Kendrick Lamar brought his powerful lyrics and laid out his vision of the American game for the world to see at the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show.

The stage was set for Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show. Kendrick Lamar's performance there had a lot of people talking. Many people acknowledged Kendrick's talent and delivery, but not everyone agreed with his message. The crowd was definitely in for a treat, but the response to his performance was all over the place.

Kendrick delivered a 13-minute performance filled with a sense of purpose. Kendrick wasn't just there to perform his hits. He wanted to share a story. Black Americans have been trying to outrun racism in America, and Kendrick wanted to show that with his performance. The halftime show isn't usually the place where people expect to see a performance like Kendrick's, but there he was. Hurts' football moves are similar to Black Americans' attempts to outrun racism. Some drives start five yards away from the end zone, while others start 99 yards away.

Kendrick Lamar has always been known for his thoughtful approach to music. He takes his time to create a cohesive message. His albums usually have a strong theme. He aimed to bring that same approach to the Super Bowl. He skipped over some of his biggest hits to focus on songs that fit his message about the American game. He chose songs like “Man at the Garden” and “DNA” to highlight themes like war and peace.

Kendrick knew that he had to include “Not Like Us” in his set. The song had taken the world by storm. Drake's name was mentioned. He was the highlight of the entire performance. He kept the energy and the crowd excited.

Kendrick's performance was definitely meaningful, but it wasn't a firecracker from start to finish. He had some slower tracks in his set that dragged down the energy. SZA was there for a bit, but it didn't really move the needle. Samuel L. Jackson played the part of the narrator. He played a role similar to his portrayal of Dolmedes in Chi-raq. He chastised Kendrick for being too loud, too reckless, too ghetto. Kendrick cut him off with “Not Like Us, ” making Sam leave the stage.

The stage was set up with PlayStation buttons on each corner and Serena Williams was there.  Kendrick was joined by dancers in red, white, and blue outfits who eventually took the shape of a flag around Kendrick.

Kendrick has always been known for his thoughtful approach to music. He takes his time to create a cohesive message. He wanted to share a story. Kendrick was making it clear that Black Americans are the foundation of the country’s development. But to some, the flag is a symbol of imperialism. To others, it is a beacon of Black American pride.

“We all want to win the game, but it’s not clear how to win the game because our definitions of victory vary, ” he said. It's a challenge to get everyone on the same page, whether you're talking about politics or just life in general. Kendrick's performance was a powerful reminder that we all have our own views on how to succeed in the American game.

Kendrick's performance was a reminder that he is a powerful voice in the world of hip-hop. He's not afraid to take on big topics. But the impact of his performance is less about the execution and more about our expectations. The NFL and Apple Music are not the places to look for radical change. But it doesn’t mean that we should expect less from our artists. Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show was a powerful reminder that we all have our own views on how to succeed in the American game.

Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show: A Walk through Kendrick's Game

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