American rapper Kendrick Lamar recently performed at the Super Bowl LIX 2025 halftime show, where he made a powerful statement with all kinds of hidden references, find out more below about the show explained
The halftime show featured all kinds of deep symbolism, cultural references, and bold artistic choices.
Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl LIX 2025 full Halftime Show explained, hidden references meaning, Easter eggs and meaning of his chain ‘a minor’ logo
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime performance was a masterful blend of music and symbolism, reflecting on American culture, personal rivalries, and his artistic journey. The show commenced with actor Samuel L. Jackson, portraying “Uncle Sam,” introducing Lamar, setting a… pic.twitter.com/REC57bSIrv
— College Student (@ColIegeStudent) February 10, 2025
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Performance: Hidden Messages You Missed
Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show was a masterclass in storytelling, packed with symbolism and cultural references that went beyond entertainment.
🔹 The “Gloria” Jacket – A tribute to his upcoming song… pic.twitter.com/8Qvaw6kCm3
— 3Stone Capital (@3StoneCapital) February 10, 2025
While Super Bowl halftime shows generally feature grand spectacles, Kendrick Lamar’s performance was on a different level.
The show featured a mix of deep symbolism, cultural nods, bold artistic choices, and hidden messages in his wardrobe. Given below is a list of all the performances that he made throughout the show.
The “Gloria” Jacket: A Personal and Artistic Tribute
Lamar wore a striking jacket with the words “GLORIA” emblazoned across the front. The jacket was a nod to his song new “Gloria” from his upcoming album GNX. Aside from that, “Gloria” (meaning “glory” in Spanish) also symbolized his lyrical prowess and dedication to rap.
During his performance in New Orleans on Sunday, the rapper appeared on the field wearing a diamond necklace featuring a lowercase letter “A” and many have speculated the necklace might have been a dig at fellow rapper Drake with it meaning a minor, a viral phrase used to refer to Drake as a pedophile.
However, the lowercase “A” hails from the logo of Kendrick Lamar’s multimedia communications company, pgLang.
The company was founded in 2020, by Lamar and Dave Free and headquartered in Los Angeles, pgLang focuses on music, film, television, art, books, podcasts and clothing. PgLang aims to communicate this generation’s creative language through various mediums.
Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam: A Commentary on Censorship
Hollywood icon Samuel L. Jackson made a shock appearance during the performance, coming on stage dressed as Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam is a well-known symbol of the U.S. government. Jackson’s character praised Lamar for “slowing things down” before Kendrick started performing his now-infamous performance of Not Like Us, which is a diss track against Drake. According to reports, Jackson’s performance was a critique of how mainstream institutions control and censor artists who speak the truth.
Red, White, and Blue Dancers
Kendrick Lamar’s dancers in the show all appeared dressed in solid red, white, and blue outfits. While some thought of it a reference to gang culture, many others saw a deeper meaning. At one point of the performance, the dancers even formed the American flag. Lamar even divided them, which could have been a statement depicting the divisions present day in America.
Serena Williams and the C-Walk
Another shocking appearance during the performance was Tennis superstar Serena Williams, who shocked fans after taking the stage and performing the C-Walk. The C-Walk is a dance move that is deeply rooted in West Coast hip-hop culture. The dance served as a powerful cultural statement and Williams’ appearance also served as an added jab in the ongoing Lamar-Drake feud following her past rumoured relationship with Drake.
“Game Over”: A Final Shot at Drake
During his performance, Kendrick Lamar also made a reference to his beef with Drake. Halfway through his performance, Lamar dropped the line, “They tried to rig the game, but you can’t fake influence.” Kendrick said the words as a direct response to Drake’s recent lawsuit and a declaration of his dominance. He then proceeded to wrap up the set with the phrase “Game over”, stating his win.
The Muscle Car: A symbol of his journey
Lamar started out his performance by arriving in a black Buick GNX, which is a car with deep personal significance. The Buick GNX represents classic American muscle and a direct reference to Kendrick’s past and his journey starting from Compton. Lamar has often featured the car in his music before, and it represents resilience, struggle, and triumph.
PlayStation Cheat Code Stage
During the performance, the stage morphed into the four PlayStation symbols, each representing a different phase of Lamar’s dominance. Given below are the meanings behind the four symbols:
- Square: His foundation in hip-hop.
- Triangle: His rise above competition.
- Circle: His completeness and mastery of the game.
- X:The final move, shutting down all opposition.
Palestine and Sudan Flag Banner
Last but not least was an unexpected moment when a protester pulled out a banner featuring the Palestine and Sudan flags, alongside a heart and a raised fist. While officials quickly removed the individual from the stage, the image started spreading rapidly online. While it was clearly not a part of Lamar’s planned performance, the incident added another layer of symbolism.