Kendrick Lamar Celebrates Grammy Win at Super Bowl Halftime Show
Kendrick Lamar celebrated his Grammy win with a performance at the Super Bowl halftime show, featuring songs from his album GNX and a nod to his diss track "Not Like Us," amid ongoing tensions with Drake.
A week after winning five Grammys for his Drake diss track "Not Like Us," Kendrick Lamar took a victory lap at the Super Bowl halftime show.
During the 15-minute set, Lamar played several new songs from his latest album GNX, as well as a few older hits, backed by a fleet of dancers.
His performance was introduced by Samuel L. Jackson wearing an Uncle Sam costume.
"You picked the right time for the wrong guy," Lamar said.
He played the opening notes of "Not Like Us," pausing it to say that he'd like to play the fan-favorite song, but "you know they love to sue." Drake filed a lawsuit on Jan. 15 against Universal Music Group, the record company he and Lamar are both signed to, alleging defamation and harassment over the song.
"Not Like Us" was released toward the end of an exchange of diss tracks between the two rappers last summer. Lamar emerged victorious with the most streams and the most Grammys.
X users seemed to support Lamar's end of the feud as well. Though Drake is an enormously popular artist, many have turned on him in support of Lamar.
After playing a few songs, Lamar returned to "Not Like Us," looking directly into the camera as he sang, "Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young."
He censored the lyrics that call Drake a pedophile, but still sang the part where he says, "tryna strike a chord and it's probably A minor." The crowd gleefully sang along.
Fans noted his "a" chain might have been a reference to "a minor."
SZA joined him onstage to perform "Luther" and "All the Stars." She frequently collaborates with Lamar, but she's also one of Drake's exes. The two dated in 2009.
Another one of Drake's past flames present onstage was Serena Williams, who danced as Lamar performed.
Lamar performed "TV Off," one of his newest songs that wasn't part of his back-and-forth feud with Drake, but does diss him lyrically.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(674x405:676x407)/taylor-swift-super-bowl-020925-3057f19b2ec24796906bcd62d0a5f9aa.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(728x298:730x300)/Tom-Brady-and-his-watch-Super-Bowl-2025-020925-1-dfb41b5902e8425388ee6f56adceac93.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/healthiest-snacks-GettyImages-1252756228-77a06f5c53824200875d55dd58d3b275.jpg)
