Kendrick Lamar’s Controversial Halftime Present Defined

I will be sincere: I am not somebody who actually enjoys dwell concert events a lot. I do not get excited by touring musicians enjoying songs I’ve already heard, and I often actively tune out the pomp and circumstance of the Super Bowl halftime show. So think about the shock I felt as I inform you that Kendrick Lamar’s efficiency introduced me an exhilaration that I have not felt for a dwell efficiency since Prince‘s Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame guitar solo. It wasn’t only a much-needed shot within the arm in the course of a dreadfully boring sport, it was an intricately detailed work of efficiency artwork that spoke on to so many various strands of American historical past, via each Lamar’s lyrics and the visuals on show.

Samuel L. Jackson Units Up Kendrick’s Subversive Efficiency

It is best to start out with probably the most distinguished component in Lamar’s efficiency that you do not sometimes see in different halftime reveals: a correct emcee, courtesy of Samuel L. Jackson as “Uncle Sam.” He boldly proclaims Kung Fu Kenny’s true ambitions by framing his act as “the nice American sport,” which at first looks as if a shoutout to soccer’s cultural place because the dominant sport in America. However when you discover that the stage is embellished with enormous platforms within the form of the PlayStation emblem symbols, it injects a stage of sarcasm into the proceedings, implying that every thing they’re doing calls for being performed like characters within the sport of surviving in America. Plus, Jackson is somebody with an extended historical past of public resistance to the American authorities, like how he engaged in activist protests in his school days or how he was once deeply involved with the Black Power movement earlier than he was an actor. Moreover, him getting used as a brash emcee who speaks in regards to the truths folks do not need to see remembers his iconic function in Do the Right Thing, screaming at everybody to get up and study to dwell collectively. When Jackson breaks up Lamar’s songs by asking if he is aware of methods to play the sport and later praising him for taking part in his extra “good” and “calm” songs, he is twisting Lamar’s largest show of mainstream success into a pointy stance towards the culturally enforced divisions that American buildings implement for capitalist and ideological achieve.

The Use of Crimson, White, and Blue Has A number of Meanings

The emphasis on unity overpowering division bleeds into the costuming of Lamar’s fellow performers. All people concerned, together with the dancers, is carrying a predominant colour of purple, white, or blue, often coordinated in ways in which carry a hidden affiliation. Lamar is decked out in all blue, evoking his allegiance to the West Coast, whereas Jackson is in a swimsuit that is modeled after the notorious Uncle Sam recruitment poster. Even the visitor appearances of SZA, Serena Williams, and DJ Mustard present them adorning these colours, with SZA in purple whereas Williams and Mustard put on blue. At first, it is an apparent reference to the colours of the American flag, made extra obvious by how the dancers orient themselves to type the precise shapes of the American flag. However on one other stage, the colours characterize the Bloods and the Crips, two distinguished rival gangs in Los Angeles whom Lamar introduced collectively within the public eye at his The Pop Out concert last summer. If that wasn’t clear sufficient, Williams does a Crip walk throughout her look, the dance affiliated with the Crips that she has beforehand acquired racist criticism for doing after winning tennis matches. So, not solely is the colour coordination intentional, it supercharges Lamar’s overarching message about taking victory laps on a path in the direction of unity within the face of an unjust society.

Kendrick Lamar Made a True and Clear Assertion

I have not even addressed his tune picks but, and but these function a ultimate cherry on high of Lamar’s self-critical serving of leisure. Most of his efficiency was spent giving us myriad hits from his profession, however he did so with a relish for a way a lot he was proudly owning the second. He mercilessly teased us with “Not Like Us” twice earlier than lastly enjoying it and made certain to smile proper on the digicam when calling out Drake, which is nothing lower than the peak of pettiness. I salute Lamar for that. However that in some way wasn’t probably the most audacious side of his efficiency.

That occurred when he capped the efficiency with the tune “television off” from his new album GNX, following with the signal “GAME OVER” in large lights all through the seating part as the sector plunged into darkness. His ultimate message to thousands and thousands of Individuals was one advocating them to unplug from the company media machine and get collectively to prepare towards the powers that be. Realizing that he did so with our present President in attendance, on nationwide tv, on the largest sporting occasion within the nation, this ultimate intestine punch appears like nothing lower than the clarion name that is wanted for the American folks to return collectively to push for the higher future all of us consider is feasible. Or it could possibly be only one ultimate nail within the coffin of the credibility October’s Very Personal, because of a LEGO man with a kung fu kick that ought to by no means once more be underestimated.