One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
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.
(
Cindy Ord
/
Getty Images
)
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.
(
Cooper Neill
/
Getty Images
)
Kendrick Lamar performs at Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome.
(
Christopher Polk
/
/Penske Media via Getty Images
)
SZA 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
)
Samuel L. Jackson during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
(
Ashley Landis
/
AP
)
Sponsored message
Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show.
(
Cindy Ord
/
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.
(
Matt Slocum
/
AP
)
Serena Williams dances during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl LIX football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
(
Stephanie Scarbrough
/
AP
)
Kendrick Lamar performs during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show.
(
Cooper Neill
/
Getty Images
)
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
/
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
)
Kendrick Lamar performs at Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome.
(
Christopher Polk
/
Penske Media via Getty Images
)
Sponsored message
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
)
Copyright 2025 NPR
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
