Current Developments
Focus on New Material
Lamar deviated from the typical Super Bowl halftime format. He showcased songs from his new album, GNX. He also performed “Not Like Us,” a diss track aimed at Drake. This choice surprised many viewers.
Rolling Stone’s Brian Hiatt discussed the performance. He noted its uncompromising nature. Other artists usually reserve the slot for greatest hits.
Brittany Spanos observed the unusual song selection. She said Super Bowl shows are usually career highlight reels. Lamar presented something different.
Drake’s Unintentional Role
Drake became a central, yet absent, figure. Lamar’s performance included “Not Like Us,” a direct response to Drake. This intensified the existing feud between the two artists.
Rob Sheffield commented on Drake’s unexpected prominence. He found it unique that an artist made a Super Bowl show about someone not performing. The performance reignited discussions about their rivalry.
Samuel L. Jackson’s Emcee Role
Samuel L. Jackson acted as the show’s emcee. He adopted an “Uncle Sam” persona. Jackson framed Lamar’s performance as “the great American game.”
Collider highlighted Jackson’s role. The article noted his history of activism. His presence added a layer of social commentary to the show.
Controversy and Interpretation
The performance sparked varied reactions. Some viewers appreciated Lamar’s artistic choices. Others criticized the focus on new material and the Drake feud.
NPR’s Rodney Carmichael analyzed the show’s weight. He emphasized the significance of Lamar performing “Not Like Us.” This choice amplified the existing controversy.
The Super Bowl performance became a talking point. It fueled discussions about artistic expression and cultural commentary. It also highlighted the ongoing feud between Lamar and Drake.
Background and Context
Why Was Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show So Controversial? has a context that helps explain its current relevance.
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance generated important discussion, with some considering it controversial. According to Google Top Stories, the performance was the most-watched in history, drawing over 133 million viewers. The controversy, according to Rolling Stone, Stems from Lamar’s choice to deviate from the typical “greatest hits” format of Super Bowl halftime shows.
Instead, he focused on his new album, GNX, and his song “Not Like Us,” Which Rolling Stone describes as a “Drake-eviscerating smash.”
A key element of the performance, as noted by Google Top Stories, was the prominent role of Samuel L. Jackson, acting as an emcee in the style of “Uncle Sam.” This framing, according to the source, injected sarcasm into the proceedings, Implying that the performance demanded being played like characters in the game of surviving in America. The source also notes that Jackson’s presence and persona recalled his role in *Do the Right Thing*, And his history of public resistance to the American government.
The costuming of the performers, mainly in red, white, and blue, Also carried symbolic weight, referencing both the American flag and the Bloods and Crips.
The inclusion of “Not Like Us” proved particularly contentious, according to NPR. The song, released in May of the previous year, Became the biggest song of Lamar’s career and the biggest diss song in hip-hop history. NPR reports that the song contains lyrics that connect Drake and members of his crew with pedophilia.
Drake has filed a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group, which is also Kendrick’s recording label, Alleging that the corporation knew the accusations in the song were false but distributed and promoted it anyway to damage Drake’s reputation. While Lamar did perform “Not Like Us” at the Super Bowl, NPR notes that he stopped short of rapping some of the song’s most inflammatory lyrics.
Rolling Stone points out that Lamar’s performance sparked outrage among some conservative critics, highlighting a cultural divide in America. The article suggests that these critics believe that “winning one election means everything they don’t like in the culture is somehow going to go away.” The panel in the Rolling Stone article also discussed how Jon Batiste delivered a soulful national anthem with a message of its own, Repeating the line “land of the free” three times, in what Sheffield calls “a very pointed performance.” The panel tries in vain to figure out why conservative critics who objected to Lamar largely overlooked Batiste’s more explicit statement.
Why This Matters
This topic highlights important dynamics within its domain, potentially influencing related developments and our understanding of this subject area.
Why This Matters
This development is important because it represents a key moment for this topic, With implications for related areas and ongoing developments.
As this situation continues to evolve, its broader context and implications will become clearer through additional reporting and expert analysis.
Sources and Further Reading
Sources and Further Reading
To stay informed on this topic, explore these sources:
- Kendrick Lamar’s Controversial Halftime Show Explained (Google Top Stories)
- Why Was Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show So Controversial? (Google Top Stories)
- Unpacking the drama behind Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show (Google Top Stories)
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