50 Facts You Need To Know About Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

Last night, Kendrick Lamar made history as the first solo rapper to headline the Super Bowl halftime show, delivering a visually stunning, politically charged performance at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. With a video game-inspired set, a gutted Buick GNX, and surprise appearances from SZA and Serena Williams, Lamar’s show was as much a statement as it was a spectacle. Let’s break down the key moments and hidden messages from this unforgettable performance.

  1. Kendrick Lamar was the first solo rapper to headline the Super Bowl halftime show.
  2. His performance was centered around a video game motif, symbolizing his journey through the American dream.
  3. The performance featured four main stages, each shaped like a PlayStation controller button.
  4. The monochromatic concrete aesthetic was meant to keep the focus on the storytelling.
  5. The show featured political and cultural messages about race, incarceration, and the Black American experience.
  6. Apple Music and Roc Nation sponsored the halftime show.
  7. The performance was held at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
  8. Lamar’s show was one of the biggest halftime production footprints in Super Bowl history.
  9. The entire stage and set had to be assembled in 7.5 minutes and removed within 6 minutes.
  10. All Access and Tribe Inc. were responsible for the show’s design and production.
  11. The centerpiece of the performance was a Buick GNX, tied to his album of the same name.
  12. The GNX used was bought from a dealership in Riverside, California.
  13. The car was gutted and modified to act as a “clown car” that opened to reveal dancers.
  14. The stage and set design had to fit through a single tunnel in the stadium, limiting options.
  15. 50+ carts weighing between 1,500-3,500 pounds were used for staging and equipment.
  16. Custom-built streetlights were included in the set, some holding dancers.
  17. The field was protected using specially designed “turf tires” for all stage carts.
  18. LED lighting and projection effects enhanced the video game theme.
  19. The halftime show featured choreographed marching formations, mimicking military precision.
  20. Lamar’s team, including pgLang and creative director Mike Carson, prioritized minimalism and storytelling.
  21. The show opened with Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam introducing Lamar.
  22. Jackson’s character mocked Lamar for being “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto,” highlighting stereotypes.
  23. Lamar performed “Squabble Up,” “Humble.,” “DNA.,” “Euphoria,” “Peekaboo,” and more.
  24. He included Grammy-winning songs “Not Like Us” and “All the Stars” (with SZA).
  25. SZA made a surprise appearance for “Luther” and “All the Stars.”
  26. Serena Williams joined Lamar on stage and was seen crip-walking.
  27. The set resembled a prison yard, symbolizing mass incarceration.
  28. At one point, Lamar referenced “40 acres and a mule,” a call to Black reparations.
  29. A dancer formation created a broken American flag, symbolizing division.
  30. Lamar removed the word “pedophiles” from “Not Like Us” but kept the song’s diss elements.
  31. The show included a reference to Gil Scott-Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.”
  32. The concept of an “Uncle Tom” figure was portrayed through Jackson’s character.
  33. The prison yard set criticized the racial disparities in mass incarceration.
  34. Lamar’s wardrobe—a pgLang jacket with “Gloria”—was a nod to his mother.
  35. The choreography included imagery of slavery and the foundation of America on Black labor.
  36. The use of red, white, and blue costumes was a critique of patriotism vs. oppression.
  37. Jackson’s repeated interruptions symbolized societal expectations for Black artists to conform.
  38. Lamar referenced Drake’s lawsuits against Universal Music Group in “Not Like Us.”
  39. “TV Off” was a closing statement about media manipulation and control.
  40. The GNX was difficult to find due to Lamar’s album boosting its value.
  41. One potential seller didn’t have the legal title to the car.
  42. The final GNX used had to be dismantled, making it permanently non-street legal.
  43. The production team had to rehearse around delays caused by Los Angeles wildfires.
  44. The single entrance to the stadium made logistics especially difficult.
  45. The show followed a tight schedule, with only months to design, build, and rehearse.
  46. The synthetic turf at the Superdome allowed for easier field protection than in previous years.
  47. Lamar’s Super Bowl announcement came on September 8, giving him limited prep time.
  48. Some rehearsals were postponed due to unforeseen issues.
  49. The show gained over 11 million views online within hours of airing.
  50. Lamar’s performance cemented his place in Super Bowl and hip-hop history, proving rap’s dominance on a global stage.

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