Kendrick Lamar made history as the first solo hip-hop artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show, delivering a powerful 13-minute performance that included the controversial Drake diss track "Not Like Us."

The performance opened with Lamar atop a 1987 Buick GNX performing "GNX" and "Squabble Up." Dancers in red, white, and blue formed an American flag formation, while Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as Uncle Sam, served as an antagonistic presence throughout the show.

The setlist included hits like "Humble," "DNA," "Euphoria," and "man at the garden." SZA joined Lamar for a collaborative performance of "Luther" and "All the Stars" before the much-anticipated moment arrived - the performance of "Not Like Us."

Despite ongoing litigation between Drake and Universal Music Group, Lamar performed the Grammy-winning track in its entirety, though notably omitting the word "pedophile." The song, which has already achieved a billion streams on Spotify in record time, served as the show's climactic moment.

This marked Lamar's second Super Bowl appearance, following his 2022 performance alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, and 50 Cent. However, this time he commanded the stage solo, fulfilling his promise made during the September 2025 announcement: "Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date, and I'll be there to remind the world why."

The historic performance not only showcased Lamar's artistry but also potentially added another chapter to the ongoing Drake-UMG legal saga, with implications yet to unfold.

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