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'Minor' adjustment Kendrick Lamar performed Drake diss track ‘Not Like Us’ at Super Bowl halftime show — with one big change

Kendrick Lamar performs during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. AP

Kendrick Lamar performs during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. AP

All eyes were on him. 

Kendrick Lamar brought his Drake diss track “Not Like Us” to the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show — but made one big and telling change to the song’s lyrics.

Taking the field at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, Lamar, 37, elated fans when he performed the song that has come to define his feud with Drizzy, 38, during the show.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper teased the song throughout the performance, saving it for the end of his time on the field.

 

Kendrick Lamar performs during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans.
Kendrick Lamar performs during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. AP
 

 

“I want to play their favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” K-Dot spat at one point, undoubtedly alluding to Drake’s legal actions against their shared record label, Universal Music Group.

When Lamar finally performed a portion of “Not Like Us,” which accuses his Canadian rival of being a “pedophile,” he altered the lyrics by removing the word altogether. 

Instead of spitting “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles,” Lamar went silent at the part where he would normally rap “pedophile.”

The lyric also nreferences Drake’s 2021 album “Certified Lover Boy.” 

 

Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Getty Images
 
 
Kendrick Lamar performs during Super Bowl LIX Chiefs vs Eagles Apple Music Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 9, 2025.
Kendrick Lamar performs during Super Bowl LIX Chiefs vs Eagles Apple Music Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 9, 2025. AFP via Getty Images
 

And though Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” performance omitted the rapper’s most blunt accusation against Drizzy, K-Dot still got his message across as he served two of the song’s other brutal bars: “Say, Drake, I hear you like ‘em young / You better not ever go to cell block one.”

He then rapped, “Why you trollin’ like a …,” leaving out the word, “b–ch?,” before adding, “Ain’t you tired? / Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor.”

The line “A minor” definitely struck a chord with the crowd, who chanted along loudly.

As planned, SZA joined Kendrick’s performance, singing their 2018 Grammy, Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated hit from the “Black Panther” soundtrack, “All the Stars,” and “luther.”

There was, however, one unexpected guest on the halftime show stage on Sunday: none other than Drake’s ex, tennis legend Serena Williams.

 

Serena Williams performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Serena Williams performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Getty Images
 
Kendrick Lamar performs during halftime Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome.
Kendrick Lamar performs during halftime Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con 

 

SZA and Kendrick Lamar perform during the halftime show.
SZA and Kendrick Lamar perform during the halftime show. REUTERS

 

Sunday’s performance was by far the most high-profile live rendition of “Not Like Us,” with more than 80,000 in attendance at the Super Bowl and likely over 100 million watching the very public airing of rap drama at home.

Lamar spat the diss just days after taking home five Grammys for “Not Like Us,” including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

In the lead-up to the Kansas City Chief’s face-off with the Philadelphia Eagles, Lamar kept mum about whether the diss track would make it into his halftime show setlist.

Kendrick Lamar performs during Super Bowl LIX Chiefs vs Eagles Apple Music Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 9, 2025.
Kendrick Lamar performs during Super Bowl LIX Chiefs vs Eagles Apple Music Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 9, 2025. AFP via Getty Images


A general view of the performance by Kendrick Lamar during the halftime show.
A general view of the performance by Kendrick Lamar during the halftime show. REUTERS 

 

At the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show press conference on Thursday, Lamar would only say that he would deliver plenty of “storytelling.”

Lamar and the show’s producers tipped their hand though by playing “Not Like Us” as he was introduced at the top of the presser.

Drake sits courtside with Future The Prince during the second half of the NBA game between the Toronto Raptors and the Brooklyn Nets at Scotiabank Arena on November 23, 2022 in Toronto, Canada.
Drake sits courtside with Future The Prince during the second half of the NBA game between the Toronto Raptors and the Brooklyn Nets at Scotiabank Arena on November 23, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. Getty Images 
 

The day before, TMZ reported that the “Humble” rapper would perform the Drake diss at halftime.

The decision was particularly weighty given that Drake has sued his own record label, UMG — which also reps Lamar — for defamation and harassment because they released and promoted “Not Like Us.”

Kendrick Lamar and SZA in a promo video for the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA in a promo video for the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show. Apple Music/Instagram 


Kendrick Lamar was announced as the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show headliner in September 2024.
Kendrick Lamar was announced as the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show headliner in September 2024. nfl/Instagram


Drake performs at History on November 7, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario.
Drake performs at History on November 7, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario. Getty Images

 

Along with the scathing lyrics throughout “Not Like Us,” the single’s cover art also takes a jab at Drake. Featuring a bird’s-eye view of his Toronto estate, the image has been manipulated to resemble a sex offender registry map.

“Not Like Us” was one of 2024’s biggest hits, spending two non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 after its May 4 release.

Kendrick Lamar, winner of the Record Of The Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Music Video, and Song Of The Year awards, poses in the press room during the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Californis, February 2, 2025.
 Kendrick Lamar, winner of the Record Of The Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Music Video, and Song Of The Year awards, poses in the press room during the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Californis, February 2, 2025. REUTERS
 
Kendrick Lamar poses onstage at the Super Bowl LVIX Pregame & Apple Music Super Bowl LVIX Halftime Show Press Conference at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on February 6, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Kendrick Lamar poses onstage at the Super Bowl LVIX Pregame & Apple Music Super Bowl LVIX Halftime Show Press Conference at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on February 6, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. FilmMagic 
 
Lamar was announced as the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show headliner in Sept. 2024. 

In a statement released at the time confirming the news, the “King Kunta” rapper seemed to take a swipe at Drake.

“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, per Billboard.

What do you think? Post a comment.

The LA native previously performed at the 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show, which was dedicated to celebrating hip-hop. He joined the likes of Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Mary J. Blige at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

Lamar’s 2025 performance follows Usher’s halftime show at the 2024 Super Bowl.

Author: Sean Mandell

Source: NY Post

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