Kendrick Lamar gave fans a sneak peek into his groundbreaking Super Bowl halftime show rehearsal with Samuel L. Jackson through a captivating Instagram video.
The video, posted by Lamar’s pgLang company, reveals Hollywood legend Samuel L. Jackson in a massive rehearsal space, channeling his theatrical skills as ‘Uncle Sam’ and introducing Kendrick’s performance. Meanwhile, Lamar quietly rehearses his buzz-generating Drake diss track ‘Not Like Us.’
Amidst the rehearsals, the duo shares light moments with the crew, and cameos from SZA, Mustard, and Serena Williams—who all joined Lamar on stage for the big day—add to the behind-the-scenes look.
pgLang also treated fans to a glimpse of photos showing Lamar and SZA rehearsing their duets, mapping out the video game-inspired stage design, and the customized Buick Grand National set to feature in the opening.
Kendrick’s longtime manager and creative collaborator, Dave Free, offered insights into the intent behind the performance, viewed by a record 133.5 million people. He mentioned that they aimed to incorporate cinematic and theatrical elements, inspired by iconic halftime shows from Beyoncé, Prince, and Michael Jackson.
‘The feel of it is Black America,’ Free states, emphasizing how the performance aims to reflect and control the narrative of Black American identity compared to global perceptions.
Free also shed light on the show’s tracklist, focusing on Drake diss tracks like ‘Euphoria’ and ‘Not Like Us,’ along with other hits from Lamar’s latest album GNX, explaining the strategy wasn’t about playing chart-topping hits.
The rehearsal video not only offers a glimpse into the meticulous preparation that went into Kendrick Lamar’s historic Super Bowl halftime show but also highlights the effort to fuse art with cultural narratives. With Samuel L. Jackson adding his star power, the event was destined to be anything but ordinary.
