How Kendrick Lamar plans to troll bitter rival Drake during Super Bowl half-time show

The stage is set, the stakes are high, and Kendrick Lamar is ready to make history — not just in music, but in his ongoing feud with Drake.

As fans gear up for Super Bowl LVIX in New Orleans on February 9, all eyes are on the halftime show, where the Compton-born rapper is rumored to perform his explosive diss track, Not Like Us.

This track, which dominated the charts last summer, reignited a years-long rivalry between Kendrick and Drake. Known for its razor-sharp lyrics and pointed accusations, Not Like Us shook the industry, accusing Drake of being a ”colonizer” and leveling allegations so incendiary they sparked a defamation lawsuit.

Drake, known for his polished charm and headline-making hits, has fired back.

Earlier this month, the Toronto-born rapper filed a lawsuit against Kendrick’s label, Universal Music Group (UMG), claiming the company fueled a ”false and malicious narrative” about him. The lawsuit also alleged that UMG boosted streams of Not Like Us using AI, reportedly adding 30 million plays to the track. But according to
US Mirror, none of this legal drama will stop Kendrick from taking his moment on one of the world’s biggest stages.

A rivalry written in rhymes

The tension between Kendrick and Drake dates back to their earlier days in the rap game, but their feud has reached a fever pitch over the past year. While diss tracks are nothing new in hip-hop, Not Like Us is a different beast — packed with sharp critiques that Drake reportedly took very personally. The song’s popularity only poured fuel on the fire, becoming the most talked-about diss track in years.

Drake’s legal move to stop Kendrick’s momentum might hint at just how deeply the song has rattled him.

His lawsuit accuses UMG of sabotaging its own artist (Drake is also signed to the label) to benefit Kendrick, claiming the company sees Not Like Us as a ”gold mine.” UMG, for its part, has dismissed these claims, calling them ”illogical.”

Wasn’t always this way

What started as mutual respect between two of hip-hop’s most celebrated artists has snowballed into one of the genre’s most explosive rivalries.

But it wasn’t always this way.

Over a decade ago, Drake and Kendrick worked together on tracks like Buried Alive Interlude from Drake’s 2011 album, Take Care, and Kendrick’s Poetic Justice in 2012. They even shared the spotlight on A$AP Rocky’s hit F**in’ Problems*. Back then, their relationship seemed built on mutual respect and admiration.

The turning point came in 2013 when Kendrick Lamar delivered an unforgettable verse on Big Sean’s Control. The track wasn’t even part of the official album release, but Kendrick’s verse sent shockwaves through the industry.

“I got love for you all, but I’m trying to murder you,” Kendrick rapped. “Trying to make sure your core fans never heard of you.”

Drake, widely believed to be one of the rappers Kendrick was addressing, didn’t take the jab lightly. In a Billboard cover story shortly after, he hit back:
“I know good and well that Kendrick’s not murdering me, at all, in any platform.”

Kendrick wasn’t done. Later that year, at the 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards, he reignited the flames by calling out Drake yet again in a cypher. The message was clear: Kendrick was coming for the throne, and he didn’t care who stood in his way.

The Super Bowl stage: A new battlefield

The Super Bowl halftime show has always been a space for iconic performances, but this year, it’s about to double as a battleground.

Sources close to Kendrick have hinted that he’s ready to perform Not Like Us, lawsuit or not. And given the song’s hard-hitting verses aimed squarely at Drake, the performance is expected to spark yet another wave of controversy.

For Kendrick, the Super Bowl represents a chance to cement his dominance — not just in music, but in this very public feud. For Drake, it’s another blow in a rivalry where the hits have been as personal as they are public.

A cultural moment in the making?

As the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kendrick’s halftime show will add another layer of intensity to the night.

Fans are already buzzing about what this performance could mean — not just for the Super Bowl, but for the broader culture of hip-hop.

Will Kendrick go all in, delivering his most fiery performance yet? Will Drake respond with another diss track, or perhaps a surprise counter-performance in the future? One thing is certain: this rivalry is far from over.

Are you Team Kendrick or Team Drake? Share your thoughts below, and don’t forget to spread the word! This Super Bowl halftime show is shaping up to be one for the history books—both on and off the field.