Rapper avoids risky lyrics amid legal tensions with Drake
Kendrick Lamar electrified the Super Bowl Halftime show with a performance of his hit track “Not Like Us.” However, fans noticed he skipped a controversial line that has sparked legal drama between him and fellow rapper Drake.
The performance, held at Caesars Superdome, had the audience on edge as Kendrick teased the moment. Before starting the track, he made a playful remark: “I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue.”
Kendrick tactfully avoided the line that includes the term “certified pedophile,” a lyric that is central to a defamation lawsuit Drake filed against Universal Music Group. Although Kendrick mentioned the word “minor” during the performance, he left out the more inflammatory line.
Sources revealed that the NFL and FOX executives reviewed Kendrick’s set list last week and reached an agreement to omit the contentious part of the song.
Despite the legal drama, Kendrick remains on a high note, with five Grammy nominations this year, including nods for song and record of the year. He also earned trophies for best rap song, rap performance, and best music video.
Drake, currently on tour in Australia, has yet to publicly respond to the performance. It remains unclear if he watched the show.
Kendrick wasn’t alone on stage, bringing out special guests including SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, DJ Mustard, and Serena Williams, who dazzled fans with a brief dance cameo. The halftime show was a star-studded affair, but it’s Lamar’s clever handling of controversy that has everyone talking.
