In the midst of political strife, Kendrick Lamar used a stage that had the attention of 126 million people. His message and intentions were clear.
“The revolution ’bout to be televised. You picked the right time but the wrong guy,” Lamar said.
The performance starts with an aerial view of the stage which looks to be set up with the same shapes of a video game controller. As Samuel L. Jackson introduces himself, wearing all red, white, blue, stars and stripes, I was extremely curious as to what the performance was going to entail in connection to the game controller setup.
He initiates the performance by saying “This is your Uncle, Sam. And, this is the great American game.”
The camera finds Lamar kneeling on top of a GNX in reference to his latest album. I found myself nodding my head to the unreleased song he started his performance with as his background dancers spilled out of the car. He transitions into “Squabble Up,” which is one of my favorites of the GNX album.
Jackson makes a return to stage scolding Lamar. I started to officially see just what was happening. Representing the conservative viewpoint, Jackson executed his role as “Uncle Sam” warning Lamar to play the game the “right” way.
“Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto. Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game? Then, tighten up,” Jackson said.
The tune of “HUMBLE.” plays as you see Lamar standing in the middle of his dancers positions to look like the American flag. As the dancers split themselves in half, to me it’s a clear metaphor of the divided nation we currently have. It should also not go unacknowledged that all the background dancers that were in the formation of the flag were all black men, which I don’t think is a coincidence.
As the stage expands, there is a street with a couple lights posts. There is also undoubted symbolism here. It plays on many stereotypes and prejudices people have about young black men in the “streets.”
The camera pans to show the entire stadium and there are lights in the stands that create the phrase “Warning: wrong way.” This keeps the “game” theme alive as Lamar continues to perform.
Jackson makes yet another return. To me, outside of the symbolism of the entire performance, this comment from “Uncle Sam” was the most powerful part of the halftime show. Lamar still not playing the game the right way, Jackson said, “Scorekeeper, deduct one life.” Uncle Sam represents the government. When people do not play by its rules, people lose their lives. It’s the “great American game.”
The political symbolism takes a backseat about halfway through the performance when Lamar teases “Not like us.” He makes a subsequent comment about the impending lawsuit of defamation and negligence from Drake; “I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” Lamar said.
At this point in the performance, Lamar says he is going to slow it down. Lamar then introduces SZA with their songs “luther” and “All the stars.” I do wish there was a little more SZA sprinkled in there but that’s truly just because I am a big fan of her music. However, for the point of the performance and what they do following, I understand why she was only seen for two songs.
Jackson then follows SZA’s segment by praising them and saying, “That’s what America wants—nice, calm. You’re almost there. Don’t mess this…” then is interrupted by the beginning tunes of “Not like us.”
Lamar says before performing the five time Grammy Award winning song, “It’s a cultural divide…40 acres and a mule; this is bigger than the music. They tried to rig the game, but you can’t fake influence.”
Referring to the promise, that was never fulfilled, made to “freed” slaves after the Civil War, Lamar makes a second open acknowledgment that this performance is for the government, in specific, Donald Trump in the stands.
Of course, Lamar takes another stab at Drake. I found it quite entertaining. I thought it again allowed for the political aspects of his show to take a step back and once again acknowledge the tension between the two artists publicly. Lamar avoids calling Drake a pedophile during his performance, but the stadium does not miss a word. It’s even more evident when the fans screamed the popular line from the song “Tryna strike a cord and it’s probably a-minor.”
Also during this song, Serena Williams “crip walks” underneath a light post. I was very surprised and amused when I saw this. It felt very random, but after watching the show a second time and paying closer attention to details. “Not like us” mentions Compton which is where Williams and Lamar were both raised. As well as the “crip walk” originates from Los Angeles, just north of Compton.
The camera again returns to an aerial view of the stands which reads, “Game over.”
Overall, I was very impressed with this halftime show. The commentary on the political divide, references to history, acknowledgement of government control were all executed very well. I think the playfulness of the Drake and Lamar feud gave the performance some breathing room from all of the symbolism as well.
Media doesn’t tell us what to think, but I am hoping that it gives 126 million people something to think about.
