In a thrilling Super Bowl halftime show, Kendrick Lamar delivered an unforgettable performance, enhanced by a surprise appearance that sent social media into a frenzy.
Fans were electrified when Lamar welcomed a fellow Compton native, tennis superstar Serena Williams, to the stage during his stirring rendition of “Not Like Us,” a track aimed at Canadian rapper Drake.
While she didn’t appear up close during the performance, Williams later tweeted wearing the same outfit she donned on stage, expressing her excitement: “Let’s go Super Bowl halftime??! I d!ed a little!” As she showcased her iconic c-walking on such a colossal stage, reactions poured in, with many fans drawing connections to her complex history with Drake.
Jemele Hill of The Atlantic encapsulated the moment, tweeting, “Serena been waiting to get that lick back.”
Another fan humorously remarked that Kendrick must have felt triumphant to see the entire Super Bowl audience belting out “a minor” while Williams danced.
Observers highlighted the legendary nature of the moment, with one user stating, “Drake watching Serena, his ex, Crip Walking to a viral diss song about him—that’s legendary.”
The roots of the beef between Drake and Williams extend back to 2015, when rumors of a romantic relationship sparked widespread speculation.
Drake has referenced Williams in various songs and was often spotted cheering her on at tennis tournaments.
The buzz reached fever pitch when TMZ published photos of the two dining together after she triumphed at the Western and Southern Open.
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However, Williams moved on, marrying Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in 2017, with whom she shares a daughter. The tension intensified when Drake took a shot at Ohanian in his 2022 song “Middle Of The Ocean,” calling him a “groupie.” In a pointed response, Ohanian tweeted his commitment to being the best supporter for his family.
Kendrick Lamar, never one to shy away from controversy, voiced his support for Williams in “Not Like Us,” rapping, “N**** better not speak on Serena.” The rivalry further escalated when, at the 2024 ESPYS, Williams herself delivered a jab, saying, “If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that none of us – not a single one of us, not even me – should ever pick a fight with Kendrick Lamar.”
In the lead-up to the performance, Lamar teased the crowd with snippets of songs from his latest album, “GNX,” and earlier played “Euphoria,” another diss track aimed at Drake. He playfully retreated for a moment, referencing a dispute with his record label over “Not Like Us,” which featured alleged defamatory content.
Despite the legal drama, Lamar ultimately delivered the track, weaving in poignant lines that the audience eagerly sang along to, including, “Tryna strike a chord / and it’s probably A-Minor.” The halftime show also featured Lamar’s hits “Humble” and “DNA,” along with two collaborations with SZA and surprise appearances from Samuel L. Jackson as the show’s narrator and DJ Mustard.
As a child of Compton, Williams had risen to become one of the greatest tennis players in history, while Lamar brought an edge and excitement to the Super Bowl stage, culminating in a memorable exchange that encapsulated the complex dynamics of fame, rivalry, and camaraderie.
Watch video below:
https://x.com/nfr_podcast/status/1888765034777698503
