Super Bowl Sunday is an important day for many American families. The halftime performance is more important to many onlookers some even say that after the halftime show, they turn off the TV because they were only watching for it the show.

So that goes to show that the halftime show is a big deal, in this, the artist will only have 13 minutes to perform. The artist who is chosen by rapper Jay-Z is given the chance to showcase their music, and they also can bring other artists to perform with them.

This year, Kendrick Lamar, also known as K.Dot, performed at the Super Bowl halftime show Tubi hosted. He brought in artists like SZA and Samuel L. Jackson to act as Uncle Sam and even Serena Williams.

In his performance, he shed light on many controversial topics for example, he created the American flag out of all black dancers, which most people suspect was that it was to say that black history is American history and that America was built on the backs of black Americans.

He also used Uncle Sam, who was portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson, as a very influential black actor, to show how most white people see black people and their culture, using words like “ghetto” to describe Kendrick’s music and performance. He also treated the performance like a big game by setting the stage like a PlayStation controller. 

In the beginning, Uncle Sam says, “This America’s greatest game,” hinting that this is a game and Kendrick must follow the rules to win. After that Kendrick is seen on top of a Gnx car while rapping lyrics from his song Gnx then he says “The revolution will be televised you picked the right time but the wrong guy” which some believe was hinting at the recent election of President Trump. 

After starting the camera pans back to Uncle Sam and he says, “ No, No, No, No, No, too loud, too reckless, too ghetto. Mr Lamar do you know how to play the game then tighten up.” Kendrick goes back to “playing the game” correctly playing his famous song Humble.

Kendrick then goes on to play DNA with his dancers marching behind him. The camera pans to the crowd and it says “Warning Wrong Way” again hinting that Kendrick is going in the wrong direction. 

A few scenes later Kendrick is seen talking to some girls saying “he wants to make a move and then says he wants to perform their favorite song but you know they love to sue” Then the beat for his 5-time grammy winning song Not Like Us which was a diss track to Drake. He proceeds to say “No he wants to slow it down” and the beat for his song Luther with Sza starts playing.

He and SZA perform their songs Luther and All the Stars which was highly asked for by fans. Uncle Sam then says “ Yeah that’s what I’m talking about that’s what America wants nice, calm, you’re almost there don’t mess this u-” he was then cut off by the beat of Not Like Us. 

It goes back to Kendrick he starts rapping “It’s a cultural divide I’mma get it on the floor 40 acres and a mule this is bigger than the music”. Pausing here I’m gonna explain the meaning behind 40 acres and a mule. This goes back to after the Civil War when enslaved men were promised that they would be freed if they helped fight in the war and they would be given 40 acres and a mule due to usual U.S. fashion their promise would not go through. Freed people widely expected to legally claim 40 acres of land.

  However, Abraham Lincoln‘s successor as president, Andrew Johnson, tried to reverse the intent of Sherman’s wartime Order No. 15 and similar provisions included in the second Freedmen’s Bureau bills. His saying 40 acres and a mule on a big stage in the Superbowl in front of the now president is a very big thing that went over many people’s heads including my own until I did my research. 

  Back to the halftime show he starts to perform not like us and he says “Say Drake” while looking at the camera smiling. This is important because like he said earlier he got sued by Drake so him not only doing this song and saying his name is a big risk but he took it all the way there. 

 While singing they not like us you can see Sereena Willams “crip walking” to the song which is amazing not only because she is Drake’s ex-girlfriend but also because she was highly criticized on her last match before she retired because she danced in celebration of her win.

To end the performance he raps the song TV off and brings out DJ Mustard and they dance together while he raps. Then the camera goes back to the crowd and it spells game over.

In my opinion, this was one of the best halftime performances I’ve ever seen in my life because it was truly informative and overall just amazing. I think that it is important to note that you have to be a Kendrick Lamar fan to truly understand this performance.