{"id":41598,"date":"2026-02-08T19:48:38","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T23:48:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/who-sang-at-super-bowl-2025-kendrick-lamar-wows-with-sza-guest-spot\/"},"modified":"2026-02-08T19:49:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T23:49:16","slug":"13854-who-sang-at-super-bowl-2025-kendrick-lamar-wows-with-sza-guest-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/13854-who-sang-at-super-bowl-2025-kendrick-lamar-wows-with-sza-guest-spot\/","title":{"rendered":"Who sang at Super Bowl 2025? Kendrick Lamar wows with SZA guest spot"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kendrick Lamar<\/b> made history on February 9, 2025, as the first solo rapper to headline the Super Bowl LIX<\/b> halftime show. With SZA<\/b> joining him on stage and Samuel L. Jackson<\/b> dressed as Uncle Sam, the performance delivered over 13 minutes<\/b> of hip-hop artistry that left millions stunned. What made this show truly legendary was how Kendrick wowed audiences with unexpected guest moments, political subtext, and the moment everyone was waiting for.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udd25 Quick Facts<\/h3>\n
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  • Headliner<\/b>: Kendrick Lamar became the first solo rapper to lead a Super Bowl halftime show<\/li>\n
  • Guest Star<\/b>: SZA performed her collaboration hits “Luther” and “All the Stars” on February 9, 2025<\/li>\n
  • Location<\/b>: Caesars Superdome in New Orleans hosted the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show<\/li>\n
  • Special Appearances<\/b>: Samuel L. Jackson, tennis legend Serena Williams, and DJ Mustard supported the performance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

    How Kendrick Lamar Became Hip-Hop’s Biggest Super Bowl Moment<\/h2>\n

    The Pulitzer Prize<\/b> winner chose artistry over obvious spectacle. Kendrick<\/b> took the stage with measured intensity, delivering a politically charged performance that referenced Gil Scott-Heron<\/b>‘s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.” The stage itself featured PlayStation controller shapes<\/b> and designs reminiscent of Squid Game, layering visual meaning beneath the beats. His charismatic swagger matched every track perfectly.<\/p>\n

    Rolling Stone<\/b> praised the show as a hip-hop touchdown<\/b>, calling it the most authentic halftime performance in football history. Critics noted the near-flawless execution<\/b> and masterful choreography that gave hip-hop genuine respect on the world’s largest stage.<\/p>\n

    SZA’s Show-Stealing Moments With Kendrick<\/h2>\n

    When SZA<\/b> emerged to perform their collaborative hits, the Caesars Superdome erupted. Her voice soared through “Luther”<\/b>, the Grammy-winning collaboration from his album. “All the Stars,”<\/b> their track from the Black Panther soundtrack, became the emotional centerpiece of the performance. The chemistry between the two artists radiated across 115 million<\/b> television screens globally.<\/p>\n

    SZA<\/b>‘s appearances proved that Super Bowl 2025<\/b> wasn’t just Kendrick’s show. It became a celebration of modern hip-hop and R&B’s greatest creative partnerships. Fans lauded her vocal control and stage presence as career-defining moments.<\/p>\n

    The Complete Setlist and Performance Breakdown<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Performance Order<\/td>\nSong Title<\/td>\nNotable Element<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Opening<\/td>\nSquabble Up<\/td>\nHigh-energy entrance track<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    2nd<\/td>\nHUMBLE.<\/td>\nDAMN. album classic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    3rd<\/td>\nDNA.<\/td>\nFan favorite anthem<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Middle<\/td>\nEuphoria \/ Man at the Garden<\/td>\nDeep cuts showcasing artistry<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    SZA Duets<\/td>\nLuther & All the Stars<\/td>\nGrammy collaboration centerpiece<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Closing<\/td>\nNot Like Us<\/td>\nThe Drake diss track moment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

    The Drake Moment Everyone Expected<\/h2>\n

    “I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    \u2014 Kendrick Lamar<\/b>, during the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show<\/p>\n

    Kendrick<\/b> directly addressed the legal tensions surrounding his Drake diss track<\/b> “Not Like Us” before performing it. The PlayStation-shaped stage<\/b> lit up as he delivered the controversial bars, but strategically omitted the most litigious lyrics. Billboard<\/b> called this moment the “final blow”<\/b> to his ongoing beef with Drake, executed with surgical precision on football’s grandest stage.<\/p>\n

    Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, and the Political Subtext<\/h2>\n

    Samuel L. Jackson<\/b> opened the performance dressed as Uncle Sam<\/b>, wearing the iconic patriotic outfit. Serena Williams<\/b> made a surprise appearance, adding feminine power to the narrative. These weren’t random celebrity cameos. They reinforced Kendrick’s<\/b> message about American identity, protest, and artistic freedom. The imagery was controversial yet intentional<\/b>, echoing his Pulitzer Prize-winning lyrics about race and revolution.<\/p>\n

    Critics noted the show contained “loosely political”<\/b> choreography and visual symbols. Each element required viewers to think deeper about hip-hop’s role in America’s cultural conversation. This wasn’t just entertainment; it was a statement broadcast to over 100 million<\/b> viewers across the globe.<\/p>\n

    Did Kendrick Lamar Deliver the Greatest Hip-Hop Halftime Show Ever?<\/h2>\n

    Opinions remain sharply divided. Some fans declare it the greatest Super Bowl halftime performance in history<\/b>, praising the artistic vision and authenticity. Others criticized the performance as “boring”<\/b> and too abstract compared to previous spectacles. The Guardian<\/b> defended the show’s unconventional approach, calling it a triumph of choosing artistry over showmanship<\/b>. Hip-hop purists celebrated Kendrick<\/b> refusing to compromise his vision for mainstream appeal.<\/p>\n

    What’s undeniable: Kendrick Lamar<\/b> made history on February 9, 2025. Whether audiences loved or debated the show, it sparked conversations about hip-hop’s legitimacy on superstardom’s ultimate platform. The performance proved that rap music no longer needed permission to dominate the Super Bowl stage.<\/p>\n

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