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Kendrick Lamar brought West Coast hip hop, Uncle Sam and Serena Williams to the Super Bowl
Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome.
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Cindy Ord
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Getty Images
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For a few minutes on Sunday evening, the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans was teleported 1,895 miles away to the city of Compton. Kendrick Lamar, the first solo rapper to headline the NFL Super Bowl halftime show, is well known for holding up the torch of West Coast hip-hop and burning it bright for all to see.
With the biggest captive audience of his career — around 65,000 fans in the Superdome and millions more at home — Lamar's performance conjured a medley of songs mostly pulled from his recent album, GNX. As a respected lyricist, he's always been adamant about upholding the artform and sport of rap, no matter how politically incorrect or inconvenient that commitment may be.
Here are some images from that show:
Kendrick Lamar performs with SZA during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show.
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Cooper Neill
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Getty Images
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Sponsored message
Kendrick Lamar performs at Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome.
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Christopher Polk
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/Penske Media via Getty Images
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SZA performs during Super Bowl LIX Chiefs vs Eagles Apple Music Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Chandan Khanna
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AFP via Getty Images
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Samuel L. Jackson during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Ashley Landis
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AP
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Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show.
(
Cindy Ord
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Getty Images
)
Mustard and Kendrick Lamar perform during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl LIX football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Matt Slocum
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AP
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Serena Williams dances during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl LIX football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Stephanie Scarbrough
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AP
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Kendrick Lamar performs during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show.
(
Cooper Neill
/
Getty Images
)
Sponsored message
Kendrick Lamar performs during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show.
(
Cooper Neill
/
Getty Images
)
Kendrick Lamar performs for the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show
(
Bob Kupbens
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Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
)
Kendrick Lamar performs at Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome.
(
Christopher Polk
/
Penske Media via Getty Images
)
Kendrick Lamar performs during Super Bowl LIX Chiefs vs Eagles Apple Music Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
(
Chandan Khanna
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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