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Kendrick Lamar Ate Up That Halftime Show And Brought Out Iconic Surprise Guests

At long last, we made it to the Kendrick Lamar conc-I mean the Super Bowl. Just one week after sweeping at the Grammys with his epic track, “Not Like Us,” the goated rapper played the biggest show in the world. To literally no one’s surprise, he understood the assignment and blew the whole Caesars Superdome stadium away. (Personally, I was jumping up and down and yelling my approval from my living room.)

This isn’t Kendrick’s first time on the Super Bowl stage — he was a guest performer when Dr Dre headlined the event in 2022. Leading up to this year’s Super Bowl, the king of rap was pretty secretive about his performance, simply teasing that we could expect “storytelling.” Welp, he did NOT disappoint on that front. I’ll be watching this on repeat for the next several business days.

Here’s everything to know about Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show, including all the amazing celeb cameos and his set list.

Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl Halftime Show: Cameos, Set List

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Set List

Kendrick Lamar super bowl halftime 2025
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The show started with the beat to “wacced out murals” followed by a verse that seems to be from a new song?? We love to see it! Next, Kendrick performed “Squabble Up,” “Humble, “DNA,” “Euphoria,” “Man at the garden,” and “peekaboo.” He hinted at “Not Like Us,” playing the beat and teasing that he wanted to perform everyone’s favorite song… but then he went into “Luther” with SZA instead, lol. MY QUEEN SOUNDED LIKE AN ANGEL, DUH. And fortunately for me, Kendrick and SZA went into “All the Stars” right after that.

After making us think he wouldn’t, Kendrick did indeed perform “Not Like Us,” just sans the word “pedophile.” The whole crowd shouting “A minor” actually gave me full body chills. Kendrick finished the set with his GNX track, “TV Off.”

All The Celebrity Cameos In Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

SZA Super Bowl Football
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The one and only Samuel L. Jackson introduced Kendrick! Decked out in red, white and blue, he popped in various times to narrate the performance. Mother Serena Williams also surprised us with a cameo, showing up to crip walk during “Not Like Us.” Obsessed.

Of course, we already knew that SZA would perform alongside Kendrick at the Big Game. Needless to say, she slayed “Luther” and “All the Stars,” and the people need a SZA Super Bowl, immediately. “I’m so honored to be a part of it and I’m so honored to even know him and exist in the same time as someone as brilliant as him,” SZA told New York Daily News at the Grammys last weekend. These talented pals will be kicking off their joint tour in April and someone needs to get me a ticket.

Naturally, Kendrick’s producer, DJ Mustard, also came out to vibe with the rapper during the show. I fear we didn’t get those rumored Doechii and Timothée Chalamet cameos, but it’s all good. We were very well fed.

Ilana Frost
Ilana Frost is an entertainment writer at Betches. As a teenage girl in her twenties, she spends her time stanning Olivia Rodrigo, baking cakes for award shows, and refusing to ever leave her Reputation era.