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Samuel L. Jackson was boast in a cameo during Kendrick Lamar’s2025 Super Bowlhalf - time show , and there ’s an significant reason why . The Super Bowl stand out among American entertainment outcome because it offers something for everyone . Beyond the game itself , the variousSuper Bowl commercialsoffer humor and celebrity appeal , while the half - clip show is frequently one of the biggest events of the class for music lovers , play iconic artists onto a point in front of decade of meg . This year , fertile hip - hop creative person and recent Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar take the stagefor a divisive performance .
Kendrick Lamar has long been regarded for his power to mix hefty social comment into music with broad appeal , and he continued to do so at this year ’s Super Bowl . However , another major component was theDrake and Kendrick Lamar beef , which was a fully grown outcome in the music worldly concern in 2024 . Kendrick used the opportunity to take some digging at the Canadian doorknocker , even perform " Not Like Us , " the Grammy - winning caterpillar tread that many considered to be the concluding nail in Drake ’s reputational coffin . The operation alsoincluded Tennis ikon Serena Williams , along with motion-picture show principal Samuel L. Jackson .
The Symbolism Of Kendrick Lamar’s Half-Time Show Explained
Kendrick’s Show Examines His Role As A Performer In A Complicated American Political Landscape
Kendrick Lamar ’s Super Bowl half - clip show operation has received rebound for take political science into professional sports , although , in term of the conversation around it , it ’s take a backseat to the beef with Drake . However , there ’s a lot worth unpack beyond that , withsymbolism in Kendrick ’s performance that pertains to how he might take in America , how he see himself , and most importantly , his role as a knocker and entertainer . The word " entertainment " is key here , as this is the first time a Pulitzer loot - winner has performed at the Super Bowl half - time show .
The password " entertainment " is key here , as this is the first time a Pulitzer award - winner has performed at the Super Bowl half - time show .
Notably , the dancers flood the stage in red , white , and blue , at points form the American iris , at others arouse the Bloods and Crips of Lamar ’s L.A. home . Some of this could be check as a nod towards I - the dancers whirl around each other , fall together as one - and in others , divisions , such as the doorknocker standing in the middle as the dancers divide into two side to create the image of the flag . AsTimenoted , they"marched like soldier stride into war and then protesters at a rallying , their energy bring the joy and messiness of America ’s consistency politic . "
Why Samuel L. Jackson’s Uncle Sam Challenged Kendrick Lamar
Samuel L. Jackson’s Uncle Sam Represents A Meta Critique Of Hip Hop As Entertainment
Kendrick Lamar ’s half - fourth dimension show notably begin with a close - up of Samuel L. Jackson , who ’s dressed as Uncle Sam . This character appears ofttimes throughout the show and offers crucial thematic time value to the narrative Lamar weave in his public presentation . Before diving deeply , it ’s important to take down thatJackson ’s Uncle Sam character is resonant of his function in Quentin Tarantino’sDjango Unchained . In the motion picture , he act Stephen , an antipathetical house striver who ’s fiercely loyal to his hideously anti-Semite owner , Calvin Candie . In the film , Stephen believe in a hierarchical monastic order where white people reign at the top .
His Uncle Sam character is a representation of the distinctive Super Bowl half - time show performing artist , offering resonance and nationalism to contrast with Kendrick Lamar ’s pernicious and unostentatious performance .
It ’s full of life to Samuel L. Jackson ’s role as Uncle Sam that his character sounds like Stephen , as in both cases , he ’s toy a Black man who crop against his own slipstream so as to thrive in American society . It ’s also crucial to make this work that it ’s Jackson , specifically , in the function - a man who has a long account of political activism , even serve up as an usher at Martin Luther King ’s funeral , serves to further spotlight that Lamar is make a full point here .
Jackson ’s Uncle Sam character is there to remind and seek to enforce what the typical Super Bowl half - clock time show performing artist should be like , and of what certain section of America have a bun in the oven from that , offering reverberance and patriotism to contrast with Kendrick Lamar ’s elusive and unostentatious functioning . This is part for Kendrick to acknowledge that he ’s not J - Lo or Rihanna and that his showmanship will offer a evaluate , more picky meaning or else .
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With that in mind , it ’s easier to examine what Samuel L. Jackson was saying throughout the show . In reaction to Kendrick ’s performance of " Squabble Up,“Jackson exclaimed , " Too loud , too reckless , too ghetto , " and " Mr. Lamar , do you really know how to play the game?“His character is mean to gainsay Kendrick Lamar ’s execution , suggesting that the songs are n’t proper for a show like the Super Bowl ; that he is narrate this to Lamar and his dancers - a grouping of Black people forming the American flag - is also revelatory of them being told their office . However , rather than submitting to Uncle Sam ’s postulation , Lamar keep to turn in track that were true to his report .
Similarly , this is true of Lamar put forward : " The revolution ‘bout to be televised … you got the right time but the awry guy . “AsThe Atlanticposits , this may be him again reckoning with his own place in America and the expectations placed upon him to make a political statement of some variety here , wanting him to"be more of a messiah than a musician . “However , it ’s also ostensible in this context that Lamar refer to himself as the"wrong guy"is countering Uncle Sam ’s demands . Underscored by reference Gil Scott - Heron ’s Black Liberation birdcall " The Revolution Will Not Be Televised , " he ’s saying that he willnotjust do what Uncle Sam ’s " America " want and encounter its"game . "
That said , Lamar knew he was on that stage to provide entertainment and that by delving too deep into certain ingredient of his discography , he might alien a meaning portion of his viewership , and the doorknocker ’s setlist finds a carefully make and count balance . Ultimately , Kendrick Lamar’sSuper Bowlperformance isa self - reflective testing of his character as an artist on an entertainer ’s stage , with Samuel L. Jackson ’s Uncle Sam there to represent the prod force-out of American metier and politics .
Custom image by Diana Acuña
