I’m not a football fan. I’m not necessarily a fan of the NFL. The only thing I cared about with respect to the Super Bowl LIX was Kendrick Lamar. He is a conscious rapper who passionately advocates for the African American community. In social justice movements, his lyrics have long been a soothing balm on an open wound.
For these reasons and more, I was determined to watch Lamar’s performance. I wanted to hear, “Not Like Us.” However due to Drake’s lawsuit, I didn’t think Lamar would mention Drake by name. He did.
Lyrical Savant
Some people call it a beef. But Lamar’s position as a lyrical savant has long been settled. He won before the so-called beef ever began.
Lamar won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018, making him the only non-classical or jazz artist in history to have ever done so. He won 22 Grammy awards, 11 MTV music video awards, and 6 Billboard music awards. It is clear that he is a genius with few rivals.
I waited with bated breath to see what he would deliver. I knew he would deliver, but I had no idea his performance, loaded with subliminal messages, would be so spectacularly amazing. His decision to include Serena Williams was masterful — both because of who she is, but also because of her prior connection to Drake.
Amazing Collaborations
I enjoyed watching and listening to SZA perform alongside Lamar. My ultimate favorite was Samuel L. Jackson, who joined the set dressed as Uncle Tom. Jackson was also an Uncle Tom in the Django Unchained movie. I could understand, however, if some mistook Jackson for being dressed as Uncle Sam.
Aside from Denzel Washington, I can’t think of a male actor who I admire more.
Additionally, there were so many hidden messages in the performance. For instance, Lamar’s dancers were dressed in red, white and blue and at one point created a formation that resembled the American flag. They also did a formation as a controller, perhaps from the Squid Games. Later, when his dancers bowed, they represented the fact that the nation was built off the backs and labor of Black people. For more information on the many messages in the show, see this article from Karlton Jamal at BuzzFeed.
The Talented One
During his performance, Lamar called himself a prophet and proclaimed that he was anointed. Few would argue these points. I have no clue of the details of his walk with God, but there is no denying his talent. As I watched the performance, I was reminded of the importance of praying for his protection, his continued reliance on God, his marriage, and his children.
As I pondered what I loved most about Kendrick Lamar and his half-time show, I realized that like any exceptional artist, he gives his audience more than they asked for. He gives his audience something they didn’t know they wanted but are delighted to receive nonetheless. One writer for Slate, Nadira Goffe, called it “medicine inside cake.”
Timely Performance
As he was performing, I was struck by the context in which we live. I thought about all the attacks on equity and all the attempts to roll back racial progress. I thought about the dismantling of the federal government and the fear that such moves invoke.
Lamar’s masterpiece “We gone be all right,” kept ringing in my ear. That song, as synonymous with Kendrick Lamar as “Not like us” is a comforting retort in a time when the world seems topsy turvy.
If you haven’t already watched Lamar’s performance, I encourage you to do so. You’ll be glad you did.
Jennifer R. Farmer, aka The PR Whisperer®, is an author, lecturer and strategic communications expert. Check out our blog posts and subscribe for updates.