Fans React to ‘World’s Biggest Hater’ Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Performance
This Sunday, Kendrick Lamar headlined the Super Bowl halftime show. While some have criticized the performance his fans have praised the performance for its artistry, political statement, and sheer pettiness towards Drake. Here’s what fans have said about Lamar’s performance.
Fans reacted to Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show performance
One of the most talked-about moments of the halftime show came when Lamar looked directly into the camera during “Not Like Us.”
“That was the pettiest s*** ever,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I’m inspired.”
With a broad smile on his face, Lamar said, “Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young / You better not ever go to cell block one”
“THIS MAN KENDRICK LAMAR JUST SMILED IN THE CAMERA AFTER COOKING DRAKE. LMFAOOOOOO,” one person wrote.
“Kendrick Lamar is proof that having an arch nemesis is a fundamental part of the human experience,” another user posted.
Others pointed out that Lamar’s smile directly contracted with the lyrics, making the words all the more potent.
“Personally, I really enjoy how Kendrick Lamar is the world’s biggest hater while looking like a cute cinnamon roll the whole time,” wrote one fan.
Some praised Lamar for his enormous year. “Not Like Us” hit No. 1 over the summer and won him five Grammys just a week before the Super Bowl. The performance capped off his resounding victory over Drake in their feud.
“No matter where you’ve fallen on Kendrick Lamar over the past year, I highly recommend today you put your biases aside and just enjoy the grand finale of what has been the greatest year a rapper has had in history,” wrote one person.
Kendrick Lamar shared his goals for the halftime show ahead of the Super Bowl
In the days before the Super Bowl, Lamar shared what he hoped to bring to his performance.
“Being in the now and being just locked-in to how I feel and the energy I have now, that’s the L.A. energy for me,” he said at a press conference hosted by Apple Music (via PBS). “That’s something I wanted to carry over to New Orleans and for the world to see. This is me. This is Kendrick Lamar, 37 years old, and I still feel like I’m elevating, I’m still on a journey.”
He said he wanted to emphasize storytelling in the performance. Lamar won a Pulitzer for his album DAMN. in 2018.
“[Viewers can expect] storytelling,” he said. “I think I’ve always been very open about storytelling through all my catalog and my history of music. And I’ve always had a passion about bringing that on whatever stage I’m on.”
He recently won five Grammys for ‘Not Like Us’
The Super Bowl halftime performance was another major moment for Lamar this month. On Feb. 2, he won five Grammys. He dedicated his win for Record of the Year to Los Angeles as it recovers from devastating fires.
“We gon’ dedicate this one to the city,” he said in his Grammys speech. “I can’t give enough thanks to these places that I rolled around since high school, and most importantly the people and the families out in Palisades and Altadena. This is a true testament that we will continue to restore this city.”
He also won for Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video.
