Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show: When the Super Bowl Became a Rap Battle

February 14, 2025

Super Bowl halftime shows have always been high-energy spectacles, but Kendrick Lamar just redefined the game. While most halftime performances involve fireworks, elaborate dance numbers, and maybe a surprise guitar solo, Lamar took things in a very different direction—turning the biggest stage in sports into a lyrical battlefield.

It wasn’t just about hip-hop history being made. It wasn’t just about dazzling visuals. It was a direct shot across the bow of a certain Canadian rapper, sending a clear message to both fans and, perhaps unintentionally, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Lamar’s Setlist: A Concert or a Diss Track Compilation?

When Kendrick Lamar was announced as the Super Bowl 2025 halftime headliner, fans expected greatness. What they got was hip-hop theater at its finest.

From the opening moments, it was clear this wasn’t going to be your standard "greatest hits" medley. Lamar’s set was meticulously designed for impact. The opening featured Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam, barking out what felt like an introduction to an HBO documentary about American reckoning. Then, Lamar dove straight into "HUMBLE.", "DNA.", and "Alright," all songs with messages that hit harder in a stadium full of corporate sponsors.

But then came the moment everyone had been waiting for. "Not Like Us," the diss track that has haunted Drake's sleep schedule for months, was performed in full—with some extra on-stage theatrics just in case anyone missed the point. Behind Lamar, a giant American flag was seen splitting apart, a moment that either symbolized the state of the nation or the state of Lamar and Drake’s broken friendship.

Drake's Response: Hugs Over Thugs?

If you thought Drake was going to let Lamar steal all the headlines, you clearly don’t know Drake. Just hours after the halftime performance, he dropped a new song titled "Gimme a Hug" from his album "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U."

The title alone raised eyebrows. A hug? That’s the counterattack? The lyrics, which read like a love letter wrapped in a cease-and-desist order, included lines about wanting peace, ignoring haters, and “rising above” the beef.

Unfortunately, the sincerity lasted about two verses before Drake threw in his own subliminal jabs. “You're a small fish, I'm the big kahuna,” he rapped, casually suggesting Lamar might be a tad out of his league. Classic Drake—apologizing with one hand, while pointing the diss track bazooka with the other.

Roger Goodell: Accidental Mediator in a Rap Feud

Of all the people thrown into this mess, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell might be the most confused.

When asked whether the halftime show was being used as a personal attack on Drake, Goodell reportedly sighed for a full five minutes before saying something about "artistic expression." To be fair, this is a guy who has been dealing with Tom Brady-related controversies for years, so a rap war during the Super Bowl probably felt like a refreshing change of pace.

Critics, however, weren’t buying it. Some fans questioned whether Lamar used the Super Bowl stage to "exploit" the NFL for personal revenge. Others, though, called it the best halftime performance since Prince played through a literal downpour—except this time, the rain was made of subliminals and legal threats.

The Lamar-Drake Feud: A Brief Recap for the Uninformed

For those unaware, Kendrick Lamar and Drake have been trading lyrical jabs for years, but the beef went from mildly entertaining to full-blown war when Lamar released "Not Like Us."

To call the track “aggressive” would be an understatement. Lamar not only attacked Drake’s credibility but also made accusations that resulted in legal threats, lawsuits, and thousands of think pieces on why rap is the best (or worst) genre ever.

Drake, in return, did what he does best—clap back in the form of a melodically soothing, passive-aggressive song that makes you feel guilty for even enjoying it. The back-and-forth has since escalated into a saga worthy of its own Netflix documentary.

Fans Are Picking Sides… Aggressively

Of course, fans have completely lost their minds over this spectacle. Social media has been nothing but war zones, with hashtags like #TeamKendrick and #TeamDrake dominating timelines.

A Kendrick fan tweeted:

"Drake? Bro is singing about hugs while Kendrick is out here dropping lyrical nukes."

Meanwhile, a Drake supporter responded:

"Lamar is overcompensating. It’s like he’s rapping his resume. Just let the music speak, my guy."

One thing is clear: if you wanted to start a peaceful debate online this week, you picked the wrong time.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Now that the Super Bowl stage has been used as a battlefield for lyrical warfare, what’s next?

A peace summit between the two? Highly unlikely.

A rematch at next year’s halftime show? Only if Taylor Swift mediates.

An entire documentary narrated by Morgan Freeman explaining how rap feuds work? Now that’s a streaming hit waiting to happen.

One thing is certain: Lamar’s Super Bowl performance will go down in history as one of the boldest halftime shows ever. Whether you think it was a hip-hop masterpiece or the world’s most elaborate diss track, it kept the internet buzzing, football fans entertained, and Goodell probably considering retirement.

Final Thought: Your Move, Drake.

If Drake wants to clap back with equal force, he might need more than just a sentimental R&B hook and a cleverly disguised insult. He may have to get his own halftime show, bring in a marching band, and drop a 15-minute rap opera on why Lamar should “take a deep breath.”

Until then, the feud continues.