‘No longer Like Us,’ SZA, Extra

After a triumphant Grammys evening on Feb. 2 throughout which he clinched 5 awards — together with the coveted file and track of the yr for “No longer Like Us” — hip-hop powerhouse Kendrick Lamar made his solution to the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday (Feb. 9) to take pleasure in his genuinely-earned victory lap on the Tremendous Bowl 2025 Halftime Display.

Because the Philadelphia Eagles swiftly surged forward of the Kansas Town Chiefs with a powerful 24-0 halftime lead, the degree used to be set for Lamar to impress. With a birds-eye view of the degree, a large tic-tac-toe board awaited audience as they had been greeted by means of Uncle Sam — effectively, Samuel L. Jackson. Wearing a patriotic ensemble, the actor welcomed lovers to “The Nice American Sport.”

Lamar started his lyrical exhibition by means of rapping to “Our bodies” on most sensible of a GNX. A frenetic Lamar is swarmed by means of a military of dancers wearing crimson and white ahead of segueing into his Billboard Scorching 100 chart-topper “Squabble Up.” Flanked by means of his dancers, Lamar’s surgical precision and breath regulate remained on par till he reached the hook and is interrupted by means of Jackson. “No, no, no. Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto,” declared Jackson. “Mr. Lamar, do you in point of fact understand how to play the sport? Then tighten up.”

Lamar took heed of Jackson’s phrases of knowledge and entered a snappy medley of 2015’s DAMN, throughout which he dishes out “Humble” and “DNA.” Lamar persevered to blitz lovers with surprises, basically when he carried out “Euphoria,” his searing diss monitor towards Drake, which additionally doubles as a refined signal that perhaps he’d detonate “No longer Like Us.” In a while after, Lamar veered to a pseudo-street nook, the place he rapped “Guy within the Lawn” in entrance of his homies to the disdain of Jackson.

“I see you introduced your homeboys with you,” sneered the actor. “The previous tradition cheat code. Scorekeeper, deduct one existence.”

Lamar stored the GNX buzz intact because the degree shapeshifted once more, this time into the type of an X, the place he carried out “peekaboo.” “Women, I wanna make a transfer,” Lamar rapped to his feminine dancers ahead of tantalizing them with “their favourite track.” The instrumental for “No longer Like Us” hummed during the audio system. As an alternative of succumbing to the force, Lamar slowed issues down and taken out his one-time TDE compatriot SZA for “Luther” and “All of the Stars.”

“That’s what I’m speaking about. That’s what The us needs,” cheered Jackson. You’re virtually there. Don’t mess this up.”

Jackson’s cautionary caution got here at the heels of “No longer Like Us,” as Lamar gave an impromptu freestyle, positioning his reasoning for in the long run appearing the track. “You in point of fact ’bout to do it?/ Yeah, they attempted to faux the sport, however you’ll be able to’t pretend affect,” stated Lamar ahead of urgent cross on “No longer Like Us.” With the cameras serious about Lamar’s face, he didn’t lose eye touch and delivered the arguable verse with fury, name-dropping Drake and having the group rap again the now common “a minor” line with fervor.

After “No longer Like Us,” Lamar seamlessly pivoted to “TV Off,” with the track’s manufacturer, Mustard, along him. The now-classic yell of “Mustard” reverberated thru Caesars Superdome, permitting the rapper to cap off a huge set with a lit-up signal studying “Sport Over” arrange within the crowd, punctuating his efforts.

The affect of Lamar’s efficiency is indeniable, leaving hip-hop and popular culture awestruck as soon as once more.