Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Breaks Records With Historic Viewership

Kendrick Lamar continues his winning streak, now holding the record for the most-watched Super Bowl Halftime Show in history. His Apple Music-sponsored performance on February 9 shattered expectations, drawing an astonishing 133.5 million viewers, surpassing the previous record set by Michael Jackson in 1993.

Beyond the halftime show, Super Bowl LVIII itself also made history, as FOX Sports confirmed it was the most-watched Super Bowl of all time, averaging 126 million viewers with a peak audience of 135.7 million during the second quarter.

How Kendrick Lamar Created a Groundbreaking Performance

Kendrick’s theatrical and cinematic approach to the halftime show was a deliberate artistic choice, as explained by pgLang co-founder Dave Free in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. “We wanted this performance to have a cinematic and theatrical element to it. We can confidently say that there’s no Super Bowl performance that’s quite like this one.”

To craft this unparalleled show, Kendrick and his team studied every past halftime performance, drawing inspiration from music legends like Beyoncé, Prince, and Michael Jackson. However, what set Kendrick’s performance apart was its strong cultural message, which Free described as a tribute to Black America. “The feel of it is Black America. What does Black America look like, and how do we control that narrative versus what the world’s perspective of that is?”

Star-Studded Cameos & Unexpected Setlist

Kendrick’s 15-minute spectacle featured high-profile guest appearances, including:

• SZA
• DJ Mustard
• Samuel L. Jackson (playing “Uncle Sam”)
• Serena Williams

While many expected him to perform his biggest hits, Kendrick instead focused on more recent material, especially songs from his latest album GNX and his ongoing feud with Drake.

“It wasn’t about playing the hits,” Free revealed.

His setlist included Drake diss tracks, adding another layer of drama to the event.

Kendrick Takes More Shots at Drake

Kendrick’s Super Bowl performance was anything but subtle when it came to his rivalry with Drake.

One of the most talked-about moments came midway through his set, when Kendrick teased the crowd: “I want to perform their favorite song… but you know they love to sue.”

This was an obvious jab at Drake’s ongoing defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group, stemming from Kendrick’s viral diss track “Not Like Us.”

During his actual performance of “Not Like Us”, Kendrick self-censored the controversial “certified pedophile” line but still made sure to send a message. Smirking at the camera, he rapped: “Say Drake, I hear you like ’em young / You better not ever go to cell block one / To any [bitch] that talk to him and they in love / Just make sure you hide your lil’ sister from him.”

JAY-Z’s Role in Kendrick’s Super Bowl Invitation

Interestingly, Kendrick’s halftime show almost didn’t happen. According to Dave Free, the opportunity came from a call by JAY-Z, who has played a major role in organizing the Super Bowl halftime show since 2020.

At first, Free wasn’t sure if Kendrick would get the invite, considering he had already performed at Dr. Dre’s all-star halftime show in 2022. But when the opportunity came, the timing felt right: “It felt like the right time for us.”

A Performance That Redefined the Super Bowl Halftime Show

With a record-breaking audience, unforgettable artistic vision, and controversial moments, Kendrick Lamar cemented his legacy with one of the most iconic Super Bowl halftime performances of all time.