This past Sunday’s Super Bowl was the most-watched Super Bowl in history. According to Variety, 126 million tuned into the game on average, and the biggest spike in viewership happened during the second quarter, with 135.7 million tuning in. You know, when most people were checking out how much time was left until the Kendrick Lamar concert. I’ve also heard – although it’s not in this report – that the Super Bowl lost millions of viewers after the Halftime show. Which is actually pretty common, but it was even more notable this year.
The NFL never pays their Halftime performers, although I believe the NFL picks up the costs of all of the staging and the dancers and everything. Artists choose to do the Halftime show because they know they’ll get a crazy amount of exposure and a huge bump in sales. That’s exactly what’s happening with Kendrick:
After Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime show, Kendrick Lamar’s music saw a significant jump in streams on Spotify. On Monday, the streaming service announced that the rapper’s music saw a 175 percent spike in the U.S. in the three immediate hours after the game wrapped.
After the performance, Lamar’s streaming numbers saw significant jumps for individual songs from the set list, led by his Grammy-winning Drake diss track “Not Like Us,” which saw a whopping 430 percent jump in streams. Damn‘s “Humble.” went up 300 percent, Black Panther soundtrack’s “All the Stars” with SZA jumped by 290 percent, and “Man at the Garden” from GNX increased 260 percent in streams.
Lamar’s “Euphoria” jumped by 260 percent, “Squabble Up” went up by 230 percent, and “Peekaboo” featuring Azchike went up by 230 percent. Spotify described Lamar’s streaming increases as “The Halftime Effect,” which also trickled its way to SZA’s streaming numbers. The R&B star, who joined Lamar for “All the Stars” and “Luther” during the halftime set, saw her own music go up by 80 percent in the United States.
“Thank you for lifting me up. Thank you for encouraging me and being so willing to bend to whatever I may need,” SZA wrote to Lamar on Instagram after the performance. “You’re a prophet. But you knew that. I wasn’t nervous today. I was ready to rep for u. For US.”
I’m really glad that so many people are curious about Kendrick or they liked what they heard and wanted to hear more. This was seen by many as the final nail in Drake’s coffin – Kendrick has been dog-walking Drake since April and May of last year. Kendrick really stood on THAT stage, looked into the camera with that magnificent smile and said “Say Drake, I hear you like ‘em young.”
Additionally, there are a lot of white music critics with a lot of thoughts about Kendrick’s Halftime performance and how it was “bad” or “not enough” or whatever. I wonder if people genuinely thought it was going to be like The Pop Out? That man performed on FOX at the Super Bowl, he’s not going to perform “Not Like Us” uncensored six times, you know? I also think the OVHoes are trying desperately to pour scorn all over this.
Photos courtesy of NFL/Apple Music and Getty.
Conservatives and conservative media are calling this the “worst halftime show ever.” Of course, because it heavily featured ppl of color. The outcry is hilarious. As for Drake, hes a 42 year old rapper well past his prime. And, there is NO WAY he can EVER come back from this.
Not people of color, Black people. It was an all Black halftime show. It’s important to be specific here otherwise it’s just erasure
Ppl of color ARE black ppl but I get what youre saying. However, its important to note that r8cist ppl see all colored ppl as mostly the same, which is why you have Elon’s DOGE protege ranting against Indian men
Yes all Black people are people of color but not all people of color are Black. As a Black woman I’m asking you not to conflate the two, not condescend to me. There’s an important difference and you need to be respectful of that. There are certain things we as Black people will experience that other non-Black people of color never will. Don’t be rude
Not one Black person calls themselves a POC. We are Black. And We Black People stood on business for Kamala Harris. Other POC did not.
@ALEXANDRAS, absolutely not. Also, please use a capital B next time you attempt to lecture Black folk about racial identity.
yeah it wasn’t a generic “not white” halftime show. It was specifically Black. Or you might say African-American, to be really accurate. Whatever the case, it was a very specific show that spoke to a very specific cultural experience of America.
Kinda like watching the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and being like yaaaaa POC have their moment. Nah, China had its moment. It was Chinese culture on display.
We need to stop calling them what they call themselves “conservatives” and start calling them what they actually are. RACISTS.
I’m tired of them speaking in racist coded language and denying their obvious racism.
Isabel Wilkerson in her book, “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents”, explains that various groups vie for a rung somewhere on the caste ladder, all the while with the understanding that the bottom most rung will always be Black people (with other POC groups perhaps ranked low on the ladder but still above Black people.) So I agree with Tanesha that it is important to emphasize that this was an all Black halftime show, as the artist SPECIFICALLY meant it to be.
🚨Please be very careful about quoting that work or using its ideas when attempting to discuss Blackness or anti-Blackness.🚨
No you did not get on Beyonce’s Manager, Blue Ivy’s internet and tell a BLACK PERSON what they are called. You really want that smoke today?
Oh, jzs, let them cry more.
As a non American, I knew OF Kendrick and I knew he was well respected.
But I am absolutely floored by his performance – in every way possible. Like, the dancers coming out of the car at the beginning, whoooooa! And then all of it, the flag, the dance, the staging and his presence. I am a new fan!
I read that having Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam was actually a DL snub to Trump as the 2 men have a longstanding beef going back to T’s pre-political days.
Also I live in France and Kendrick’s jeans by Celine (a French brand) was a hot topic here.
Anyways since T is obsessed with ratings and magats are calling foul on so many levels glad to see Kendrick’s halftime was the biggest showing ever. I bet the YouTube numbers with people also watching in other countries are similarly historic.
They are a hot topic here as well! Many, many people loving his jeans and asking where they’re from. Unfortunately, not affordable for the vast majority of us!
I’m not trying to diminish Kendrick’s performance but those sexy AF jeans were a hot topic in my house too.
Indeed – they fit him VERY well 🙂
Watching the performance again, you see the layers of what K-Dot brought on Sunday. He said he was going to tell a story and he did. It’s made conservatives mad because so many Black people have been moved, encouraged and even soothed by that show.
It also brought up Aubrey’s grooming of Millie Bobbie and other young girl.
I’m so impressed with Kendrick and grateful for the gift he is.
Yeah we watched it again last night. It is absolutely worth it–I missed a lot of subtle elements the first time because I was so caught up in the visual brilliance.
I watched it again last night. Just amazing. The visual of America built on the backs of Black people and the divided flag was just chef’s kiss. But I noticed something last night. It happened so fast I had to freeze frame it. Right after the dancers throw up the Black power sign (when they are in the flag formation shown above), they do a move where they bring their arms and hands up -almost like a prayer symbol but raised at their heads. When you freeze it – it looks like the ones in white are wearing white hoods (KKK) and red ones have on red hoods (grand wizards). It dropped my jaw. Again it happens so fast you have to freeze frame it.
Nothing Kendrick does is by accident.The message: our demands for equality and Black empowerment are met with violence. The racism in this country is so entrenched that when you call it out you are considered un-American.
He didn’t just dog walk Drake – this whole thing was a scathing indictment of American society and this entire system.
I didn’t notice the first time that at the end, they are literally dancing moving around in a prison complex. At one point everyone dies – the only ones left standing are in white.
thanks for this comment. important stuff here.
Thanks Queenie I am sure there is a ton of symbolism that has been lost on me. It’s been fascinating reading the different interpretations of Kendrick’s message. I love that he has us all thinking about it and talking about it.
I posted yesterday that I initially thought dancing in the game controller’s X was a reference to Musk and his election interference using the platform X, but it turns out it was probably a reference to something completely different. I am enjoying reading all the different takes.
The whole thing was so groundbreaking. For me it’s my favorite Super Bowl performance of all time. I did love Prince, JLO and Shakira, Bruno Mars was great, and a few years ago all the rappers showing up to perform their hits, but this was just next level. I absolutely loved it.
Didnt realise it was him on Humble so bought that now.
Thought the show was awesome and love reading about tgmhe Black History bits he included.
As for Drake he already lost when he sued. This, and the Grammy’s, were icing on the cake.
I think Drake was secondary to Kendrick’s overall performance. I’m not surprised that it went over the heads of the white critics. It wasn’t for them anyway.
I agree it was about so much more.
I think it’s awful that once people don’t see people that look like them they say “it’s not for me”. I don’t care if I was the target audience or not. As a 50 year old Asian lady I loved it. Moving and powerful
THIS! Loved every second of Kendricks show. Legendary❤️
So many Black people online have been explaining the symbolism I missed, and damn the whole thing was masterful. I love that he did it all in front of Trump, and he just heard rap so it all went over his head. I’ve been asking every boomer in my life who didn’t get it “yeah but the flag made out of Black people didn’t strike you?”
But I can’t lie, I have watched that diabolical smile at “say drake, I hear you like em young” so many times now. Amazing.
Exactly I’ve really enjoyed reading and learning about the different interpretations.
I’ve watched Kendrick’s half time show several times. I’m such a big fan of the choreography, dance, setup and music. Everyone did their part to their absolute best!
Wow. The numbers don’t lie despite all the outrage after and people claiming it was the worst. It so clearly was not. Kendrick was fantastic and funny and I’ll never get over that smile! The choreography! The symbolism! His performance! ❤️
I’m too old to become a sudden fan of rap music. I leave that to my children. However, I can admire and respect great stage presence, fabulous staging, and a very professional and enjoyable halftime show. Will I download Kendrick Lamar? No, but I’m glad to have learned about him and his music, and I loved that grin!
Giddy I love this take and your name! Yes! I love that so many people are showing an open mind – one of my favorite subs on Reddit is Black People Twitter and the number of supportive people who are not Black, or not fans of rap music posting thoughtful comments and asking questions or just saying they enjoyed it multiplied last night in a big way. It’s really cool to see!
I’ve thought Kendrick was a genius since DAMN., and loved his voice. My daughter is Black, and pointed out the symbolism I missed, and then walked me through every frame of the video for Not Like Us. I came away from that in awe. The man is absolutely extraordinary. So many layers to his work; so much creativity. One of the best half time shows in my memory. And that grin. My god, the grin.
Kendrick introduced to me and to the world ‘THE POETRY THAT RAP MUSIC IS
Infact, RAP I now understand is the artistic combining of the three parts of literature (prose, poetry and dramatic arts). Kendric the god is also only one of three musicians to have won the purlitzer prize and the only rapper. What was Derrick thinking!!! I’ve never understood the fascination of RAP. I thought of it as only gang music but I’m now a convert. I may never RAP but I will listen.
It was a visual and audial masterpiece. IMO Kendrick has already solidified his reputation as the best rapper of all time and now he will be known as one of the best performers.
The white tears coming from the Right prove what we’ve always known: they’re both jealous of and threatened by black culture. They will never have the courage, the talent, the rich artistic history, and the sheer fortitude that’s baked into blackness and they know it.
These mofos are out there declaring Creed’s corny-ass performance as the pinnacle of SB half-time shows LMFAO…says so much.
I wish I could give your comment a million likes Kitten!
Creed. AHAHAHA!
I only sorta knew about the Drake beef but watching this show and the insane artistry and symbolism was just incredible. And I’m so glad others are breaking down the parts I didn’t get for me, lol.
And then Kendrick still fit in his dig at Drake with that adorable smile. OMG ☠️.
Best all time SB halftime shows — in my humble opinion.
Prince
Kendrick
Dre, Em, Mary J
There seems to be a common theme.
Was doing this list yesterday…these all are spot on and I would add:
U2 (2002, following 9/11)
JLo and Shakira (say what you will, it was fun)
Kendrick is pure genius. He’s always been on a whole other level. These haters can’t even begin to conceive of the elevated place from which he’s operating. Every single detail was timed, planned and considered to a tee. These ignorants prove the exact point about America Kendrick was making. Like this clown who did the New York Times review — said there was no ‘larger statement’ because it was just about a rap beef? FFS: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/arts/music/kendrick-lamar-super-bowl-halftime-review.html
While I was watching the halftime show I thought Kdot’s disses to Drake can also apply to Trump: being a pedophile (ala Epstein) and being full of himself (during the Be Humble set).
@Borgqueen, yes! I think the whole “I hear you like ’em young,” etc., while obviously (and originally) applying to Drake, also – given all the other layers of political commentary in this performance, and Felon47’s presence – applies to our pedophile president and all the president’s men who are also pedophiles/predators (Gaetz, Hegseth, etc.).
No wonder MAGA is crying harder over this – they were all being dogwalked like Drake by this performance.
It was epic. The American flag formed by Black dancers — with the divide in the middle — was powerful as hell.
Kendrick is brilliant in every sense of that word.
Every moment was unfkgbelievable. And this from an almost 59 yo white woman living in the upper midwest.
It just dawned on me that Kendrick Lamar : Rap :: Michelangelo : visual art of the Renaissance
I think his jeans and messiness with Drake has gotten a lot of focus and I get that- the jeans were fire (but also symbolic) and the Drake stuff was fun.
But the overall message and symbolism of the performance the call to action, the calling the American game rigged and saying it was over. Highlighting that the American government and establishment was built off the backs of Black people, and mentioning the 40 acres and a mule and all the broken promises. It is just brilliant.
Be interesting to see who performs next year. Because I see white twitter screaming for Morgan Wallen or some other white artists.. the ‘nice ones’ lol.
But Kendricks performance was brilliant. It will be long remembered over generic performances of the past.
They were showing the Super Bowl in a big theatre in Paris and most of the people present there fell asleep after the halftime show ahah. Pretty sure most people went there just to see that.