Kendrick Lamar made history as the first solo hip-hop artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show, delivering a powerful 13-minute performance that included the controversial Drake diss track "Not Like Us."

The performance opened with Lamar atop a 1987 Buick GNX, performing "GNX" followed by "Squabble Up." The show featured a theatrical element with Samuel L. Jackson playing Uncle Sam, who acted as an antagonist throughout the performance, criticizing the dancers dressed in red, white, and blue.

The setlist included hits like "Humble," "DNA," "Euphoria," and "man at the garden." SZA joined Lamar for a collaborative performance of "Luther" and "All the Stars." Despite speculation about potential legal consequences due to Drake's ongoing lawsuit against Universal Music Group, Lamar performed "Not Like Us" - though notably omitting the word "pedophile" from the lyrics.

This marked Lamar's second Super Bowl appearance, following his 2022 performance alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, and 50 Cent. The Grammy-winning artist's "Not Like Us" recently achieved a billion Spotify streams in record time and won both Song and Record of the Year at the recent Grammy Awards.

When announced as the 2025 halftime performer, Lamar stated, "Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date, and I'll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one." The impact of this performance on Drake's ongoing defamation lawsuit against UMG remains to be seen.

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