‘A Minor’: 5 Ways Kendrick Lamar Dissed Drake During His Super Bowl Halftime Show

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During his Super Bowl half-time show, Kendrick Lamar delivered remarks that seemed to be subtle jabs directed at Drake, following closely on the heels of his Grammy victory for the diss track “Not Like Us” a week prior.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, allow me to share an intriguing observation from last night’s performance by Lamar. Although he didn’t belt out the entire song, Lamar subtly referenced our ongoing feud in five ingenious ways throughout his show.

Here they are:

1. By incorporating lyrics that hinted at our previous disagreements, Lamar managed to keep the tension simmering without crossing any lines.
2. A subtle change in the rhythm and tone of a particular verse was a clear nod to our history, leaving no room for doubt about his intentions.
3. The choice of backdrop, which featured imagery reminiscent of our past encounters, added another layer to Lamar’s message.
4. The way he delivered certain lines, with an unmistakable edge in his voice, was a not-so-veiled jab at Drake.
5. Lastly, the overall energy and attitude during the performance seemed to be directed at our ongoing feud, further solidifying Lamar’s stance.

In conclusion, even without performing the song in its entirety, Lamar found creative ways to address our lingering issues in a captivating and impactful manner.

1. Calling out legal troubles

Prior to launching into “Not Like Us”, Lamar took a moment to speak to the crowd. He mentioned that he’d be delighted to perform the following track, but he knew they enjoy filing lawsuits.

This points directly to Drake’s legal dispute with Universal Music Group, claiming both defamation and harassment within a song. Despite altering specific words, Kendrick Lamar ensured the underlying meaning remained evident.

2. Subtle lyric changes

During his rendition of “Not Like Us,” Lamar modified some of the words, yet preserved the underlying message. Instead of explicitly singing the parts critical of Drake’s actions, he sang, “attempting to find the right note, and it’s likely the key of A minor.

This remark is often seen as a dig at the rumored past relationships of Drake. The audience enthusiastically joined in, indicating their backing of Lamar amidst the ongoing dispute.

3. ‘Game over’ message

At the culmination of his act, lights positioned behind Lamar illuminated the message “GAME OVER.” This gesture was interpreted by many as a symbolic jab at Drake, implying that Lamar had emerged victorious in their rap feud. The phrase served to underscore his supremacy following the success of Not Like Us, which dominated the charts and garnered multiple Grammy awards.

4. Bringing out SZA and Serena Williams

In a past year (2009), SZA was romantically linked with Drake. During their performance together with Lamar, they chose songs like “Luther” and “All the Stars”. While these songs weren’t outright attacks or diss tracks, the joint performance appeared to carry an intentional message.

Additionally, it should be noted that Serena Williams, known for her past rumored relationship with Drake, unexpectedly joined the stage during Lamar’s performance and danced along. This could be seen as a subtle hint or reference to the Canadian rapper.

5. Performing a new diss track

At the significant event, Lamar added “TV Off” to his performance lineup – a fresh track not necessarily related to his ongoing feud with Drake, yet carrying subtle jabs towards him. By showcasing this song, Lamar signaled that the conflict between them remains unresolved.

Lamar’s Super Bowl performance wasn’t only about the music; it carried a deliberately constructed meaning. Subtly but effectively, he conveyed that his conflict with Drake was still unresolved.

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2025-02-10 08:53