Kendrick Lamar Teams Up With SZA During Highly-Anticipated Super Bowl 2025 Halftime Show

Kendrick Lamar has delivered what is likely to be one of the most memorable Super Bowl Halftime performances of all time.

First announced as the entertainment for this year’s Super Bowl back in September, Lamar’s recent months have been leading up to the impressive performance which took place on Sunday, February 9th at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Having been involved in a high profile feud with Drake over the last year, these past few weeks have seen the beef between the two rappers escalate greatly.

While Drake has sued his record label over the track, Lamar has put himself forward as the victor of the feud, winning Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video for the incendiary Not Like Us at the Grammys.

With Drake currently in Australia on a tour, the eyes of the world have undoubtedly been on Lamar, and even during a Superbowl which featured US President Donald Trump in attendance, there was no way that audiences could have looked away from Lamar.

Kendrick Lamar's Full Super Bowl Halftime Show performance #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/OxZED0YXDn

— popculture (@notgwendalupe) February 10, 2025

Ahead of Lamar’s appearance, the spotlight was shone upon Lady Gaga, who performed Hold My Hand from Bourbon Street ahead of the big game. The song was dedicated to the victims of New Orleans’ recent terror attack, with the unannounced performance setting the tone for the affair.

The event also featured Taylor Swift, though as a spectator rather than a performer, thanks to her partner Travis Kelce playing as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.

However, the headline was undoubtedly Lamar, who returned to the Super Bowl after having performed in 2022.

Introduced by Uncle Sam (that is, actor Samuel L Jackson), Lamar kicked off his set with the likes of Bodies and squabble up, modern classics like HUMBLE., DNA., and even his other Drake diss track euphoria made an appearance. However, were we going to catch him throwing shade at Drake by way of Not Like Us?

Expectations were high, though there was every chance he might have taken the high road. Even with a few teases throughout the set, it seemed as though Lamar was playing to the crowd.

After debuting the likes of man at the garden and peekabo, SZA was welcomed to the stage for luther and their All The Stars collab. Eventually, it was time for the main event, with Lamar dipping into Not Like Us with expert timing and anticipation.

Having teased the track ahead of luther by noting, “I want to perform their favourite song, but you know they love to sue,” Lamar’s performance has the potential to go down in history as one of the greatest from the Super Bowl.

Though he censored the word “pedophile” in the lyrics, he looked right down the camera as he sung “Say Drake, I hear you like ‘em young”, and got thousands of audience members to sing the infamous “a minor” line in unison.

Though it might be too early to say whether Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show will eclipse the likes of Prince, Beyoncé, and a myriad other iconic performances, it certainly feels as though this may be one of the more hyped editions of the famed slot in recent history – or at least, Drake’s least favourite.

Kendrick Lamar and the whole #SuperBowl stadium screaming “A MINOR” pic.twitter.com/v9St0MKf9s

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 10, 2025