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 began with Lamar atop a 1987 Buick GNX, opening with "GNX" followed by "Squabble Up." The show featured dancers in red, white, and blue forming an American flag formation, with Samuel L. Jackson appearing as Uncle Sam in a theatrical element that added political commentary throughout the performance.

The show included a strategic mix of hits, featuring:

• A medley of "Humble," "DNA," "Euphoria," and "man at the garden"
• Collaborative performance with SZA for "Luther" and "All the Stars"
• The highly anticipated "Not Like Us," performed despite ongoing litigation with Drake and UMG

Notably, Lamar performed "Not Like Us" in its entirety, though with the word "pedophile" omitted, marking a significant moment given the song's recent achievement of breaking Spotify streaming records and winning both Song and Record of the Year at the recent Grammy Awards.

This performance follows Lamar's previous Super Bowl appearance in 2022, where he performed alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, and 50 Cent. As the first solo hip-hop headliner in Super Bowl history, Lamar fulfilled his September 2025 promise to "remind the world why rap music is still the most impactful genre to date."

The inclusion of "Not Like Us" in the setlist may have implications for UMG's ongoing defamation lawsuit with Drake, though the impact remains to be seen.

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