wasn’t the worst performance in recent history (looking at you, Maroon 5 in 2019), but it undeniably lacked the pizazz and showmanship we’ve come to expect from an artist of his caliber.
A Stage Like No Other
Super Bowl Halftime performers are chosen through a collaboration between the NFL, Roc Nation (Jay-Z’s company), and Apple Music, which took over sponsorship duties from Pepsi in 2023. The selection process is influenced by artist popularity, cultural impact, and often, the city where the game is held. With New Orleans as the host city, fans speculated early on that Lamar’s selection could mean a Southern rap celebration, a nod to the region’s deep musical history. Instead, we got a performance that leaned heavily on his own catalog—an understandable choice but one that ultimately didn’t deliver the energy expected.
The Imagery and Symbolism: A Statement, But Was This the Right Moment?
Visually, Kendrick Lamar’s performance was layered with symbolism, commentary, and carefully curated imagery that made it clear he had something to say beyond the music. Opening with Samuel L. Jackson portraying Uncle Sam, the show immediately positioned itself as a critique of American identity and power structures. The choreography reinforced this theme, with dancers dressed in red, white, and blue tracksuits, their movements shifting between militaristic precision and protest-like expressions.
One of the most striking moments came when Lamar stood alone under a flickering streetlight, an image reminiscent of his past music videos and his deep storytelling about Black America. It was impossible to ignore the fact that a certain controversial president was in the audience, making certain elements of the performance feel like a direct message to him. The critique was sharp, the symbolism was powerful—but was the Super Bowl, a stage designed for mass entertainment, the right place for it?
The Setlist: A Blend of Hits and New Material
“GNX” teaser (snippet)
“Squabble Up”
“HUMBLE.”
“DNA.”
“Euphoria”
“Man at the Garden”
“Peekaboo”
“Luther” feat. SZA
“All the Stars” feat. SZA
“Not Like Us”
“TV Off”
From the jump, it was clear that Kendrick wanted to showcase his lyrical mastery and storytelling, opening with GNX’s teaser before diving into Squabble Up and HUMBLE.. But while these tracks are strong on their own, they didn’t translate into a stadium-shaking performance.
What’s most baffling is that Not Like Us, his massive hit and Drake diss track, was released as a single but didn’t even make the album cut. It was, however, performed toward the end of the set, which briefly lifted the energy and was clearly the high point of the show.
Even with SZA joining him for “Luther” and “All the Stars,” there was something missing. The chemistry between them was solid, but the staging and visuals lacked the grandiosity expected from this level of performance.
A Fan, But Disappointed
To be clear—I’m a Kendrick fan. His 2012 masterpiece good kid, m.A.A.d city delivered timeless hits like Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe, Poetic Justice, and Backseat Freestyle. His 2017 album DAMN. brought us DNA., LOYALTY. (feat. Rihanna), and of course, HUMBLE.. And his latest album, GNX, is filled with standout tracks.
But having great music doesn’t always translate to a great Super Bowl performance. This show felt like it was missing something—a vision, a concept, an unforgettable moment. No massive guest surprises (unless you’re counting Samuel L. Jackson and Serena Williams), no set-piece innovation, and a setlist that, while filled with hits, didn’t feel optimized for the stage they were being performed on.
The Reaction: Divisive at Best
It didn’t take long for social media to weigh in, with many calling it one of the weakest halftime performances ever.
One viral post read: “Kendrick halftime show was so bad don’t let nobody else try to tell you otherwise. Crowd was not moved an inch, I’m cryin.”
Another compared it to The Weeknd’s 2021 show, saying Kendrick now holds the worst spot.
“What’s worse, the Chiefs’ offense or this halftime show?” asked a fan, referring to the game’s slow start.
And perhaps the most brutal reaction: “The best part of the halftime show was Samuel L. Jackson.”
Even Daily Mail ran with the headline: “Kendrick Lamar slammed for ‘worst halftime show ever’ during Super Bowl 2025.”
Final Verdict
Kendrick Lamar is a generational talent, a Pulitzer Prize-winning artist, and one of the greatest rappers of our time. His halftime performance carried weight and meaning, but the question remains—was this the right stage for it? The Super Bowl is designed for mass entertainment, and while I fully support the messages he pushed through his imagery, the execution lacked the energy, spectacle, and engagement that make a halftime show truly unforgettable.
Great music and powerful symbolism alone aren’t enough to carry this stage—you need a moment, and this one just didn’t land.
Rewatch the performance below and let me know your thoughts.