Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance has sparked conversations across media circles.
- While critics like Kai Cenat and Charlamagne Tha God voiced their concerns, TDE’s Punch stood firm in Kendrick’s defense.
- Cenat criticized the alleged use of fake crowd noises, while Charlamagne thought the setlist was ‘too Drake-heavy.’
- Punch and TDE Hollywood fired back on social media, defending Kendrick’s authentic representation of Hip Hop.
- The performance was watched by 133.5 million viewers, setting a new Super Bowl record.
Kendrick Lamar’s performance at the Super Bowl has become a hot topic, triggering varied opinions from fans and critics alike. While many praised the show, some critics didn’t hold back. Among them, Kai Cenat and Charlamagne Tha God had particular issues with the presentation.
Kai Cenat, who witnessed the event firsthand, took to his Twitch livestream to claim that the NFL added fake crowd noises. ‘Oh my God, they added sound effects,’ he exclaimed, insisting the crowd was quiet during the performance except during big reveals, such as when Kendrick himself appeared.
Meanwhile, Charlamagne Tha God had different grievances. He felt the show leaned too heavily on songs associated with Drake. ‘Kendrick is bigger than ‘Not Like Us,’’ he remarked, suggesting that the rapper should not have included the track in his setlist.
Reacting to such criticisms, TDE’s Punch stepped in to defend Kendrick. On social media, Punch condemned the critics for forgetting what Hip Hop stands for. He stressed that Kendrick’s performance was about being authentic to oneself, a core value in Hip Hop. ‘Since when did we want to fit in with the mainstream?’ he quipped.
Adding fuel to the fire, Hollywood, another TDE executive, mocked Cenat’s comments. He suggested that Cenat’s remarks stemmed from jealousy, joking that the Twitch streamer was upset about not having access to Kendrick’s suite during the performance.
Numbers speak for themselves, and Kendrick’s Super Bowl halftime show drew in 133.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched halftime show in Super Bowl history, surpassing icons like Michael Jackson. The sheer magnitude of these figures underscores the performance’s widespread impact and appeal.
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl show continues to inspire both praise and criticism, cementing its place in pop culture debates.
