The Great American Game

Kendrick Lamar performed at the Super Bowl Halftime show this year with strong political messaging sprinkled all throughout the performance. Photo by The Come Up Show via Flickr.

While there have been many Super Bowl halftime shows, both liked and disliked, few have been as controversial as Kendrick Lamar’s. 

Lamar was the headlining artist for this year’s Super Bowl LIX, with SZA and Mustard performing alongside him. Many had strong opinions about the show, both positive and negative, and were not afraid to share them. 

Most opinions came from symbolic aspects of Lamar’s show that were not immediately noticeable. Although it might have seemed like a regular half-time show to some, there were many hidden meanings behind his performance. From the clothes to the cameos, there were several underlying nuances.

To open the show, Samuel L. Jackson introduced himself as Uncle Sam, announcing the performance as “The Great American Game.” After Lamar’s first two songs, he is told by Jackson’s Uncle Sam that he is “...too loud, too reckless, too ghetto.” The dialogue throughout the show from Jackson and Lamar is a nod to the history of rap music and the stigma that follows it – especially regarding the commercialization and criminalization of West Coast rap and its surrounding culture.

Lamar’s attempt to do this polarized audiences. Fox News commentators felt particularly comfortable critiquing the show. One of the main critiques was that the show was for a younger demographic and did not reach all kinds of audiences. 

The dialogue was not the political message within the show. The show’s most significant political statement was the dancers’ red, white and blue outfits. Having all Black dancers in the colors of the American flag represented the African American community's connection to America’s prosperity and foundation. 

While on the topic of fashion, although not necessarily a political statement, Lamar’s jacket was also a symbol and an outlet for personal expression. The most obvious embellishment on his jacket was the word “GLORIA” on the front. Not only does it mean glory in Spanish, but it is also the name of the last song on his newest album, “GNX.” 

On the back of the jacket, “pgLang” was embroidered, referencing his entertainment company. He also referenced his company with the “a” on his chain, which many believed stood for “a minor”, but is also a logo for his company. 

Above where it said pgLang on the back of his jacket was the word “Compton,” representing the neighborhood he grew up in in Los Angeles. Lastly, there were many other nuances in the show like the stage's shape resembling a PlayStation controller, or Serena Williams' cameo. 

The show may not have been for everyone, but it is certainly hard to deny that Lamar gave everyone something to talk about. Regardless of opinion, Lamar's performance shows that the devil is always in the details.