Super Bowl LIX halftime show: What we could hear (and not hear) from Kendrick Lamar

Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans is less than a month away, and Kendrick Lamar’s momentum isn’t slowing down heading into his hiatus from the show. His success in 2024 was sparked by a long-running feud with Drake that exploded with a well-publicized back-and-forth rap battle. Lamar’s biggest track in the beef, “Not Like Us,” became a Grammy-nominated hit.

Lamar released his latest album “GNX” in November. He also announced his “Grand National Tour” with singer-songwriter SZA, starting in April.

With that said, Athletics is back with an updated prediction of the songs that will and won’t be performed by the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper during halftime of the Super Bowl at Caesars Superdome. Previous set lists from featured artists have included anywhere from 12 to 15 songs during timed shows that have lasted up to 15 minutes.

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‘Not like us’

Will the NFL allow Lamar to perform some of his most antagonistic lyrics directed at Drake? Probably not. Drake sued Universal Music Group (not Lamar) for defamation and harassment for promoting a song with punchlines involving accusations of pedophilia. But Lamar is creative enough to still get one of the most played songs of the back half of 2024 into the show. Will we see the audience fill in the lyrics for him?

Chance of it being played: 100 percent

‘tv off’

“Walk in New Orleans with LA’s label, shout Mustarrrrd!”

That’s what Lamar says in the song. It seems like an ideal way to enter the scene.

Chance of it being played: 100 percent

‘disgrace’

Debbie Deb’s “When I Hear Music” is sampled in the track, and the original beat still hits home more than 40 years later. It’s a song you can dance to. Some of Lamar’s critics claim that he doesn’t make music that people can move to, but this song goes against that notion.

Chance of it being played: 95 percent

‘luther’

This repackage of Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn’s version of “If This World Were Mine” features SZA and has become a hit. Considering the upcoming tour, SZA figures to be a key part of the halftime show.

Chance of it being played: 90 percent

‘Such’

This song featuring Future and Metro Boomin, reached no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Lamar’s verse started one of the biggest rap battles of all time. The sample of Rodney-O & Joe Cooley’s “Everlasting Bass” helped make this song a hit.

Chance of it being played: 90 percent

’30 for 30′

This song is on SZA’s album, “Lana,” which is a re-release of her 2022 album, “SOS,” featuring Lamar. What better way to showcase another potential collaboration from the upcoming tour.

Chance of it being played: 80 percent

‘All the Stars’

This is another option if Lamar wants to add SZA to the set.

Chance of it being played: 75 percent

‘Humble’

This could have been the option for Lamar when he performed at Super Bowl LVI, but he went with “Alright” as part of the show that featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and 50 Cent. It’s one of Lamar’s most popular songs — and it was used as theme for the 2017 NBA Finals.

Chance of it being played: 85 percent

‘DNA’

This is one of Lamar’s biggest songs from the “DAMN” album, which some claim is Lamar’s best work.

Chance of it being played: 75 percent

‘Money Trees’

Jay Rock’s verse on this song is one of his best. Considering the important role Jay Rock has played in Lamar’s career, it would be a great way to thank him on a big stage.

Chance of it being played: 60 percent

‘Swimming pools (Drank)’

In a city known for its cocktails, this song could be a great addition. The chorus is also catchy.

Chance of it being played: 60 percent

‘King Kunta’

“To Pimp a Butterfly” is an album that is still played by Lamar’s fans. “King Kunta” is one of the more popular songs from that project.

Chance of it being played: 55 percent

‘heart currently 6’

This song tells the story of the rise of Lamar and his former label, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), and features a sample of the 1996 SWV song, “Use Your Heart”. SWV’s Lelee Lyons wrote on Thread that it would be “a treat” if they performed the song with Lamar at the Super Bowl. Lamar clearly loves classic songs, and this would be a great way to pay homage to 1990s R&B.

Chance of it being played: 50 percent

‘Family Ties’

Lamar joined his cousin, Baby Keem, on this song from Keem’s album “The Melodic Blue”. A perfect opportunity to show off your family.

Chance of it being played: 50 percent

‘Collard Green’

This was a hit from ScHoolboy Q’s “Oxymoron” album – and another chance to get TDE on a big stage.

Chance of it being played: 40 percent

‘B—-, Don’t Kill My Vibe’

“I am a sinner who is likely to sin again.”

Lamar may only have to drop this part of the song. It’s popular enough for his fans where they could handle the rest.

Chance of it being played: 40 percent

‘okay’

When Lamar performed this during Super Bowl LVI, he would have to add a new twist to make it fit in New Orleans.

Chance of it being played: 30 percent

‘Euphoria’

This song predicts how Drake would react in their rap battle pretty accurately… but I don’t think we’re getting an overdose of Drake bashing.

Chance of it being played: 30 percent

‘Mona Lisa’

This would be a quick way to gain goodwill in New Orleans by giving Lil Wayne stage time for this song on his “Tha Carter V” album which featured Lamar.

It helps Wayne reiterated that there is no enmity between the two after Lamar mentioned Wayne on “wacced out murals”, the opening track of the “GNX” album (“hard work failed lil wayne”). Lamar grew up a Wayne fan, but Wayne was once vocal in his disappointment at not being selected for the Super Bowl halftime show.

Roc Nation, which partners with the NFL, is very secretive about the surprises for the show – so we can’t rule out a Wayne appearance.

Chance of it being played: 15 percent

‘shaken murals’

Imagine Wayne showing up on stage after the “hard work let Lil Wayne down” lyric? That would be a great moment.

Chance of it being played: 10 percent

‘Meet the Grahams’

No. It doesn’t happen. Lamar won’t kill the party spirit with this dark song.

Chance of it being played: 5 percent

‘Bad Blood’

Taylor Swift collaborated with Lamar on this song in 2015. However, Swift may be in a suite watching her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, play in New Orleans. If so, there’s no way she could quietly leave to prepare for a performance.

Chance of it being played: 0 percent

‘Poetic Justice’

This song is a collaboration with Drake. Lamar and Drake together? After all that has happened? Plus, Drake is scheduled to be in Australia on tour. There is no way this song is being performed.

Chance of it being played: minus-10,000 percent

(Top photo: Yuki Iwamura / AFP via Getty Images)