UPDATED FEBRUARY 11, 2025
“The revolution is about to be televised. You picked the right time but the wrong guy.”
Back in 2016 at the BET Awards, Kendrick Lamar stood on a flooded stage with Beyoncé and spoke of the “revolution televised’’ and that he hoped we “see the sign.’’
Fast forward to 2025. That same revolution is moving forward, from Compton to New Orleans.
From an American flag made of Black people to Samuel L. Jackson making a cameo as Uncle Sam, Lamar amplified the revolution with his halftime performance.
Although many of his creative references may have gone over a few people’s heads, those of us who “see the sign’’ did not miss.
No different from our ancestors who would use songs or would sew messages in quilt patterns that were used as secret codes to aid in the Underground Railroad. You knew that every move, every character was a reflection of something greater.
The Pulitzer Prize winner and rapper electrified the stage with the blackity, blackest, black vibes that the culture needed. And if we are being frank, the rest of the country whose ancestors were not in chains needed to be reminded of.
Dr. Kiki Ramsey, the founder of PPCaD, watched the performance, calling it ‘very Kendrick’ with its creativity and unapologetic messaging.
“I absolutely think the performance went over some people’s heads,” says Ramsey. “That’s the thing about Kendrick: he doesn’t serve up surface-level entertainment. He layers his art with deep messages, historical references, and symbolism that you have to pay attention to in order to catch. If you were just watching for the “hype” of the Super Bowl halftime show and not really tuned into the meaning, you might’ve missed some of those powerful statements.”
American flag of Black dancers
Starting with the Americana theme and having his dancers wearing red, white and blue. At first glance, just a beautiful pathetic visual to the average, “un-woked” eye. But to others, who can read between the stripes, it’s a reminder of something deeper.
Tampa communications specialist Christina Seemangel watched the halftime show and said the performance “fed her soul.’’
“Just all messages of protecting our kind and how Black folk built this country,” she says.
Collins added, “But a lot of people missed those messages.’’
Author, corporate leader, and equity and inclusion strategist, Melody Simmons-Hudson also watched the performance. In an exclusive op-ed, she called the American flag composed of Black men and women ‘a movement.’
“A nation built on Black labor, Black blood, and Black brilliance continues to deny Black people the very freedoms that flag is supposed to represent,” says Hudson. “In this moment, Kendrick Lamar made it clear: those ideals have never fully applied to Black men in this country. Mass incarceration, police brutality, systemic racism—these are not just historical injustices; they remain woven into the fabric of America today.”
Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam
Then there was the cameo of Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam, narrating and providing colorful, metaphorical commentary throughout the show.
“Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam, tells Kendrick he was “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto,” says Ramsey. “ That moment screamed society wants to box us in. It’s like, as a Black artist (or just a Black person in general), there’s always this pressure to tone it down, to fit a certain mold, to not ruffle feathers.”
“Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one,” Lamar said in a statement when it was announced he would headline the show last September.
Lamar performed some of his biggest hits, including “Humble, “Man at the Garden,” and “Euphoria,” along with five tracks from his latest album, “GNX.’’
He also brought out SZA for a performance of their hit singles, “All the Stars” and “Luther.” The duo is set to co-headline tours starting in April.
‘Not Like Us’
But the standout moment came when Lamar performed his Drake diss track “Not Like Us.” Although the Grammy winning song is seen as a jab against the PARTYNEXTDOOR Canadian rapper, Ramsey believes at that specific moment, the song provoked a deeper message.
“On that stage at that moment wasn’t just about Drake,” says Ramsey. “It was about the real vs. the fake. It felt like he was making a broader point about authenticity, about not selling out, about standing for something real in a world where so many people are just playing a role.”
Serena Williams crip-walking
Nonetheless, Serena Williams added a jaw-dropping touch by crip-walking in the background, the same dance the 23-time Grand Slam champion was bashed for doing after she won Wimbledon in 2012 and again in 2023.
Her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian praised and defended his wife’s performance and the meaning behind it.
“Some of ya’ll have no idea how criticized Serena was for this same dance at Wimbledon 13 years ago and it shows,” he wrote on X. “This is bigger than the music.”
Lamar and Williams are both Compton natives. She famously dated Drake from 2010 to 2015. The lyric, “From Alondra down to Central. Better not speak on Serena,” was widely seen as a direct jab at Drake.
But the Wyn Beauty co-founder said the rapper asked her to be in his show. “I’m like Super Bowl? Are you serious? When in the world would I ever be able to dance at a superbowl,” she wrote on her Instagram with a recap video. “I knew my winning dance after the @olympics would pay off one day. End of story.”
“She’s one of the greatest athletes of all time, a Black woman who had to fight through so much just to get the respect she earned,” Ramsey reflects on Williams’ appearance. “Her presence was another nod to Black excellence and resilience. She’s literally living proof that no matter how much they try to deny us, we still rise.”
Simmons-Hudson says the tennis great’s performance was a nudge on how the country sees powerful and influential Black women.
“Lamar’s performance was a reminder that in American society, Black Americans, especially Black women are made to feel invisible in a nation we have birthed and raised, literally,” says Simmons-Hudson.”
Another subtle reference came from Lamar’s diamond chain, which featured a large lowercase “a.” This nod was to the crowd chant: “A minorrrrrr.”
“Kendrick was saying a lot without even having to spell it out,” says Ramsey. “The biggest message? Black culture is America. That whole performance was dripping in symbolism—like the American flag made up of Black people.
Lamar’s performance comes on the heels of a Grammy sweep, where he took home five awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
