Kendrick Lamar carried out the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show tonight at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome. After a particular introduction by actor Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam, the Compton rapper opened with “Our bodies”—which first appeared in the teaser for GNX—whereas standing atop the album cowl’s automobile and segued into “Squabble Up,” amongst a variety of different hits in medley kind. Watch a replay of the halftime present beneath.
Jackson returned to the sphere to criticize Lamar for being “too ghetto” and instructed him to “tighten up,” inflicting Lamar to launch into “Humble.” whereas backup dancers wearing crimson, white, and blue outfits danced round him in a formation resembling the American flag. He additionally broke out “DNA.” and “Euphoria” whereas strolling throughout a mock discipline and previous an unlimited gentle put up. Jackson took photographs at Lamar as soon as once more, calling his crew a “tradition cheat code.”
Crimson lights lit up a field as Lamar carried out “Man on the Backyard” and “Peekaboo,” each dwell debuts, and dancers continued to circle round whereas he strut in regards to the comparatively plain stage design. (When he began to launch into “Peekaboo,” Lamar took the chance to briefly tease “Not Like Us” however stopped it brief, regardless of prompt cheers from the stadium crowd.)
As revealed in advance, his longtime collaborator SZA joined him on the sphere to carry out collectively, singing GNX’s “Luther” and their Black Panther soundtrack contribution “All the Stars.” Patriotic attire glowing, Jackson hopped again in entrance of the digital camera to lastly reward Lamar, yelling, “That’s what America needs! Good and calm!”
The hook from “Not Like Us” began to play over the audio system once more, and backup dancers in black-and-red bobs requested the rapper if he actually was about to do that. “That is greater than the music,” mentioned Lamar. “They tried to struggle it, however you may’t pretend affect.” Backup dancers moved round him in rotating circles whereas tennis legend Serena Williams danced side-stage to the huge hit – together with whereas Lamar and the gang sang the diss observe’s infamous, lawsuit-prompting line.
To shut out the rapid-fire set, DJ Mustard ran onstage and threw his arm round Lamar as GNX’s breakout tune “TV Off”—and its instantly memed second of Lamar screaming his identify—blasted over the audio system. In good sync, the Compton rapper repeated the road “Flip his TV off” proper because the stadium, and consequently viewers’ TV screens, went black.
