Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl 2025 Half-Time Show Represented The Culture (Black American Culture)

Photo Credit: Rolling Stone

It's been a month since the Superbowl’s half time performance caused an international discourse. After sitting and reflecting, I think now is the time to dissect Kendrick Lamar's performance. Social media users and news agencies all published dissertations interpreting what the cathartic historical moment possibly meant. However, many of the people remarking on the event lack the cultural and historical context of the country that opts to remove black history from the class rooms and revise history to be palatable rather than accurate. Lamar set the tone wearing bell bottom jeans and a bomber jacket surrounded by dancers choreographed by Charm La'Donna donning red, white and blue attire symbolising a country that boasts freedom, liberty, justice and equality for all which is now known worldwide to be a falsehood.

Photo Source: People

While all have established the performance as being a political statement some have remarked that sheer embarrassment Drake must have from the iconic diss track being performed on one of the most watched stages in the world garnering over 126 million views across streaming services and sports channels. As well as being the first diss track to win a Grammy.

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For those of you familiar with the Wayans Brothers film, ‘Don’t Be A Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in The Hood’, after watching Kendrick’s performance you would have exclaimed, “MESSAGE!" If you know, you know as Gen-Z would say. 

What’s truly iconic about the performance isn’t the setlist, but the performance itself. Kendrick Lamar’s performance is synonymous to Beyoncé’s Super Bowl performance where she wore a militant ensemble with dancers appearing to be Black Panther members singing her hit song ‘Freedom’ showcasing the black plight on the world stage. Every aspect of his performance was intentional and not without messaging. So let’s break down some of the messages that went over the heads of many: 

Fashion Symbolism

The Red, White & Blue (Flag)

Mary Pickersgill with her teenage daughter, mother, nieces and slaves.

Mary Young Pickersgill is known throughout history as the woman who made the American flag with the help of her mother and nieces, and was also helped by a slave girl, 10 years of age named Grace Wisher. I somewhat feel part of Lamar's messaging in having the dancers wear and choreographed in the structure of the American Flag representing its' 50 states and 13 colonies that broke from British Colonialism to establish their own country could signify the two America's. Not simple Republicans vs Democrats, but people who value humanity and equality vs people who value money and benefit from racism, sexism and hate. 

Bellbottom Jeans

Many may see bellbottom jeans and think of the 1970's with the Jackson 5 tearing up the stage or discos with men and women grooving in the flared out bottoms, but they originate from some place else. Bell Bottoms were designed in the 19th century, and worn by the U.S. Navy, worn by the sailors. Bell Bottoms were practical, able to be grabbed if a sailor fell overboard or easily slipped off if you needed to swim. They could even be filled with air and tied at the bottom to become a flotation device. Bell Bottoms by the 1960's were purchased from second hand stores by young people and were used to demonstrate non-conformity to societal norms. Using military clothing they were, in a way, shouting their anti-war positions. Kendrick Lamar's message wasn't simply anti-war in reference to Israel's occupation of Palestine, Russia's bombing of the Ukraine or the rebel leaders attacking citizens in Sudan, Ethiopia or the Congo but the war of the United States government attack on its very own citizens. It's removal of DEI, Civil Rights and equal education for all Americans. 

Kendrick Lamar, Super bowl 2025 Performance.

Navy soldiers sporting Bell Bottom trousers.

Cher & Michael Jackson performing on stage wearing Bell Bottoms

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Crip Walk

Serena Williams Crip Walking | Serena Willims with husband Alexis Ohanian. Photo Credit: The Economic Times- Panache

Contributing to the much political halftime show was Serena Williams dancing the ‘Crip Walk’, she previously received harsh criticism for at the 2012 U.S. Open at Wimbledon after beating her opponent Maria Sharapova. The tennis legend previously dated Drake between 2011 to 2015. Drake known for attacking black women in the industry did not spare his ex, referencing her in his songs, ‘Worst Behavior’ and ‘Middle of The Ocean’ going as far as to take jabs at her husband Alexis Ohanian calling him a “groupie”.

Photo Credit: The New Yorker

Drake has previously intertwined himself in beef with female artists such as Lil Kim as well as Megan Thee Stallion. Kendrick’s invitation to Serena was a clear statement that we should dispute misogynoir behavior and protect black women. If I were a petty journalist, and I am, I would imagine Serena was Crip Walking over Drake’s disrespect and the backlash she received at Wimbledon for existing whilst black.

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To sum it all up, Kendrick Lamar's performance was for his people. Not Drake, not even fans of his music, but the Black Americans who fought for this country and who will once again have to save this country from self-destruction. That anthem and that performance was to tell people that cosplaying as black and being black are two different things. One only wants to be black when it benefits them. Such as all the TikTok and IG reels from Non-POC’s using the song as if they understand its undertones to promote their content. The other are actual black people who have to endure the struggles, march, protest for everyone to have civil rights and still be treated like second class citizens by the people benefiting from our work. This new piece is turning into an op-ed. But you now have the facts and some food for thought to process. This is another take on Lamar’s powerful Super Bowl performance. But one with the historical facts.

Gif Credit: Tenor