Kendrick Lamar Streams Reach New Heights Following Super Bowl Halftime Show
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime performance—which was more like a cultural moment— has now reportedly sent his streams soaring across multiple platforms.
According to new stats by Spotify, K. Dot’s Drake diss track, “Not Like Us,” saw an astonishing 430% increase on the DSP in the hours following his set on Sunday night (Feb. 9). The nine other songs he performed also experienced a significant boost on the platform including “HUMBLE” rising 300%, “Euphoria” seeing 260%, and other surges. Apple Music also saw Kendrick dominate its top spots, with GNX reclaiming the No. 1 spot on the platform.
SZA, who took the stage alongside her former T.D.E. labelmate to perform “All the Stars” and “Luther,” also saw her streams spike by 80%.
Lamar’s 15-minute performance at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome was packed with easter eggs—but one part that grabbed headlines the most was his subtle jabs at Drake. At one point, Kendrick teased performing the diss record “Not Like Us,” saying, “I want to perform their favorite song… but you know they love to sue.”
The remark was a reference to Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over the track. When he finally launched into the fan favorite, Kendrick notably self-censored the “certified pedophile” lyric, but locked eyes with the camera and smirked as he rapped: “Say Drake, I hear you like ’em young / You better not ever go to cell block one / To any [bi**h] that talk to him and they in love/ Just make sure you hide your lil’ sister from him.”
The crowd erupted as he delivered another bar with precision: “Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minoooooorrrrrr.”
The halftime show took another unexpected turn when Serena Williams—Drake’s ex-girlfriend and Compton native—made a surprise appearance. The tennis champ C-walked on an elevated stage as “Not Like Us” transitioned into the grand finale, “TV Off.”
Beyond Williams, the performance boasted other high-profile appearances including Samuel L. Jackson, who donned an Uncle Sam outfit while narrating the theatrical set, and Mustard, who joined in during the closer.
The Super Bowl also delivered its own shock, as the Philadelphia Eagles crushed the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in a stunning performance.
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