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Kendrick Lamar’s Historic Halftime: 7 Shocking Moments From The Super Bowl LIX Show

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The Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on February 9, 2025, will forever be etched in history, not just for the game itself, but for a performance that redefined hip-hop's place on the world's biggest stage. As of this current date, December 23, 2025, months after the confetti settled in the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, the cultural reverberations of Kendrick Lamar’s solo headlining set are still being felt across the music industry and beyond. The show was a masterclass in artistic integrity, theatrical staging, and raw, unfiltered energy, delivering on the promise of the Apple Music sponsorship to bring culturally relevant, boundary-pushing artists to the forefront. This retrospective breaks down the most memorable, shocking, and historically significant moments from the Super Bowl 59 Halftime Show, confirming every detail from the surprise guest appearances to the politically charged musical choices that dominated headlines for weeks.

The LIX Headliner & Guest Performer Profiles: Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Samuel L. Jackson

The Halftime Show was a star-studded affair, anchored by a Compton-born lyrical titan and featuring appearances that spanned music, film, and sports royalty.

Kendrick Lamar (The Headliner)

  • Full Name: Kendrick Lamar Duckworth
  • Born: June 17, 1987, in Compton, California
  • Career Highlights: Widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. He is a Pulitzer Prize winner for his album *DAMN.* (2017), a 17-time Grammy Award winner, and a co-founder of the creative company pgLang. His discography includes critically acclaimed albums like *good kid, m.A.A.d city* (2012), *To Pimp a Butterfly* (2015), and *Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers* (2022).
  • Super Bowl Significance: Lamar made history as the first hip-hop artist to headline the show solo, cementing his status as a global icon and giving the genre its most powerful platform yet.

SZA (Featured Musical Guest)

  • Full Name: Solána Imani Rowe
  • Born: November 8, 1989, in St. Louis, Missouri
  • Career Highlights: A multi-Grammy-winning R&B/Neo-Soul singer-songwriter known for her diaristic lyrics and genre-blending sound. Her album *SOS* (2022) was a cultural phenomenon, and she is a key artist on the Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) label, alongside Kendrick Lamar. Her hits include "Kill Bill," "Good Days," and "Snooze."
  • Role in LIX Show: SZA performed a powerful, stripped-back duet with Lamar, showcasing their TDE synergy.

Samuel L. Jackson (Featured Theatrical Guest)

  • Full Name: Samuel Leroy Jackson
  • Born: December 21, 1948, in Washington, D.C.
  • Career Highlights: An American actor and film producer renowned for his commanding presence and extensive filmography, including roles in *Pulp Fiction*, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (as Nick Fury), and *Jurassic Park*. He is one of the highest-grossing actors of all time.
  • Role in LIX Show: Jackson provided a dramatic, spoken-word introduction to the performance, connecting Lamar's music to the history of Black art and protest.

7 Shocking and Historic Moments from the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show

The 14-minute performance was packed with theatrical elements, cultural statements, and musical fireworks that went far beyond a standard concert.

1. Kendrick Lamar's Solo Headlining Debut

For the first time in Super Bowl history, a hip-hop artist was granted the coveted headlining slot entirely on their own, without a committee of rap legends. After the star-studded 2022 show, Lamar’s solo set was a profound statement on his generational influence and the mainstream acceptance of hip-hop as the dominant cultural force in music.

2. The Surprise Appearance of Samuel L. Jackson

The show didn't start with a beat drop, but with a dramatic monologue. Samuel L. Jackson appeared on a towering, abstract stage piece, delivering a powerful, original speech that sampled the themes of Lamar's music, particularly the social commentary found in *To Pimp a Butterfly*. This theatrical opening immediately elevated the performance from a concert to a piece of performance art.

3. The Inclusion of the Drake Diss Track "euphoria"

In a move that stunned the audience and set social media ablaze, Lamar included his massive, viral, and highly controversial diss track, "euphoria," in the setlist. While he only performed a truncated version, the sheer audacity of bringing a track so fresh and so directly tied to the *Drake beef* onto the national stage was unprecedented. It was a clear signal that the Super Bowl Halftime Show was no longer just about nostalgia, but about current cultural warfare.

4. SZA and the "All The Stars" Duet

The energy shifted when SZA, a fellow TDE powerhouse, emerged for a stunning, intimate performance of "All The Stars," their collaborative track from the *Black Panther* soundtrack. The moment provided a beautiful, melodic contrast to the high-octane rap tracks, showcasing the depth and range of Lamar’s musical collaborations and giving the audience a much-needed emotional beat.

5. The New Orleans-Inspired Marching Band

In a nod to the host city, New Orleans, the performance featured a massive, intricate arrangement involving a traditional New Orleans-style brass band and a choreographed dance troupe. This segment, which accompanied tracks like "DNA." and "HUMBLE.," served as a powerful tribute to the city's rich musical heritage, connecting Compton's West Coast hip-hop with the deep South's foundational jazz and brass traditions.

6. The Unmistakable Tease of "Not Like Us"

The closing moments of the show delivered the ultimate clickbait moment. As the music faded, the instantly recognizable, opening synth line and beat of "Not Like Us"—Lamar's other, even more viral, Drake diss track—began to play. The stadium erupted. Lamar only performed the first few bars, allowing the crowd to chant the lyrics before the lights cut out. It was a perfect, mic-drop ending that ensured the performance would be the subject of conversation for days.

7. Serena Williams' Cameo in the Final Scene

While not a musical performance, tennis legend Serena Williams appeared in the final, choreographed scene. She was seen standing atop the central stage structure, holding a flaming torch, symbolizing the passing of the cultural baton and the power of Black excellence across all fields. This visual, though brief, reinforced the performance’s theme of cultural authority and global impact.

Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show: The Full Setlist Analysis

Kendrick Lamar’s performance was a carefully curated journey through his discography, balancing massive hits with his most recent, culturally relevant tracks. The confirmed setlist for the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show included:
  • "GNX" (Teaser): The opening track from his 2024 album, signaling a commitment to his newest work.
  • "Squabble Up": A high-energy track that immediately set a confrontational and powerful tone.
  • "HUMBLE.": A massive, crowd-pleasing hit from *DAMN.*, providing a necessary singalong moment.
  • "DNA.": Another *DAMN.* track, used to showcase the New Orleans brass band's powerful accompaniment.
  • "euphoria": The controversial, truncated inclusion that became the show's biggest headline.
  • "All The Stars" (with SZA): The emotional, melodic centerpiece of the show.
  • "man at the garden": A deeper cut, showcasing Lamar’s lyrical complexity.
  • "peekaboo": A transition track, maintaining the high-energy flow.
  • "Not Like Us" (Tease): The iconic, show-stopping finale that sealed the performance's legendary status.
The choice of songs demonstrated Lamar's topical authority, blending his multi-platinum hits with the freshest, most talked-about music of the year. The entire production, from the choreography to the stage design, was a cohesive, powerful statement that transcended a simple musical performance, solidifying Kendrick Lamar's legacy as a generational artist. The Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show will be remembered as the moment hip-hop fully claimed its throne.
who is the halftime show 2025
who is the halftime show 2025

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