Kendrick Lamar has lengthy separated himself from mainstream rappers by his unparalleled means to assemble immersive worlds round his artwork, characterised by prolific lyricism, intricate visuals and multilayered performances. Throughout his Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present, some messages have been prominently displayed—similar to Samuel L. Jackson portraying a Black Uncle Sam—whereas different Easter eggs remained hidden, awaiting discovery by eagle-eyed followers upon replays and revisits.
Right here’s a have a look at a number of the symbolic moments from Kendrick Lamar’s Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present.
Samuel L. Jackson Taking part in Uncle Sam
Casting Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam was no accident. A deliberate selection, it echoes his chilling flip because the “home slave” in Django Unchained (2012)—a personality weaponized by the grasp to maintain others in verify. Right here, a Black Uncle Sam turns into a pointed metaphor for the elite Black figures propped as much as preserve the established order, reinforcing the identical methods they seemingly defy.
When Uncle Sam declares, “This Is The Nice American Recreation,” it’s a layered assertion. On the floor, he’s nodding to the nation’s most-watched sport—the NFL. However beneath that, he’s setting the stage for a deeper play: the high-stakes recreation of American life itself—the place politics, capitalism and energy strikes form the actual scoreboard.
Uncle Sam asking Lamar if “he actually knew easy methods to play the sport” after calling his efficiency of “Squabble Up” ghetto.
“The Revolution is about to be Televised, You Picked the Proper Time however the Fallacious Man.”
Kendrick opens his set with an unreleased monitor from GNX, setting the tone with, “The revolution is about to be televised, you picked the best time however the mistaken man.” On one in every of TV’s greatest levels, he’s making it clear—this isn’t only a efficiency, it’s a press release on the actual American recreation.
Lamar’s Divided American flag: A Highly effective Image of Unity and Battle.
“I Wish to Carry out Their Favourite Music, however Y’all Know They Wish to sue.”
Lamar, whereas teasing “Not Like Us,” took a pointed jab at Drake, nodding to the rapper’s lawsuit in opposition to UMG over the monitor’s promotion.
Deduct One Life
Uncle Sam calls a “tradition cheat code” after Lamar is proven alongside a gaggle of Black males—hinting on the exploitation of Black tradition for the nation’s acquire.
Uncle Sam orders the “scorekeeper” to “deduct one life” after Lamar repeatedly defies him—underscoring the results of disobedience in a rigged system.
“Mustaaarrrrd!” Pops Out for “TV Off”
The “a” Chain
Lamar wore a sequence with a pendant with a lower-case “a,” highlighting the “A-minorrrrrr” line on “Not Like Us.”
Delicate Avenue Gentle Message
GNX lower of “Man on the Backyard” was carried out underneath a streetlamp, a delicate nod to Lamar’s album To Pimp a Butterfly’s politics. Within the “Alright” video—later a Black Lives Matter anthem—Lamar equally performs atop streetlamps, reinforcing the visible callback.
Serena Williams’ Crip Stroll Sends a Double Message
The seven-time Wimbledon champion surprised the group, hitting the Crip Stroll throughout Lamar’s set—a nod to their shared LA roots and a defiant callback to the backlash she confronted for a similar dance after her 2012 Wimbledon win. Then, she was criticized; right here, she was celebrated. And together with her well-documented dislike for Drake, contemplate it a triple win.
Play Station Buttons – GAME OVER
Followers seen that the ultimate formation created the PlayStation buttons – in keeping with all the theme of the “American Recreation.” After Kendrick made it clear the battle was over, the group lit up with flashing lights spelling out “GAME OVER.”
