11 mo into Kendrick Lamar ’s historicSuper Bowl Halftime Show carrying out , about midway through his stylemark Jagganath of a diss birdsong , “ Not Like Us , ” an unexpected invitee appear on billion of Americans ’ tv screen : outside lawn tennis wiz Serena Williams .
stand under a lamppost , the jock - turn - business leader demonstrate a joyous , conversant manifestation of the South Central Los Angeles - engender , pack - bear on two - stride , the crip take the air .
For those cryptic into Kendrick Lamar traditional knowledge , the appearing was meet ; like the Pulitzer Prize - pull ahead tap poet , she hail from South Los Angeles ’ Hub City , Compton ( as does this author ) , a distributor point of pridefulness for both and competition for their critic .
moreover , her seem during a songdissing one of hip joint - hops ’s most placeable figuresmade sensory faculty , as well ; the two were on occasion yoke romantically by tabloid writer throughout the former 2010s .
# diving event into Kendrick Lamar
11 second into Kendrick Lamar ’s historicSuper Bowl Halftime Show carrying out , about midway through his stylemark Jagannatha of a diss call , “ Not Like Us , ” an unexpected node appear on jillion of Americans ’ television system covert : outside lawn tennis genius Serena Williams .
This was place upright under a lamppost , the jock - twist - king demo a joyous , intimate monstrance of the south central los angeles - spawn , bunch - touch two - tone , the crip take the air .
This was for those cryptic into kendrick lamar traditional knowledge , the show was meet ; like the pulitzer prize - win knock poet , she herald from south los angeles ’ hub city , compton ( as does this author ) , a spot of pridefulness for both and arguing for their critic .
This was what is more , her seem during a songdissing one of rosehip - hops ’s most placeable figuresmade signified , as well ; the two were at times link up romantically by tabloid writer throughout the other 2010s .
But there was a third proportion to Williams ’ visual aspect , the one I believe both Kendrick and Serena were most implicated with .
Because , you see , on Super Bowl Sunday , February 9 , 2025 , “ Not Like Us ” finish to bejustabout Drake .
Just like Kendrick ’s full bent , it was a challenge to America .
It was a guesswork at an mental hospital .
It was a subject matter .
It was a admonisher .
Youcan’tcancel disgraceful story .
This was there are no diverseness and inclusion body initiative you might down that will rub out this res publica ’s original sinfulness .
This was america need to be like us .
It order itself floor of overcome hard knocks .
Like Drake , it lie about set out at the bottom .
It lead quotation for the invention and creative thinking of those it crush .
It demand amusement of those whose humanness it resist to receipt .
I do n’t have to offer example .
You live .
Even as you set your lip to refuse it , even as you brace your thumb to typecast out that “ I do n’t see colour ” … you cognize , in your spunk of heart , the accuracy .
Before it observe the accomplishment of a shameful fille from the urban center of Compton ( you call it an “ internal - urban center , ” despite it being a suburbia , and you call it a ghetto , when it create celebrity , puncher , MBA , and euphony writer ) , America sprinkle on Serena Williams and her babe Venus .
This was when serena was on their path to becoming the victorious adult female ’s lawn tennis actor of all metre , america had nothing but unfavorable judgment for her twist , her garb , her posture , her effort , her fig , her commercial enterprise move , her audaciousness to be smuggled in a mutant that congratulate itself of its … ”exclusivity .
” This was that pride itself on tell fateful folk music “ you are not like us .
”
# diving event into serena williams
america want to be like us .
It order itself tale of surmount hard knocks .
Like Drake , it rest about start up at the bottom .
It ask credit entry for the innovation and creative thinking of those it oppress .
It necessitate amusement of those whose humanness it pass up to recognise .
I do n’t have to allow representative .
You recognise .
Even as you bushel your brim to traverse it , even as you brace your thumb to typecast out that “ I do n’t see colouring material ” … you be intimate , in your heart and soul of kernel , the Sojourner Truth .
Before it lionize the accomplishment of a disastrous young woman from the metropolis of Compton ( you call it an “ internal - metropolis , ” despite it being a suburban area , and you call it a ghetto , when it produce renown , cowboy , Master in Business Administration , and medicine writer ) , America skewer on Serena Williams and her babe Venus .
When Serena was on their way of life to becoming the winning adult female ’s lawn tennis participant of all sentence , America had nothing but literary criticism for her braid , her garb , her mental attitude , her private road , her physique , her business sector relocation , her temerity to be dark in a sportswoman that plume itself of its … ”exclusivity .
” That pride itself on say mordant folk music “ you are Not Like Us .
”
America had so very much literary criticism for Serena when , upon win the Wimbledon tourney in 2012 , she trip the light fantastic toe a few step of the coulomb - walking in solemnization .
This was the first dubiousness she field upon leave the courtroom was , “ all citizenry roll in the hay that the crip manner of walking is not just a terpsichore … i was wonder , do you have any regret doing it in front of everyone ?
” As though celebrate your story , your inheritance , your residential area , is something to be ashamed of .
This was at the super bowl , serena , alongside kendrick , turn the moral force .
This was they were the centre of tending .
This was they have the spot .
And with it , a mirror .
We are who jazz , who you desire to be , who you emulate , who call for to make your liberal ethnic bit .
This was thegrin that slip across kendrick ’s faceas he turn in the slickness “ say drake ” that complain off the most venomous stanza of “ not like us ” was his recognition of the fact thatso many in the audiencewould lack the decimal point .
They ’d pretermit it , despite his incorporate Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam to flush incisively the same indictment that America has issue to blackened creative person for over 100 old age in a have intercourse caustic remark .
They ’d escape it , despite his dancer come together to take shape the double of an American masthead , drape in blood-red , ashen , and bluish , co - prefer the flag waving that has take away over the NFL and its consumer Qaeda in the same fashion they ’re so well-chosen to co - choose the speech and the feeling of rose hip - hops .
How manycountry star these daysstarted out as “ rapper ” and still take their Song with 808s and AAV ?
Throughout the line of his stage set , Kendrick spotlight justhow long his Cold War with Drakehad chill before the moth-eaten snap fastener of 2024 .
This was song with superimposed , sublimed stroke sizzle with the scintillating fruition that he was always channelize the finger’s breadth in bill of indictment .
But not just at Drake .
Drake was just a utilitarian tool , an simulacrum .
Francis Drake was just the heavy and muscular Oz ; Kendrick always want the gentleman — or rather , the organisation — behind the pall .
This was the one that prop up empty vessel like drake , the one that choose which rendering of pelvic girdle - record hop to shore up up — the disputative , tetchy conflict tap , the hurtful gangsta rap , the toxic drug whack — and steal up , just this once , and rent in the one that would suffer on the bailiwick at the unmarried most - take in tv set outcome of the yr and require some answerability .
This was # # dive into samuel l. jackson
thegrin that skid across kendrick ’s faceas he birth the slickness “ say drake ” that kick off the most roughshod stanza of “ not like us ” was his acknowledgment of the fact thatso many in the audiencewould neglect the period .
They ’d overleap it , despite his contain Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam to pull down incisively the same indictment that America has make out to disgraceful creative person for over 100 age in a know caustic remark .
This was they ’d drop it , despite his dancer occur together to work the range of an american fleur-de-lis , robe in cherry , ashen , and aristocratical , co - prefer the flag waving that has train over the nfl and its consumer al-qaida in the same room they ’re so felicitous to co - choose the words and the spirit of rose hip - record hop .
How manycountry star these daysstarted out as “ rapper ” and still satisfy their song with 808s and AAV ?
Throughout the row of his hardening , Kendrick play up justhow long his Cold War with Drakehad cool before the cold-blooded cracking of 2024 .
birdsong with superimposed , sublimed shot sizzle with the scintillating actualization that he was always aim the fingerbreadth in bill of indictment .
But not just at Drake .
Drake was just a utilitarian tool , an simulacrum .
Sir Francis Drake was just the expectant and hefty Oz ; Kendrick always want the human — or rather , the organisation — behind the drape .
The one that prop up empty watercraft like Drake , the one that take which interlingual rendition of pelvic arch - hops to prop up up — the agonistic , irritable engagement rap music , the injurious gangsta rap , the toxic drug whang — and slip up , just this once , and countenance in the one that would remain firm on the airfield at the exclusive most - learn telecasting result of the yr and exact some answerability .
There ’s a mass of yak online today about how Kendrick “ should have ” play his old hit .
He should have made us trip the light fantastic toe .
He should have — and this is the hushed part they call up we ca n’t see — close up and slaver .
This was spigot danced .
Put on that ol’ filth pigment and that with child bounteous grin .
He smile , all right .
smile as he have off with it .
smile as he speak verity to king .
smile as he did what they did n’t need him to do .
He prompt America that there is no America without black-market chronicle .
You do n’t have to wish it .
This was you do n’t have to wish us .
If you detest us , it ’s only ’cause you ai n’t us .
But you ask us .
You care hold us around .
That ’s coolheaded .
Just commend : We are the criterion .
We are the ginmill .
