Fans love Kendrick Lamar’s use of the American flag during Super Bowl half-time show
“Kendrick is big on symbolism. Don't miss the American flag built by Black people.”
After months of anticipation, Kendrick Lamar finally took the stage for the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Sunday night.
Samuel L. Jackson made a surprise appearance during the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper’s set, dressing up as Uncle Sam in red, white and blue. "It's your uncle, Sam! And this is the great American game,” Jackson said, serving as the personification of the United States throughout the show.
Lamar launched into the show, which included “DNA,” “Euphoria,” “Bodies,” and more. After “Squabble Up,” Uncle Sam expressed disappointment with Lamar’s performance.
"No, no, no, no! Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto! Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game?” Then tighten up,” Uncle Sam criticized, leading into one of the most captivating segments of the half-time show.
During Lamar’s performance of “HUMBLE,” his dancers formed an American flag, prompting viewers to point out what they viewed as a political message only he could have sent on America’s biggest night in sports.
Watch the full Super Bowl half-time performance here
“Kendrick’s American flag motif at THIS MOMENT is subversive. Yes, yes, yes,” wrote journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones.
“Kendrick is big on symbolism. Don't miss the American flag built by Black people,” oddeyepiper posted.
“Kendrick literally protested, and taunted America in front of the president during America’s biggest sports event. Chefs kiss,” Joy De’Angela said.
“Holy shit. That Kendrick Lamar show. That was so powerful. All Black artists. All Black dancers. A Black Uncle Sam,” mollypeonies wrote. “Powerful Black artists in front of the biggest audience of the year…forming an American flag. While our white supremacist president watches. Absolutely in love with it.”
“I think an American flag created entirely by black men at the Superbowl is one of the best pieces of art I've seen in my lifetime. I hope it actually killed some folks. And I hope it finally closes the fucking book on the argument that we shouldn't use the flag to fight the God damned fascists,” IDtheMIKE proclaimed.
“So much symbolism in that #HalfTimeShow from the colors (red, white, and blue) to reflect America, to having all black men as dancers for specific songs, to the use of “Game Over” at the end,” Dr. Wendy Osefo posted. “Most diabolical and thought out performance.”
Lamar told fans to expect “storytelling” during his Apple Music Super Bowl press conference last week.
"I've always been very open about storytelling through all my catalog and my history of music,” he said. “And I've always had a passion about bringing that on whatever stage I'm on…I’ve always had a form of that sense of making people listen but also see and think a little.”
This performance in front of Trump kinda like Jesse Owens in front of Hitler getting the gold medal.
Kendrick Lamar is what we expected from Ms Donda's son Kanye West. Kendrick Lamar is that little kid at the end of Black Panthers, inspired by the Wakanda airship. Kendrick Lamar is a walking HBCU with a rhyme scheme so profound it teaches calculus using Toni Morrison and the Delfonics.
Thank you, Kendrick Lamar.