Music
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Show Was FULL of Subliminal Messages
10 Feb
Anyone who watched 2025’s Super Bowl likely caught wind of Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance. While most people might’ve assumed he’d be consumed with taking digs against his mortal enemy Drake, his performance contained subliminal messages and symbolism that were directed somewhere far more important.
Kendrick’s performance was a bold political statement, which speaks volumes about his bravery to stand up for his worldview. After all, President Trump was seated in the audience watching the whole thing go down as Lamar stated, “The revolution will be televised… you got the right time but the wrong guy.”
Trump is the first US president to attend the Super Bowl — EVER — and he was faced with a deeply thought-provoking message from Kendrick. Fans have been chiming in with their thoughts about all the symbolism Kendrick squeezed into his performance.
Kendrick Lamar Used the Halftime Show to Tell an Authentic Story
Kendrick’s storytelling skills were masterful in his Super Bowl halftime show. He made history as the first rapper to headline the show completely solo. He didn’t even need to invite anyone to join him on stage for collaborative purposes or star power.
He chose to invite SZA, Serena Williams, and DJ Mustard to join him, but he sure didn’t need to. His set list included songs like: “Wacced Out Morals,” “Bodies (GNX Snippet),” “Squabble Up,” “HUMBLE,” “DNA,” “Euphoria,” “Man at the Garden,” “Peekaboo,” “Luther,” “All the Stars,” “Not Like Us,” and “TV Off.”
There are other songs his diehard fans definitely wanted to hear, but he went with songs that will tell the tale about the state of the political world today. Kendrick’s long been famous for music that speaks truth to power about the Black Lives Matter movement, police brutality, and racial injustice in America.
For starters, Kendrick rocked a jacket that said “Gloria” on the front, which translates to “Glory” in Spanish. The jacket showcased how Kendrick feels when he creates music that allows him to bust through adversity. Eagle-eyed fans (no pun intended) also noted his “a” chain, a reference to the controversial “A Minor” line in his song “Not Like Us” and his ongoing beef with Drake.
Samuel L. Jackson dressed up as Uncle Sam to bring attention to the censorship Americans are currently facing – including individuals in the music industry. Such an attention-grabbing action – a Black Man performing Uncle Sam – has never been done before on a worldwide platform.
At one point, backup dancers – dressed in red, white, and blue jumpsuits – formed an American flag with Kendrick in the middle. The dancers never converged and represented the divisive culture plaguing the United States right now. He rapped lyrics from “HUMBLE,” shouting at American politicians to “sit down and be humble!”
Serena Williams hitting the stage for a C-walk during “Not Like Us” doubled as an “F you” to her rumored ex-boyfriend Drake, and a stark reminder that successful women like Serena can feel free to embrace the culture they come from.
During a moment in this awesome show, Kendrick stood on a muscle car that symbolized his journey from humble beginnings in Compton to global superstardom, success, and fame.
At one point, a small group of dancers stood in the center while the rest were lying flat on their backs. The dancers on the floor portrayed the left behind, symbolic death – almost as if Kendrick’s saying only people in the “inner circle” can survive.
When some of the backup dancers took steps forward while others retreated, it revealed the way some Americans are moving toward liberation and progression while others are forcibly trying to dial back our country’s progress.
Craziest of all? The entire stage appears to be shaped like a video game! It’s safe to assume it was Kendrick’s way of hinting that we’re collectively stuck in a simulation of life, trapped in a matrix. We’re playing a rigged game that’s set up so the elites win – not the rest of us.
Kendrick closed out the show with lights that said the words “Game Over.” At first glance, the message could claim the end of his ongoing feud with Drake? But it could underscore that what happens in the dark always comes to light – a warning about what’s currently happening in the political sphere.
Social media is buzzing with thoughts on Kendrick’s performance and the hidden messages people think he’s sending.
One Redditor wrote, “I love how there’s social commentary on how Samuel L. Jackson plays Uncle Sam. It will either completely fly over certain voters’ heads, or they’ll spend the next month complaining about it.”
Someone else added, “The whole theme of the show was about Kendrick playing a game that wasn’t designed to be played by people like him.“
One thing we know for sure is that people will have a lot to say about Kendrick‘s 2025 Super Bowl halftime show… for a very long time!
