While Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl 59 halftime performance was controversial for various reasons, it only fueled the rapper’s popularity.
Lamar turned the stage into his own personal battleground and made the whole Caesars Superdome vibe to his brutal takedown of rap rival Drake with “Not Like Us.” While the performance irked many, his diss track and other songs witnessed a massive boost in Spotify streams.
Kendrick Lamar’s Controversial Super Bowl Halftime Show Soars ‘Not Like Us’ Streams
Lamar made history by becoming the first solo hip-hop artist to headline the halftime show during Feb. 9’s championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
He kicked things off atop the GNX car from his latest album cover, setting the tone for a setlist packed with hits like “Humble,” “DNA,” “Peekaboo,” and “All the Stars.” As he launched into “Humble,” dancers around him formed an American flag. SZA joined him for “Luther” and “All the Stars,” adding to the night’s star power.
And then came the moment everyone was waiting for. The feud with Drake loomed large, and fans weren’t sure if Lamar would go there. But before “Not Like Us” dropped, he teased, “I want to play their favorite song, but you know they love to sue.”
THEY NOT LIKE US @KendrickLamar #AppleMusicHalftime pic.twitter.com/86nyDhmXkS
— NFL (@NFL) February 10, 2025
Since the Super Bowl was held in New Orleans, many believed Lil Wayne should have been considered for the halftime show. But Lamar made the most of his opportunity, and his songs are now yet again trending worldwide.
Spotify reported a massive 430% increase in the streams of “Not Like Us” on Monday morning (Feb. 10), while the nine other songs performed by Lamar in his 13-minute medley also witnessed a sizable increase. Here’s a complete breakdown of the increase in listeners reported by Spotify from 9 p.m.-12 a.m. ET:
- “Not Like Us” +430%
- “HUMBLE.” +300%
- “All The Stars (with SZA)” +290%
- “man at the garden” +260%
- “DNA.” +260%
- “euphoria” +260%
- “squabble up” +230%
- peekaboo (feat. azchike)” +230%
- “luther (with sza)” +170%
- “tv off (feat. lefty gunplay)” +170%
The Super Bowl 59 matchup between the Eagles and the Chiefs was highly anticipated. The AFC West team was trying to become the first team in the NFL’s history to win three straight Super Bowls, while Philadelphia was after revenge for their Super Bowl 57 loss.
Unfortunately, the fans in the stadium and around the world were treated to a one-sided contest. Philadelphia completely dominated the Chiefs on both sides of the ball and registered a resounding 40-22 victory to end Kansas City’s three-peat dreams.