The Big Game Halftime Show Grade 2025
By Pat Freeman, The Mighty O’Ba
During my 25 years of Super Bowl Media coverage, I decided to grade the halftime show performances. The Number #1 position is held by Prince for his epic 2007 performance in the rain of Miami, Florida. Each performance is compared to his epic greatness on that day including an intimate relationship with Mother Nature which rained for the first time in the many South Florida Super Bowl games. This year one of the most influential hip hop artists of this generation steps into center stage representing the hip hop culture of this generation.
The evolution of hip hop into an accepted art form takes center stage as the primary headliner for the first time during my 25 years of coverage. The choice of Kendrick Lamar in the hometown of Lil Wayne was met with natural controversy on his selection, but no one can dispute the major influence of Kendrick Lamar on the culture of this genre. His outstanding ability to enunciate his lyrics with great voice control makes him the best choice to represent hip hop on its biggest stage as the Apple music halftime headliner. The grading includes presentation, theatrics, and delivery. I then review the entire 13-minute presentation at least three times before rendering a judgement.
After reading several of the immediate responses to the Kendrick Lamar halftime performance I’m afraid that we are becoming a face value people without looking at the deep meaning of the true hip hop art form. What Kendrick Lamar did for thirteen minutes was absolutely a work of social genius! Many of us have forgotten that hip hop is an art form of the people, it’s use is to challenge us to think. He said, “We still in chains wearing red, white, and blue.”
He also continued his poetic feud with Drake which has generated nearly 15.4 million revenues from their diss tracks. He also added Samuel Jackson, SZA and Serena Williams to the script to enhance the profitable feud with Drake on the world’s largest stage. After watching the halftime show live and three times online, I give Kendrick Lamar the memorable performance because it’s going to force those of you who failed to understand the genius of this presentation to begin researching the lyrical stories of our artists rather than looking for music that sounds good, with lyrics that do not have meaning to invoke social change. Kendrick Lamar delivered a classic lesson before the world, and we owe it to our artists to study and understand their artform. The choreography was also excellent and if you watch this classic lyrical lesson and study the words of his message you will agree that it was another memorable performance by another outstanding artist.