What did you like / dislike about the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show featuring Kendrick Lamar?

[princeofromance]

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1 y

I thought the Super Bowl Halftime Show had no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

[WhiteSteve]

I didn’t really watch it. I was loosely aware of, but completely uninformed about the Drake vs Kendrick beef from this past year. I’m probably more familiar with Drake’s work. I was trying to get into Kendrick last year, and explored his catalogue a little more. I liked it, he’s definitely talented, but something about his songs, most of them don’t really “grab” me, on a purely sonic level. Like it’s probably more of a production issue than a lyricism issue.

As much as I appreciate great lyrics, in most cases, I think I prefer a song with a great instrumental behind it, and the lyrical quality is optional. I’d rather hear a great beat with mid lyrics than a mid beat with great lyrics. I used to be a huge Eminem fan before he blew up, that was kind of the opposite, the beats are often whack but his lyrics were so unheard of at that time that I stayed for the lyrical content.

Don’t get me wrong…I’m blown away by great lyrics. I came up listening to Illmatic, I’m from the era of classics. I’ve just come not to expect them most of the time in music.

This J. Cole verse from a few years back…. chef’s kiss stuff….

https://www.youtube.com/embed/-7O_N95mwSw

Anyway, before I wander too far off the trail, I’m just saying I’m more familiar with Drake than Kendrick, and while I fully acknowledge Drake to be a pop rapper, and I’ve always thought he was kind of an industry plant and probably had ghostwriters, the final product is something I enjoy. He’s not someone I take all the way seriously, but he undeniably has hits on hits on hits on hits.

Kendrick, like I said, his stuff is newer to me. It’s also probably more West Coast-oriented. I loved the “G-Funk Era” back in the 90s with all the SoCal rappers, but beyond that, I’m definitely more drawn to the gritty, NYC/Philly vibe, that good ol’ “boom-bap.”

So, bottom line, Kendrick has some really good songs that I do like, I think I just wasn’t instantly taken by his overall catalogue, and I therefore never listened enough times to really fully dive into the songs and analyze them. He’s still someone I’m listening to on the surface level. Drake too, but I think he’s almost ALL surface level, haha.

But, as crazy as this will sound, Kendrick is still kind of “new” to me, even though he’s been around like a decade, haha. Like I just missed the era when Kendrick rose to stardom, I had hit my 30s and became a rap-curmudgeon, lmao, like the entirety of 2010-2020 was me lamenting the loss of 90s and 00s rap, and wondering why everyone’s jeans got so skinny🤣 Judging by Kendrick’s outfit last night, I’m guessing baggy jeans are back in style. I paid slight attention to Drake because I was a DeGrassi fan growing up, and when they made the reboot with Drake, I was in college and my roommates and I watched it ironically😂 Drake will forever be Jimmy Brooks to me😝

Side question maybe someone younger can help me with: I was excited that Drake had a song title referencing his old character name, but I feel like I’m going through a Mandela Effect thing here. I SWEAR that song was called “Jimmy CROOKS”, and now lately it comes up as “Jimmy COOKS”…. am I crazy or what? Like I listen to Drake enough to sort of know his stuff but not enough that I could say for sure. And Jimmy Brooks/Crooks is TOO good to not go with, in favor of “Cooks”, which also works, but not quite as well. I wonder if there was some kind of law suit and they changed it.

I even found a Reddit thread about this, and the answers make me feel more and less crazy at the same time, lmao

https://www.reddit.com/r/Drizzy/comments/x4195j/i_swear_this_song_was_called_jimmy_crooks_or_has/

Anyhow…. back to Kendrick, I stayed out of the entire beef, always meant to catch up, but now these dudes just drop a new song in a day, and before I knew it, it was overwhelming. I have to find the chronology of it all, and go back and listen in order. I feel out of the loop. I guess people decided Not Like Us was the kill shot, heard some folks calling it classic and all that…. the beat is borderline mid to me though. I think people really like the instrumental, but I’m not sure I’m as wowed by it. It’s like a B-tier beat, in my opinion, from the short amount I’ve heard. But again, that could be East-over-West bias creeping in.

But, either way, from what I DO know about it….. getting Not Like Us performed at halftime at the Super Bowl is just about the biggest L a guy could have to hold. I still only know the surface level but I think the whole deal is that some pretty bad allegations are made about Drake, so to have that performed for the entire world…. oof, lmao

[matchrestore]

I really enjoyed the half time show. I can tell a lot of us white people had all of the symbolism just fly right past them, but wow, they went to great lengths to include us in their Black joy—they even had a beloved Black actor, Samuel L Jackson, spell it out for us and you all still didn’t get that it was an intelligent, well crafted, excellently executed piece of cultural art? Good Lord.

I’m not saying you had to like it. I personally thought it was beautiful, both from a cultural perspective and from a design and performative production perspective (I’m not saying my perspective on that matters more than others, but I am saying that I have 20 years of experience studying and working in performance art and design, so if you want to say it was just “bad,” come with support or it will not be a fair fight).

Of course people didn’t like it. It’s different from most other half time shows. It is a style of music that doesn’t appeal to the a lot of the people who watch and value the Super Bowl. But, I’m massively confused why people can’t see the beauty in other cultures and recognizing how awesome it is for a different group of people’s preferences to be seen and celebrated. Especially when they have been historically oppressed and their preferences marginalized (and often, criminalized, as Lamar referenced), why aren’t you happy for people who aren’t usually the focus? Like, how do you not realize how lucky you are that most everything is catered to us? How are you not thrilled to see others getting to enjoy what they value and love? I don’t get it.

[JaneDoe93]

Of course your perspective matters! Hip hop isn’t about excluding white people. It’s about telling the experiences and struggles of a group of people and anyone who is willing to take the time to understand is appreciated! This is honestly the answer to racism.

[katiesmuff]

Did not like anything about the halftime show. Someday maybe they will get back to having some actual performances for the show, not all this drug related rap crap

[BlckGrl]

You see a black man rapping and thinks he's rapping about drugs... you didn't listen at all.

[JaneDoe93]

Wow everything he rapped about just went over your head which kind of proves his point.

[MissTrix]

Kinda hard to imagine anything different when you can't understand any words he is saying! Least there was little skin showing! No tits hanging out!

There was not another race in sight.

[katiesmuff]

@BlckGrl I just do not like anything Rap! In my book it's not even singing, just rapidly as possible spew out words nobody outside of you understands and just noise. Just so you understand my husband is black and all four of my children are mixed. Even my husband agrees that rap it trash to us but we do believe everybody has the right to like what they like.

[katiesmuff]

@JaneDoe93 Wouldn't know as I couldn't understand a word he was spewing out of his mouth!

[Apple1996]

It was soo good especially with all the hidden messages. Probably the best half time show I've ever seen

[AI Opinion]

I loved Kendrick Lamar's performance at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show. His energy was absolutely electrifying, and his stage presence was captivating. The combination of his powerful lyrics and dynamic choreography really stood out. The only thing that felt a bit off was the short duration; it left me wanting more. Overall, it was an impressive showcase of his talent! 🎤🔥

[shortster]

I dislike that they air it, I like when it is over and that it is a good time to go to the bathroom. This goes for all of the SB halftime shows not just the latest one.

[AviatorTom]

They couldn't afford a proper stage? Instead, just a cloth rolled onto the field and ringed with lights?

[strateguy632]

It saved time and maybe less security risk than a rolling stage.

[Massageman]

very sad

[Anonymous]

It was garbage. It started out ok, but then when they went into a duet it really started to suck. Then to turn it political, also playing into the whole Drake dispute, sad. I wanted to be entertained. I’m sure most people did. Tired of hearing politics, just wanted to watch a game w some music w out being dragged into political bullshit. Then you had Serena Williams Crip walking. Sad that that’s considered a culture.

[Crazzyyworld]

America is getting dumber and dumberer. They show white dumb and now black dumb. If I play dumb for long maybe they will make me a star someday. Asian dumb supervowl next.

[MissTrix]

Agree! Asian next! Doubt they would do it
They only believe there is anger between white and black. Forget any other race!

[BlckGrl]

Great? I wish his mic was louder and that he enunciated more

[MissTrix]

It's rap your not supposed to hear the words.

[DreamCrescent]

that’s a common misconception. mumble rap is the lazy person excuse who can’t actually rap

[BlckGrl]

@MissTrix yes you're supposed to hear the words.

[Zack-Bann]

Loved it more than last year but not as much the two years before that

[RealMarek]

I listened carefully but couldn’t understand 95% of what he was saying.

[LiamJHayden]

I did not watch the game, and if I had I would not have viewed the halftime show.

[Riley473]

I like his performance especially when Sza came out

[Nikki1989]

Really, people watch that crap?

[MissTrix]

Yeah I. Their car with it so loud they can't hear any more.

[Anonymous]

I asked myself how much work it must have been to go out of their way and hire such a large homogeneous group of people in America.

[Paige90]

I hated it! Most hip-hop takes VERY little talent and only requires the ability to memorize lines.

[Anonymous]

The lack of DEI in the half time show upset me.

[Nazgol]

I liked Serena's appearance & dance. Totally cool!👌👏🤜

[Still-alive]

It triggered the right people that most of us hate so therefore it was excellent heh

[beefcakebradybatson]

I don't care about Drake, Kendrick Lamar or their 80 IQ "beef." (I LOATHE 90-95% of [c]rap !!!)

[Oldschool1981]

I liked Serena Williams

[Hatedevils]

I hated it. i tried to make my wife turn it off but she wouldn't. t was so so woke. I couldn't understand him at all. My wife loved it. I guess her students are obsessed with him

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Nothing. The show sucked.

[Uglygaypoorcoward94]

The stage was in the design of a ps5 controller except the triangle was inverted

[D_Bone_Steak]

I didn't watch it.

[Miristheiss]

It just wasn't my taste in music.

[Fireguy17]

didn't even watch the game.

[Babygirl_S]

Didn’t watch 🥱

[HungTexan]

It wasn’t that good.

[Anonymous]

It was terrible.

[Deborahrausch79]

I fell asleep. I guess I didn't miss much.

[Dargil]

Not just bad. A snoozer

[Wise4myage]

I thought it was terrible.

[Jupiter1]

BORING 🥱

[Iamcoming]

I did not watch

[Kingofkings1992]

Muted the TV