Kendrick Lamar’s Artistic Super Bowl Halftime Show
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show drew more viewers than the game between the Eagles and Chiefs. As impressive as the numbers were (133 million viewers), the performance itself mattered far more.
Seldom has a Super Bowl halftime show approached the level of art, if one defines art as a personal expression that enriches the audience’s understanding of the world around them. Beyoncé’s guest performance of “Formation” at the 2016 Super Bowl was one of those times. Kendrick Lamar’s entire 2025 Super Bowl halftime show was another, writ large.
As discussed in a February 10 The Wall Street Journal article, “The Making of Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show,” Lamar and show collaborator Dave Free designed the performance to evoke the Black experience in America. Commenting on the aesthetic of the show, Free told The Wall Street Journal, “The feel of it is Black America. What does Black America look like, and how to control that narrative of what it means to be Black in America versus what the world’s perspective of that is.”
The show was packed with symbolism expressing those themes. For more a detailed explanation of how the performance reflected Lamar’s artistic vision, I recommend reading this Ebony article. If you are on LinkedIn, read an insightful post by A. Zachary Faison, President & CEO at historically Black university Edward Waters.
After the halftime show, I tapped into my personal social media network for Black perspectives on Lamar’s performance and its symbolism. One of my Facebook friends summed up many of the reactions: “Here’s a challenge: get curious. Watch the reaction videos and read the posts from folks within the Black community who enjoyed the performance. You just might learn something.”
Another very good friend of mine said, “I think the other issue is that white folks have never really been curious and wanting to understand the culture. They just want to consume it! I don’t think they want to ‘watch the reaction(s)’ or learn.”
If art is about challenging the audience to learn something, then Kendrick Lamar, like Beyoncé before him, elevated the halftime show from entertainment to art. I am reminded of when I was in my early teens in the 1970s, and I bought copy of Quincy Jones’s Smackwater Jack. When I opened the gateflold, I was struck by the image of Jones standing proud and bold in a dashiki robe. I was inspired to research his clothing choice. I quickly learned about the dashiki being a symbol of Black pride and heritage. My life was enriched because I had opened that gatefold and then took the time to learn more. I am once again inspired to learn more thanks to Kendrick Lamar. I am grateful for his art.
