Super Bowl Halftime Show 2025: Kendrick Lamar Performs “Not Like Us” with Serena Williams Dancing Along
Rap icon Kendrick Lamar delivered a highly talked-about halftime show at today’s Super Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. And in a moment that’s sure to fuel rap’s biggest ongoing feud, Lamar performed his explosive Drake diss track Not Like Us—with none other than Drake’s ex-girlfriend, Serena Williams, dancing along on stage.
Williams’ appearance, however, stole the show. The tennis champion, who dated Drake in 2011, took the stage to dance to Not Like Us, a harsh diss track directed at the Toronto rapper.
Fans on social media responded instantly, As one person on X described the cameo: “Nasty work.”
SZA, the R&B diva, joined Lamar for their Luther and All the Stars duets throughout the event, while DJ Mustard made a cameo.
Despite the high-profile appearances, Kendrick Lamar setlist included mainly new songs. Seven of the 10 songs he performed were released during the previous year, excluding some of his most successful hits, such as Alright and King Kunta. The absence of his earlier favourites generated mixed comments online, with some fans praising the new approach and others labelling it the “worst halftime show ever.”
The timing of the event is notable: Kendrick Lamar recently received five Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for Not Like Us.
Meanwhile, Drake, the target of the diss track, is currently on his Australian tour and set to perform in Melbourne tonight. The clash between the two is still ongoing, with Drake mulling legal action over the song’s lyrics.
The Kansas City Chiefs will face the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl. Travis Kelce, the Chiefs’ star, is on the pitch, as his girlfriend Taylor Swift watches from the stands.
