Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show
Expectations for this year’s halftime performance sky rocketed. With the announcement to the Kendrick Lamar headlining slot to the backlash that New Orleans own Lil Wayne, should’ve been offered the slot, to the first ever Christmas halftime performance headlined by Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar had a lot riding on this performance. Fresh off the win of a rap feud with Drake and the success of ‘Not Like Us,’ everyone continued to speculate what moves Kendrick would make and what he wouldn’t be allowed to make on such a stage.
Of course, Kendrick had other plans. With his Super Bowl LIX halftime performance, Kendrick showed everyone that even after over 50 years of hip-hop history, rap still doesn’t get the respect it deserves as a real art form. And competition is a big part of the genre. His halftime show showed that America, football, the Super Bowl, and himself are all part of a bigger picture. The first person on screen was Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam, the show’s narrator and scorekeeper, who said, “This is the great American game.” Hip-hop is just as American as football, if not more so.
Kendrick opened his performance on top the car that inspired the title of his 2024 album. He wore flare jeans and began his storytelling through an unreleased verse into GNX’s “Squabble Up.” The setlist featured “HUMBLE.” “DNA.” “euphoria” “man at the garden” “peekaboo” before Kendrick was joined by SZA for “luther” and “All The Stars” before getting to the main part that everyone was wondering if he’d perform, as he teased the instrumental halfway into his set. Kendrick with Samuel L Jackson, narration led into a performance of “Not Like Us” followed by “tv off” Serena Williams appeared during Not Like Us, Crip Walking during the song.
While there seemed to be deeper meaning by Kendrick Lamar’s choices, The symbolism of the set design, in addition to performers, forming an American flag and then the flag divided, definitely added to the nuances of Kendrick’ halftime set. As the first solo rap headliner, following his five Grammys wins, just a week before, the feedback seemed to all land on mixed reviews, with some deeming this the worst halftime show. The Drake diss aside, Kendrick Lamar is the first to curate a set off newer music and not off the nostalgia of his entire catalog. While fans address the show, stating songs he should have performed, Kendrick proved he can carry the storytelling and overall show without touching on what was expected but to highlight the message that everyone needs to wake up to, in these current moments. Kendrick’s reference to Gil Scott-Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” at the start; to Jackson’s taunt, “Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game?” and the imagery displayed by dancers forming an American flag with their bodies was far more important than to showcase a more commercialized set.
Kendrick highlighted the political strife and inequity, and while an unplanned protest happened on the field that wasn’t televised—one waving a flag in support of Sudan and Palestine; Kendrick ended his set as the camera panned out to the crowd as lights formed “Game Over,” — touching on a victory, but also the game being played as represented by the set design and also the game of football that would also end. In the end, Kendrick’s performance will open a conversation, whether or not people enjoyed the show or understood. It is in these moments that we let the music and story speak for itself.
Full Performance is Available now on Youtube and Apple music.
SZA DROPS LONG AWAITED SINGLE "SHIRT" WITH VISUALS FEATURING LAKEITH STANFIELD
Its been almost over a year since a snippet of the song went viral and appeared at the closing of SZA’s “Good Days” music video; but the wait is finally over as SZA announced that music was coming and to the internet’s disbelief, the record is finally here — in full.
See the visuals below
The visuals directed by Dave Meyers, features Lakeith Stanfield and captures the criminal adventures of a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde. At the end of the video, SZA offers a preview of a new song the internet has already named "Blind" with a number of memes and responses on how SZA will leave us waiting years for this new outro preview to be released, but hopefully the visual, and new snippet has launched her long-awaited follow-up to CTRL.
SZA RELEASES DELUXE OF 'CTRL' ON ITS 5TH ANNIVERSARY
On the 5th Anniversary of CTRL, SZA has shared a deluxe edition of her debut studio album. The deluxe edition of the album arrives after SZA teased its release on Twitter. 7 songs have been added to the tracklist, including an alternate version of the Grammy-nominated hit “Love Galore.” Also added after the original album’s 14 songs are “2AM,” “Miles,” “Percolator,” “Tread Carefully,” “Awkward,” and “Jodie.”
SZA previously gave an update on the possibility of a new album arriving soon, telling Vogue that we should all expect this summer to be “a SZA summer.”
Publication declines SZA's request for Black photographer
And if there wasn’t another reason… this is why it is very important that we lift up Black Publications and build up our own spaces. SZA’s request to be shot by a Black photographer was turned down by a publication she refused to name.
And if there wasn’t another reason… this is why it is very important that we lift up Black Publications and build up our own spaces. SZA’s request to be shot by a Black photographer was turned down by a publication she refused to name.
“I requested a Black photographer for a cover n the mag told me no lol its 2021...and almost Juneteenth,” SZA posted on Twitter. “Respectfully, I can’t do it.” Not wanting to name the publication, SZA did go on to list a few publications who previously featured her on covers and gave Black photographers the chance to showcase their talents.
But we’ve heard this story before. We know this too well. It dates back as far as magazines have existed from the popular teen magazine refusing to feature Tia & Tamera Mowry with the success they had because they didn’t think they would sell; to Beyoncé having brought over the first Black Photographer (Tyler Mitchell) to shoot a Vogue cover. Its all smoke and mirrors. If Beyoncé wasn’t as big of a name and a need for Vogue would they have still gone with a Black Photographer? Not taking away from the achievements to have accomplished such a feature but when do we get to a point where we lift up Black publications and spaces that don’t blatantly exclude Black talent until its trendy?
This can also be attributed to the level of celebrity publications may assume someone to have — which seems they will bend to a cover stars request if they need them. At what point do go where we are accommodated. When do we go where its people who look like us and create for us? When do we have spaces created by people who look like us be the go to place where we don’t have to go into these spaces where we don’t our needs met.
It continues to go back to having to work twice as hard to obtain half in return. The fact that there seems to be little to no Black Creatives at these publications that can execute a project that would showcase Black Talent in the right light. It’s always the bringing in a Black Photographer or the Black makeup artist or the Black designer just for the purpose of the shoot instead of already being equipped with a diverse group of talent. Even this sentiment extends outside of just creative spaces. It’s the same in corporate spaces. It’s the same in professional fields with Doctors and hospitals. And the list goes on and on.
How are we in 2021, still having to hear and see these same stories? How are these publications still managing to skate by and be allowed to run spaces like these? When do we make these spaces more diverse or have a diverse space do what should be done?
Doja Cat and SZA in new “Kiss Me More” video
Doja Cat’s latest offering, the SZA-assisted single “Kiss Me More” takes the pair to their own distant world. The video has already racked up over 13 million views since its release. Press play on the video below.
Kiss Me More is set to appear on Doja’s forthcoming project.
