Although the Philadelphia Eagles easily defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, the game wasn’t the only thing that made people talk. There were many fireworks during the halftime show, and Kendrick Lamar was the subject of controversy.
Given Kendrick’s ongoing spat with Drake, one of the most talked-about rivalries in hip-hop, fans had high expectations for his performance. And when it came to making a strong message, Kendrick didn’t let anyone down.
He donned a huge silver and diamond chain with a lowercase “a” on it when he took the stage at Caesars Superdome. Fans quickly figured out the letter’s significance, even though it wasn’t immediately evident. He raps, “Why you trollin’ like a b**h?,” in his diss tune Not Like Us, to which the “a” was a clear allusion. Aren’t you exhausted? attempting to hit a chord, which is most likely in A minor.
Social media was ablaze with the nuanced yet strategic hit against Drake.
One fan wrote on Twitter, “Kendrick Lamar’s use of a lowercase A (a minor) chain is diabolical work.”
“Kendrick Lamar said all he had to with that ‘a minor’ chain,” another person remarked.
The insult became even more personal when some conjectured that the “a” might represent “Aubrey,” a reference to Drake’s given first name.
However, Kendrick wasn’t finished yet. By bringing out tennis icon Serena Williams, one of Drake’s most well-known ex-girlfriends, he elevated the situation. The crowd went into a frenzy, and the pettiness escalated as Williams began Crip Walking on stage.
Williams made sure to express her joy following the concert, although she refrained from making any direct remarks regarding Drake. She wrote, “Let’s go Super Bowl halftime??!” on X. I kind of died!
Since 2023, Kendrick and Drake’s feud has been simmering, and it intensified following the release of Not Like Us. Drake’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group, alleging the label assisted Kendrick in getting the Super Bowl halftime gig, made matters worse. Despite legal experts’ doubts that the action would succeed, the complaint even claimed that Not Like Us depicted him as a pedophile.
“He’s the main artist, and this is a hit song,” entertainment lawyer Camron Dowlatshahi told The U.S. Sun. I’m pretty sure he’ll play it, then.
And he did, rather clearly.
Kendrick Lamar is adept at making a statement with his jewelry, lyrics, and guest selection. His performance was well received by fans, many of whom praised the message he conveyed on stage.
There is no doubt that the Super Bowl halftime show this year will live on for a very long time.