Kendrick Lamar warns America about the treatment of its once enslaved, integrity, and how the game is over
By Jihad Hassan Muhammad
Contributing Editor
Texas Metro News
“No better than Samuel on the Django/ No better than a white man with slave boats”- Kendrick Lamar
Since the announcement months ago, the hip-hop nation and the world alike have been wondering what Kendrick Lamar would do during his Halftime Show at Super Bowl LIX.
Possibly the most coveted and honored of all performances that could be bestowed upon an artist, King Kendrick, as he is often referred to; now joins the ranks of Michael Jackson, Prince, Beyonce, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen and so many more to headline the National Football League’s biggest entertainment stage. Its safe to say the world was watching, and Kendrick knew that would be the case, so in usual Kendrick form he utilized the opportunity to deliver a message.
From the moment his show started with the words, of famed actor Samuel L. Jackson, who played the character of Uncle Sam, saying, “SALUTATIONS, its yo uncle, Sam, and this is the great American game,”
The King began with razor sharp rhymes to the back drop of a stage set resembling a huge PlayStation video game controller, the metaphor of the games that we are made to play in America had begun, and in front of Super Bowl audience onlookers like the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, and many more elites, Kendrick was going to expose it.
“Everybody must judged, but this time God only favoring us,” King Kendrick rapped, among intricate detailed rhymes showing his greatness as an emcee, he continued rhyming with topics from his greatness – his hometown, Compton, CA, all the way to what the government is involved in. This was only the intro, as if it was an epic album beginning.
After which he really kicked things off with these words, “The revolution bout to be televised, you picked the right time but the wrong guy!” declared Kendrick.
Accompanying the stage was also many dancers who wore red, white, blue.
He began with his song “Squabble Up” which reflects the terminology in the streets and gang culture when a fight ensues.
In one of the many songs from his latest album GNX, Kendrick talks to other rap artists asking why do you rap if it’s fictional. The basis of his rap battle with pop artist Drake, who the King took issue with for rapping using the N word, not being a true emcee, as well as not uplifting the masses. Yet this performance was more than a victory lap to a rap battle against Drake, this about the Black man and woman in America as he rapped later on the stage talking of reparations, the 40 acres and a mule owed; and then some.
The background dancers went into formation, which from afar was reminiscent of the American flag, and Kendrick performed his popular song, “Humble” saying, ‘Be Humble, Sit Down, Be Humble, Sit Down,” which could be taken as a much-needed message for America right now.
“NO, NO, NO to loud, to reckless, to ghetto, Mr. Lamar do you really know how to play the game…” Uncle Sam said. Jackson, who also played the ultimate sell out, the house slave, Stephen in the film D’Jango; is a metaphor to remind Black people, inclusive of our artists, to not go too far; do only what White America approves of, if you don’t you will be punished for not PLAYING THE GAME.
Uncle Sam’s next words make clear this idea that King Kendrick expressed throughout his show.
“AWW you done lost yo damn mind” Uncle Sam declares.
And after Kendrick performed some of his mainstream hits with, label mate, and R&B sensation SZA, which included, “Luther” and “All The Stars,” Uncle Sam said,“That’s what I’m talking about, that’s what America wants, nice and calm, you almost there don’t mess this …” as Uncle Sam was about to continue with saying up, Kendrick interrupted him by rapping these words, “Its a cultural divide, Ima get it on the flo, (background singers say, you really bout to do it) 40 acres and a mule this is bigger than the music,”declared the King.
Then he began performing, “Not Like Us” his battle rap, hood anthem, which was awarded five Grammy Awards several weeks ago. In the song he throws battle raps at Drake, refers to him as a colonizer, and gives a history lesson about how slave labor helped to build America.
From all accounts there was not many in the over 70,000 in attendance who did not rap the song word for word with Kendrick. Throughout his performances the word, WARNING flashed in lights from the audience which was part of his stage show.
King Kendrick ended his set with a message that summarized it all, his song “TV off” in which he screams “turn this tv off, turn this tv off” on the hook. Those were his last words as the lights flashed “Game Over” from the audience.
There was chatter online and on social media which was critical of Kendrick’s performance, saying it wasn’t conducive for a Super Bowl.
“If you didn’t like this halftime show, you don’t like hip-hop,” said J Kruz, Emmy award-winning entertainment TV personality on Dallas’ CW33, as well syndicated radio show member of K104’s Dede In The Morning. “This was about an emcee delivering not just his message, but bars, he didn’t need anyone else just him. Everything from Uncle Sam to the red, white, and blue background dancers was masterfully executed, it was Kendrick being him.”
The Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan, who has been a mentor for the hip-hop nation since its inception, as well as teaching and mobilizing millions of Black people for the last 70 years, once had this to say of Kendrick’s influence, “Kendrick Lamar, set a new standard. He freed rappers to come on up. He’s the boss,” speaking of King Kendrick’s pioneering of a new cultural revolution in hip-hop.
Jihad H. Muhammad is a contributing editor who has worked for the Final Call and The Dallas Weekly.
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