At the Super Bowl that took place on Sunday, February 9th, Kendrick Lamar and SZA performed the halftime show, however this performance sparked controversy as many did not appreciate how bold Kendrick’s performance was. In the music industry, many artists tend to use symbolism as a way of conveying a message, but many overlook the creative endeavors. A perfect example of this would be this recent halftime show.
Most people disliked the halftime show since it was the genre of rap. Which some viewers categorize as “ghetto” or “trashy”, however whether or not you love or hate rap music the symbolism in Lamar’s performance was missed.
At the beginning of the halftime, it opens with Samuel L. Jackson, who took on the role of Uncle Sam, who criticized Kendrick’s music the entire time. Uncle Sam in a more historical context, is known for the United States government. However, Uncle Sam has been used over the years for propaganda purposes to encourage people to enlist in the military and support our country. Uncle Sam in Lamar’s performance tends to bring symbolism to the fact that the American people frown upon rap music. As Uncle Sam exclaims during the performance “No, No, No, too loud, too reckless, too ghetto. Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game?” Throughout the entire performance, little comments were made by Uncle Sam offering advice to Kendrick to change the way he is acting or in this case rapping.
Looking a bit closer, the set up of Lamar’s stage was in the shape of a video game controller, specifically a PlayStation controller. Many individuals overlooked this aspect of the show but it represents the symbolism of our nation in which it seems to control some aspects of our lives without us realizing. It also can be a direct attack towards younger generations and teenagers specifically to educate them on our divided nation, since younger audiences can be targeted when it comes to video games. As each part of the show unraveled, a different part of the controller lights up. For example, when he plays the song “peekaboo” the “X” shape is lit up while the rest is dim. This may not seem as relevant but it compares a game ideology to how our country is currently acting.
Nevertheless, Lamar started the actual performance by saying “The revolution is about to be televised, you picked the right time but the wrong guy.” Essentially meaning he is going to convey a message through his music that some people may dislike. He also mentions that “It’s a cultural divide. Imma get it on the floor. Forty acres and a mule, this is bigger than the music.” In a historical context, forty acres and a mule symbolizes the reparations that formerly enslaved people were promised. However, the American government abandoned that plan and lied. Today, we still face false promises on the daily by our leaders of the country yet people tend to be blindsided by this fact. Especially as it relates to the division of our people, whether that be by race, identity, or religion.
In total, Lamar highlighted the ways in which our country seems to be moving the “wrong way” in a form of art. Overlooking the performance’s key aspects can be easy to do, but with a closer look, noticing the hints of division and the message can piece everything together flawlessly. Although some people can disagree with his music, the symbolism overpowers the melodies. How can we exist as the United States of America if our nation is divided?
