Kendrick Lamar has long separated himself from mainstream rappers through his unparalleled ability to construct immersive worlds around his art, characterized by prolific lyricism, intricate visuals and multilayered performances. During his Super Bowl Halftime Show, some messages were prominently displayed—such as Samuel L. Jackson portraying a Black Uncle Sam—while other Easter eggs remained hidden, awaiting discovery by eagle-eyed fans upon replays and revisits.
Here’s a look at some of the symbolic moments from Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Samuel L. Jackson Playing Uncle Sam
- Casting Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam was no accident. A deliberate choice, it echoes his chilling turn as the “house slave” in Django Unchained (2012)—a character weaponized by the master to keep others in check. Here, a Black Uncle Sam becomes a pointed metaphor for the elite Black figures propped up to maintain the status quo, reinforcing the same systems they seemingly defy.
- When Uncle Sam declares, “This Is The Great American Game,” it’s a layered statement. On the surface, he’s nodding to the nation’s most-watched sport—the NFL. But beneath that, he’s setting the stage for a deeper play: the high-stakes game of American life itself—where politics, capitalism and power moves shape the real scoreboard.
- Uncle Sam asking Lamar if “he really knew how to play the game” after calling his performance of “Squabble Up” ghetto.
“The Revolution is about to be Televised, You Picked the Right Time but the Wrong Guy.”
Kendrick opens his set with an unreleased track from GNX, setting the tone with, “The revolution is about to be televised, you picked the right time but the wrong guy.” On one of TV’s biggest stages, he’s making it clear—this isn’t just a performance, it’s a statement on the real American game.
Lamar’s Divided American flag: A Powerful Symbol of Unity and Struggle.
“I Want to Perform Their Favorite Song, but Y’all Know They Like to sue.”
Lamar, while teasing “Not Like Us,” took a pointed jab at Drake, nodding to the rapper’s lawsuit against UMG over the track’s promotion.
Deduct One Life
- Uncle Sam calls a “culture cheat code” after Lamar is shown alongside a group of Black men—hinting at the exploitation of Black culture for the country’s gain.
- Uncle Sam orders the “scorekeeper” to “deduct one life” after Lamar repeatedly defies him—underscoring the consequences of disobedience in a rigged system.
“Mustaaarrrrd!” Pops Out for “TV Off”
The “a” Chain
Lamar wore a chain with a pendant with a lower-case “a,” highlighting the “A-minorrrrrr” line on “Not Like Us.”
Subtle Street Light Message
GNX cut of “Man at the Garden” was performed under a streetlamp, a subtle nod to Lamar’s album To Pimp a Butterfly’s politics. In the “Alright” video—later a Black Lives Matter anthem—Lamar similarly performs atop streetlamps, reinforcing the visual callback.
Serena Williams’ Crip Walk Sends a Double Message
The seven-time Wimbledon champion stunned the crowd, hitting the Crip Walk during Lamar’s set—a nod to their shared LA roots and a defiant callback to the backlash she faced for the same dance after her 2012 Wimbledon win. Then, she was criticized; here, she was celebrated. And with her well-documented dislike for Drake, consider it a triple win.
Play Station Buttons – GAME OVER
Fans noticed that the final formation created the PlayStation buttons – in line with the entire theme of the “American Game.” After Kendrick made it clear the battle was over, the crowd lit up with flashing lights spelling out “GAME OVER.”
