Well, that time came again.  Super Bowl Sunday.  As usual, I could care less about the game (although I got a kick out of seeing the Philadelphia Eagles stomp out the Kansas City Chiefs).  What I was hyped up for was the halftime show, and this year, we were getting none other than Kendrick Lamar!

Kendrick had a banger of a year in 2024, and he already started off 2025 on a tremendous note, thanks to his historic sweep at the Grammys the week before.  Kendrick’s put on some fire performances in past years, so I couldn’t wait to see what he’d do at the halftime show this year.  When it was time for K Dot to take the stage I was right in front of my TV, anxiously waiting to see the show.  And then…the moment I’d been waiting for finally arrived.

When all was said and done, I walked away thinking to myself, “Well…it was okay.” 

At least, that’s what I thought the first time I watched it.

Stay with me for a minute.

Anyone that knows me knows that I’m a Kung Fu Kenny fan, so I had a vision of Kendrick’s halftime show.  I saw him performing some of his older hits like King Kunta” and “Alright.” I envisioned fireworks, dancers, and in-your-face spectacle. Then the show would end with a marching band playing the music for “Not Like Us” for the finale. 

That’s not how the show went.

My expectations were dashed, and I was disappointed. It felt like a repeat of Rihanna all over again. Before y’all tear me a new asshole, again, stay with me for a minute.   

I noticed that many people on Twitter, YouTube, and other social media outlets were praising the performance, calling it the best ever.  Like all my other halftime show reviews, I always watch the performance twice to see if my perspective changes and to catch anything I missed the first go around.  So, during the second watch, I opted to open my mind. 

I threw all the expectations I had for the show in the garbage of my memory, as I now realized they weren’t going to happen.  More importantly, I watched the show without distractions.  No disrespect to mother—who I love with all my heart—but sometimes it’s hard to concentrate on anything I’m watching on TV around her. During the performance, Mom was in the kitchen talking to me about topics that were totally unrelated to the show.  I made sure to give Kendrick all my focus this time.

After the second viewing, I walked away thinking, “That show was fire!” 

As my life coach says, focus is key. 

Let me start with what I enjoyed the first and second time…the visuals!  The aesthetics were great, from the dancers filing out of the sedan, to them creating an American flag, to the PlayStation game controller set up.  I especially loved Samuel L . Jackson playing “Uncle Sam.”  Some of y’all are probably thinking I didn’t enjoy the show as much the first time because I didn’t catch the symbolism.  Nope.  I caught that right off. 

Kendrick had black people making the American flag because we helped make America.  He had the stage set as a video game controller—and graphics in the crowd spelling out “Start Here,” “Warning:  Wrong Way,” and “Game Over,” to show how we’re controlled by the masses and our lives are treated like a game.  Of course, Sam was warning Kendrick to be quiet and controlled, not “too ghetto,” make sure the masses like you…only for Kendrick to rebel and say that he did want, ask for, or need the masses to like him, thus ending the game (some think that the “game over” graphic meant the game was over for Drake…both things can be true).  I got that right off the bat and thoroughly enjoyed it both times. 

Another thing I loved right off the bat was seeing SZA make an appearance. That’s my girl!  I also loved how Serena was part of the show as well, crip walking to “Not Like Us.” That was a perfect choice. Not only is Serena getting back at the masses for criticizing her for crip walking during the 2012 Olympics, but she’s also getting back at Drake for throwin’ shots at her in some of his songs.  By the way, I can’t help but notice that folks are draggin’ Serena for crip walking during the performance, saying that she’s doing because she’s still salty over Drake doing her dirty.  However, when Drake was dissin’ Serena left, right, and sideways, I heard nothing but crickets.  Seriously?

Anyway, some of the details I caught the second time around was how “Uncle Sam” deducted a “life” from Kendrick for not playing the game correctly, how some of the performers were sitting on the light poles (like in the “Alright” video), and some of the fierce moves the dancers had midway through the performance.  I was definitely loving the choreography for “Peekaboo.”  The moves and the camera work during that particular segment were on point.  More fans found even more symbolism in the performance, but I’ll let y’all do your own research on YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok for that.   

Something else I realized after the second viewing was that although Kendrick’s performance was more subdued than what I’m used to seeing during the Super Bowl halftime, he was still energetic.  At first I figured he was getting gassed mid-way through the performance, but during the second watch, I saw that it was exactly the opposite.  His breath control was great, and if he did take a pause, it was to censor some of the more choice words in his songs.  He was wholeheartedly into the show, and I loved that smile he gave to the camera when he hollered out, “Say, Drake…I hear you like ‘em young!”  LOL!

I’m happy to say that when I really paid attention, I wound up lovin’ Kendrick’s halftime show.  Was it the best ever?  I can’t say it was.  Prince and Bruno still hold those titles down, baby!  However, it was entertaining, thought provoking, and is still sparking some interesting discussion, despite premiering a week prior. Not only that, but it’s also allowed me to add more songs to my Kendrick Lamar tracklist (I haven’t listened to GNX in its entirety just yet; I’ve mostly been jammin’ to “squabble up” and “tv off.”  Sue me).  Kendrick’s performance deserves to be up there with the greats.  Well done, K Dot.

I still wish he performed “King Kunta,” though.

—Written by Nadiya  

So, what did you think about Kendrick’s Super Bowl halftime show?  Did you love it right off the bat, or did you have to watch it at least twice to appreciate it like me?  If you liked it, what did you like about it?  Did you get the symbolism right off the bat, or did you have to watch the show multiple times? What’s your favorite Super Bowl halftime performance? Let me know in the comments section!