Marked with storms, unease, and social and political strife, this winter has been rough. However, like many years past, one thing can be counted on for rousing spirits and creating a brief moment of connection for Americans nationwide: the Super Bowl. This conclusion to the NFL season has made itself into a cultural staple over time, and this year was no different.
Super Bowl 59 marked the return of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs to this final showdown. Both have been to, and won, multiple Super Bowls in the past. After an impressive season, the Eagle’s return came with little shock. Similarly, the Chiefs have boasted an imposing history with multiple Super Bowl wins.
What makes the pairing for this game especially exciting, though, is that it promised a rematch to the Super Bowl two years prior. Super Bowl 57 was also between the Eagles and the Chiefs. The Chiefs narrowly won. This undoubtedly bolstered the tension and fighting spirit the Eagles so prominently displayed throughout the most recent clash. This spirit definitely paid off for the Philly natives, as the team won with an incredible 40-22 score.
Besides the excitement of the Big Game, the Super Bowl is also known for its impressive halftime performances. Halftime shows have always been a thing at all levels of the sport, however as the Super Bowl grew in popularity it began to take on larger and more iconic pop culture figures for its entertainment. This time around, it was someone who continuously made headlines over the past year: Kendrick Lamar.
Lamar has long been prominent in the rap and hip hop scene. In fact, his work has made him a Pulitzer Prize winner as well as the victor of almost two dozen Grammys. Recently, he has become more prominent over online spaces as a result of his feud with Canadian rapper Drake. In 2024, Lamar released multiple tracks expressing his distaste for the artist. One of which, “Not Like Us”, won him a whopping 5 Grammys.
The past couple months have certainly been successful for the California native. This past November, he dropped his new album “GNX”, and immediately announced a tour with artist SZA. Between this and the Grammys, Lamar’s accomplishments and talent have been front and center. His invitation to the Super Bowl only accentuated this.
In Halftime tradition, Lamar invited multiple special guests to perform with him. Unsurprisingly, SZA was one of these. She stunned in an all red outfit, going along with the red, white, and blue theme of the show, as she sang “Luther” and “All the Stars”. More shocking, Samuel L. Jackson made an appearance. Dressed as “Uncle Sam”, the actor satirically critiques Lamar and his performance. In addition, Mustard, a producer Lamar has collaborated with, appeared during his song “TV Off”. Last, but certainly not least, Serena Williams showed up during “Not Like Us”. Williams is a famous tennis champion - and also Drake’s ex-girlfriend.
Super Bowl 59 was certainly one for the books. The sports side marked an epic rematch with an incredible win. The entertainment side featured an impressive halftime show by Kendrick Lamar that featured social commentary and possibly the most legendary win to a musical feud in recent history.
Amory Harris