22 Bold Predictions For Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

At the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show (Dr. Dre headlining), Kendrick performed both “m.A.A.d. city” and “Alright.” Despite those being two of his biggest songs, he might want to devote more time to songs that haven’t had the grand stage yet.

It’s hard to imagine him not incorporating the intro to “m.A.A.d city,” but other intros can still get the crowd hyped.

The “Not Like Us” music video used the “Squabble Up” intro, so it makes sense to “wake up and look for the broccoli” out of the gate. I’d say the intro, chorus, and the song’s back end would be about one minute.

“Why do you rap if it’s fictional?” and “Let the wolves out. I’ve been a dog.” They feel like they need to be rapped on the big stage.

It may be the least bold prediction on this list, but I’m sure the NFL would have loved Swift as a surprise guest. With Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, you can still expect her in the stadium, just not singing “Bad Blood.”

But that doesn’t mean Lamar can’t rap his part of the song. It’s a 25-second rap verse that could segue nicely between songs. (Plus, many Swifie eyes will be on the halftime show, which seems like a fun shout-out.)

I’m sure he will not be the first to remix or sample “Oh When The Saints Go Marching In,” but it’d be an incredible homage to Louis Armstrong (born in New Orleans).

Bring out those trumpets!

Visually speaking, I bet whatever is planned for “Humble” will be intense. Looking at past performances, Lamar does not shy away from visually striking set designs.

His setlist has become so vast that he could skip “Humble” entirely, but it feels too mainstream to pass up.

My boldest prediction is the number of songs on the setlist. With guest spots included, we may hear up to 13 different songs. That’s the advantage of being a rapper. He can breeze through the songs and still leave the beats in as a transition into the next.

We saw it done in Dre’s hip-hop lineup for the Super Bowl LVI, who performed 11 songs. And each of them needed intros for individual performers. Lamar can power through his setlist and beat those numbers.

Lamar has emphasized the game of football in teasers for his big show. New Orleans has three HBCUs, so why not give one (or all) a call to perform at the big game?

Imagine a cold opening of “Not Like Us” or “Humble” via a marching band.

“TV Off” is one of Lamar’s most popular songs on his latest album, GNX. This creates a strange problem: The NFL isn’t going to love the idea of Kenny repeatedly yelling at people to “turn his TV off, turn his TV off.”

I don’t know how, but I feel like this song might be on the chopping block for those lyrics unless there’s a workaround: staying away from the chorus.

Lamar has some slower jams, excluding any SZA hits, but “Euphoria” might be the closest thing we get to that for the big game.

I don’t know how heavy he will lean into the diss tracks, but he mentions field goals in it. Football game? Field goal? No?

Despite having six collaborations with Lamar, the man will need a breather. To give time for a set/costume change, I could see SZA performing a portion of “Kill Bill” or a big hit.

Alternative R&B will be a nice change of pace, too.

With all the animosity between Lamar and Drake, Lil Wayne is still the most prominent New Orleans name that could appear. Although Wayne might be salty (and has every right to be) about not being the headliner, the Super Bowl was never about the biggest “local” name. It should always be the biggest name in the game that year…and it was Lamar’s year.

An appearance by Wayne could help put money in his own pocket, so why not swallow your pride and have some fun in front of your hometown? Maybe he won’t rap, but my bold prediction is that he’ll have some kind of presence.

Many Vegas odds have this as the first song, but I think it’s better to save it and make people believe he was asked not to play it. Even doing a fake ending to the show would be legendary, and then speaking the “I see dead people line” to revive the show.

It will be fascinating to see what is kept within the song lyrically.

At “The Pop Out: Ken & Friends” concert, Dr. Dre delivered the opening line to “Not Like Us.” If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. This will be the perfect way to introduce the song to the masses.

But who will do it? Lil Wayne? Taylor Swift? DJ Mustard? Barack Obama? A significant name would be the perfect way to introduce the “Song of the Year.”

As we saw at the Grammys, people adore this song. What better way to throw a Super Bowl bash than inviting all the friends out to the party? Who? I don’t know, but I bet we will see something similar to “The Pop Out: Ken & Friends” concert for Juneteenth in 2024.

Or perhaps it’s just his closest friends from Compton. Either way, expect a party onstage.