Charlamagne Tha God had some unique ideas about how Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show could have played out.
Charlamagne shared his thoughts on a recent episode of the Brilliant Idiots Podcast. He told co-host Andrew Schulz that while he respected Kendrick’s artistic choices, he had a different idea for the setlist. “This what I wanted… I wanted three songs added to the setlist,” he said.
Charlamagne felt the show might have kicked off better with “Blacker the Berry.” He envisioned Kendrick standing on a car, with the beat booming and setting a high-energy tone. According to Charlamagne, “Imagine him on the car, and the beat is so hard, and so high energy, and so menacing, then right after that, you hear an explosion.”
He followed this with “Alright,” adding that an introduction by Samuel L. Jackson could have added a unique touch. “After he does ‘Alright,’ Samuel comes out and goes, ‘What you doing? You’re scaring America. Stop it, right now. Next thing I know, you’re going to have your homeboys out here. Representing Compton.’ And then, boom, ‘if Pirus and Crips all got along…'” Charlamagne was confident this sequence would have kept the audience’s energy sky-high.
Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar’s actual performance at Super Bowl LIX was a carefully crafted mix of music and message. The show opened with Samuel L. Jackson as “Uncle Sam,” setting a provocative tone. Themes of systemic inequality and social justice were prominent throughout.
Dancers in red, white, and blue formed a segmented American flag during “HUMBLE,” illustrating a divided nation. Kendrick didn’t shy away from controversy, including tracks like “Not Like Us” that came across as a bold critique of fellow artist Drake.
With guest appearances from Serena Williams and SZA, the performance celebrated Black excellence and unity. Serena’s C-Walk and SZA’s powerful presence added layers of cultural importance and solidarity. Despite any backlash, Kendrick’s commitment to artistic integrity was clear.
Charlamagne Tha God’s reimagining of Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl set offers a different perspective on what was already a significant performance. His ideas highlight the blend of music and strong messages that could have resonated even more with the audience, proving there’s always room for new interpretations of artistic expression.
