The Eagles dominated the Chiefs throughout the first half. And the Super Bowl LIX halftime show promised fireworks, but no one expected Kendrick Lamar to walk the tightrope between raw artistry and network TV rules. As the Compton lyricist stormed the stage in New Orleans on February 9, the crowd buzzed with anticipation. Lamar, known for his unapologetic verses and cultural anthems, had teased a “surprise” for weeks. Yet beneath the glitz, whispers swirled about last-minute tweaks to his setlist. The tension was palpable: Would he play that song? And who was the mystery guest stealing the spotlight?

Midway through his explosive performance in front of more than 80,000 fans, Lamar launched into “Not Like Us,” his Grammy-winning Drake diss track. But fans quickly noticed missing lines. After all, in the 919-word-long song, 38 of them simply wouldn’t fit on a family-friendly network broadcast. Gone were the fiery accusations of “ped–hile” and direct shots at Drake. Instead, he remained silent in that part. Even the iconic “Bi–h, sit down” from “HUMBLE” was softened.

The song was one of 2024’s biggest hits. It was at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two non-consecutive weeks after its release on May 4.

Sources confirm the NFL mandated edits to avoid FCC fines, mirroring Lamar’s 2022 halftime show where he altered 51 words. “The FCC basically has three different sets of regulations that it could use to target content: obscenity, indecency, and profanity,” explained First Amendment scholar Clay Calvert, as reported by the Washington Post. However, he suggested the definitions of the terms “are pretty vague.”

“That makes it very problematic, because it’s hard to predict what language the FCC is going to consider to be profane.” Meanwhile, Drake’s lawyers watched closely; his defamation lawsuit over “Not Like Us” remains pending. “I want to play their favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” Lamar said during the halftime show. The sanitized lyrics didn’t dull the moment, though. But things don’t end here.

While Lamar sang the diss track, tennis legend Serena Williams walked up onto the stage to dance. And this reminded fans that Williams and Drake allegedly dated on and off for four years! But no, things didn’t end here as well.

SZA made a special appearance at the Super Bowl halftime show. She and Lamar collaborated multiple times previously (think about All the Stars from the Black Panther soundtrack, for instance). Interestingly, SZA and Drake were in a relationship back in the day. In fact, Drake surprised his fans in 2020, when his song, ‘Mr. Right Now’ had a lyric, “Wait, ’cause I used to date SZA back in ’08.” 

Post this, SZA took to X to clarify that they were together in 2009, but things ended mutually.

Lamar smirked as the crowd roared the uncensored versions, turning the stadium into a defiant choir. “Hip-hop’s language is intentional, whether poetic, confrontational, or coded,” said Joycelyn Wilson, hip-hop studies professor at Georgia Tech, who is studying Lamar’s music, as per the Washington Post. “Excessive censorship can weaken its cultural impact.” Meanwhile, the NFL’s history of halftime controversies loomed large.

In 2012, M.I.A. faced a $16.6 million lawsuit for flipping the bird; in 2004, Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction sparked 540,000 FCC complaints. Lamar’s team navigated tightropes: Snoop Dogg once claimed Jay-Z threatened to pull the plug over lyrics in 2022. This time, compromises were smoother. They wanted gang references out, but let political jabs slide. However, it wasn’t just about Lamar.

Samuel L. Jackson steals some of Lamar’s spotlight at the Super Bowl!

Before Lamar dropped a single rhyme, Samuel L. Jackson strutted onstage dressed as Uncle Sam. “This is the great American game,” he declared, dripping with sarcasm. He wore a red, white, and blue outfit. His hat, jacket, and bow tie completed the look. Moreover, his entrance added humor and patriotism. He confidently introduced Kendrick Lamar to the crowd.

Jackson’s role deepened the show. He merged pop culture with national pride as fans cheered at his bold entrance. The actor’s style sparked lively social media chatter. Furthermore, viewers compared him to past halftime legends. His unexpected appearance became a hot topic.

Kendrick Lamar’s setlist spanned his career, from “DNA.” to “Alright,” but the climax was “Not Like Us.” Serena Williams emerged, crip-walking as Lamar rapped, but not the usual “You not a colleague, you a fu–in’ colonizer.”

The diss track’s cleaned-up chorus still hit like a gut punch. He turned beef into poetry. But soon even producer DJ Mustard joined Lamar onstage.

Critics argue the NFL cherry-picks tolerance. “Censorship decisions aren’t just about language—they reveal what institutions like the NFL and broadcast networks are willing to tolerate in terms of political critique,” Joycelyn Wilson noted. Lamar’s “Alright,” a BLM anthem, stayed intact—proof, perhaps, that some messages are too vital to mute.

As Pyro lit the Superdome, Kendrick Lamar stood triumphant. His halftime show wasn’t just a concert—it was a masterclass in coded rebellion. Jackson’s Uncle Sam smirked, Serena danced, and censored lyrics rang louder, uncensored in fans’ throats. In the end, Lamar proved that even on America’s biggest stage, artistry can’t be fully tamed. What do you think?