Featured Image Credit: Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Topics: Super Bowl, Kendrick Lamar, Drake
Jess Hardiman
Topics: Super Bowl, Kendrick Lamar, Drake
Kendrick Lamar has left Super Bowl viewers in shock after dropping a surprise performance of his controversial diss track against Drake.
Many had been wondering if he'd be bold enough to perform 'Not Like Us' during his halftime slot tonight, even though it recently became the subject of a highly publicised lawsuit.
Drake sued Universal Music Group for defamation and harassment after it released the diss track, with his lawyers accusing the record label of launching a 'campaign to create a viral hit' as Lamar describes the 38-year-old as a 'certified p**dophile' - claims that Drake has continuously denied.
Lo and behold, Lamar didn't disappoint as he took to the field at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
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"Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young / You better not ever go to cell block one," he rapped, as jaws dropped across the world. However, he left out the most controversial lyric from the diss track.
One fan tweeted: "HE SAID THE F**KING VERSE??? OH DRAKE IS ON THE FLOORRRRR."
Someone else said: "Kendrick really out here calling out Drake at the Super Bowl."
A third wrote: "Kendrick Lamar is cooking Drake in front of the world at the Super Bowl right now."
A fourth added: "Lmaoooooo the way he looked at the camera before that 'hey Drake'."
While many fans had hoped that he'd include the diss track in his setlist, others went one step further and were convinced that he'd bring out Drake as a surprise guest.
"Calling it one last time KENDRICK WILL BRING OUT DRAKE," one speculated.
Another echoed: "Now all I need is Kendrick to bring out Drake and then I can be happy about this matchup lol."
As with all Super Bowl performers, Lamar had a series of rules to abide by.
Firstly, songs must be shortened in order to make the medley format work. "You're just running around for 13 minutes, trying to put like a two-hour set for 13 minutes," 2023 headliner Rihanna said at a press conference.
Inappropriate gestures can also land artists in a lot of trouble, with explicit language not allowed for the halftime show - something that rapper M.I.A learnt the hard way when she received a $16.6 million fine after displaying the middle finger during her performance with Super Bowl XLVI headliner Madonna.
Performers also have to be ready to hit the stage in just six minutes, and the show must go on regardless of the weather.