As a huge Kendrick Lamar fan, here's what I'm hoping for out of Super Bowl halftime show

When Kendrick Lamar released "Not Like Us" on May 4, 2024, I was sitting in the press box at Citizens Bank Park, covering an eventual 14-3 Phillies win over the San Francisco Giants. 

Of course, my No. 1 focus was on the game. But did I also have headphones in when the song that eventually would win five Grammy Awards — including both Record of the Year and Song of the Year — was surprisingly released. It came a night after Lamar and Drake traded dis songs of each other, with Lamar responding to Drake's "Family Matters" with the haunting "Meet the Grahams." If Lamar hadn't already won the battle after that, he certainly did when the bar "Tryna strike a chord and it's probably A minor" first hit the internet. 

I fully recognize that many of the typical readers of On Pattison — like those who sat near me in the press box on that May night and had to listen to me talk about the beef — could not care less about Lamar's discography or what happens during Sunday's halftime show. For you, we have plenty of game coverage on the site, and more will be coming throughout the week. 

But for someone who covers the day-to-day happenings in Philadelphia sports and is a Kendrick Lamar stan, this is like my worlds colliding. Yes, the primary focus Sunday will be on whether the Eagles can prevent the Kansas City Chiefs from becoming the first team in NFL history to three-peat. But my halftime focus isn't going to be what adjustments Nick Sirianni needs to make. As a huge fan of Lamar, here's what I'm hoping for out of the halftime show. 

Who Else Will Perform? 

SZA is the opening act for Lamar's upcoming Grand National Tour, and it was revealed in a recent ad that she will join him at the Super Bowl. It's unclear if anyone else will join the pair. 

What Songs Are Certain To Be Performed? 

1. "Not Like Us": Anyone who thought that the NFL might nix this song is going to be proven wrong. Not only did it just clean house at the Grammys, but it's Lamar's most commercials successful song and he apparently is intent on performing it. It's kind of like, why pick Lamar for the halftime show if you don't want him to do his biggest song? This will probably be the song he finishes with. 

2. "TV Off": This song is off of Lamar's most recent album "GNX," which he released in December. If you've wondered why people are screaming "Mustard!," it comes from this track, which like "Not Like Us" is produced by DJ Mustard. It includes lyrics referencing New Orleans, so it's pretty clear it will be performed at the Caesars Superdome. 

3. "Hey Now": Also off of "GNX," this song has the type of beat that gets stuck in your head and makes you want to dance. 

4. "All The Stars": This song is a collaboration between Lamar and SZA from the soundtrack for the 2018 movie "Black Panther." 

5. "Humble": Prior to "Not Like Us," this song — off of Lamar's 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning album "DAMN." — was probably his biggest club hit. 

6. "Luther": This is a soulful song that features Lamar and SZA doing their thing over a Luther Vandross sample. 

7. "Squabble Up": One of the most popular songs from "GNX," this is another one with dance appeal that makes sense for this type of setting. 

8. "30 for 30": SZA also released a new album entitled "SOS Deluxe: Lana" in December. This song makes sense to perform since it features Lamar. 

What Songs Are You Hoping Will Be Performed? 

Purposely, I left some room here at the end. Usher performed 11 songs at last year's Super Bowl, on top of having Lil' Jon and Alicia Keys with him. Even as a huge fan of Usher, I thought he tried to cram too much into around 15 minutes. I had a similar complaint regarding Justin Timberlake's halftime show when the Eagles won LII. I'd rather hear some full songs than a bunch of snippets thrown together. 

With that said, there's room for a bit more from Kendrick. Here's a few final — potentially wishful — suggestions. 

1. "Alright": The only reason this one may not make the cut is because it was what Lamar performed just three years ago when he joined Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem and 50 Cent during the halftime show of Super Bowl LVI. But like, it was awesome when he did it. 

2. "Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst": The chances of me getting my wish here is probably less than 5%. But if you ask most diehard Kendrick fans to name his best songs, this will come up often. It's my favorite song ever, and it's off his critically-acclaimed breakout album "good kid, m.A.A.d city," which came out in 2012: 

3. "Money Trees": This is another song from GKMC, and it probably has more appeal in this type of setting than the beautiful-but-sad "Sing About Me." Can you say "Ya Bish" on national TV? 

4. "Like That": This is the song that Lamar initially took a shot at Drake — and to a lesser extent, J. Cole — on. He was featured on this song, which is actually a Future and Metro Boomin' track. The beat is incredible. Whether the lyrics can be cleaned up without the song being butchered is unclear. 

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