February 14, 2025 • 13 mins
Can a Super Bowl halftime show spark a cultural revolution? Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 performance might just do that. With a bold use of red, white, and blue, Kendrick flips the script on traditional American symbols, turning them into a powerful commentary on the Black experience in America. By weaving in evocative lyrics and stunning visuals, he artfully challenges us to confront racial injustice and recognize the vital role of Black history within the broader American narrative. We unpack the layers of symbolism, from the commentary on unity and pride to the complex dance with figures like Uncle Sam, all of which make this halftime show more than just entertainment—it’s a call to action.
From our personal vantage point, we revel in the artistry that earned this show a solid 9 out of 10. But the excitement doesn’t end there. We venture into the intriguing dynamic between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, suggesting a musical tête-à-tête that adds another layer of intrigue to the performance. Before we close, we throw a spotlight on "Indie Artist Music Hostel with Blonde Intelligence," a podcast that champions emerging indie artists and is a must-listen for anyone eager to discover their next favorite musician. Come along as we celebrate the intersection of music, culture, and the powerful messages that resonate long after the final note fades.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Music.
Welcome to this week's IndieArtist Music Hustle with Blind
Intelligence.
I'm your host, ms Ronnie, and Iam going to talk a little bit
about what everyone else istalking about this week.
I want to talk about the 2025Super Bowl halftime show
(00:45):
featuring Kendrick Lamar.
His use of red, white and blueserved as a powerful symbol of
Black history intertwined withAmerican identity.
These colors traditionallyrepresent the American flag,
also represent the Democrats andthe Republicans, also represent
(01:05):
the Crips and the Blood, alsorepresent color meaning, but yet
their presence in this contexthighlights the duality of the
black experience in Americapride and struggle.
So it's saying that blackAmericans to say I'm black and
I'm proud and to talk about thestruggle, people who feel
(01:29):
uncomfortable about it don'twant to hear it, and I think it
was.
I was watching CNN one timethat was when Don Lemon was on
there and I think that he had asegment titled the Uncomfortable
Truth.
Sometimes the truth is notgoing to make you feel good and
a lot of people are gettingschooled on this performance.
(01:51):
Lamar's performanceencapsulated the ongoing fight
for equality and justice,echoing the sentiments of the
civil rights movement while alsocelebrating black culture.
His lyrics during the show wereladen with references to
historical events such as theenslavement of black individuals
(02:11):
and the fight for civil rights.
These references serve as areminder of the ongoing struggle
and resilience within the blackcommunity.
And, by the way, it's BlackHistory Month, so this was black
history for your ass.
By blending contemporary musicwith historical context, lamar
effectively communicated themessage that black history is an
(02:35):
integral, integral part of theAmerican history.
Black history is Americanhistory.
You cannot teach Americanhistory without the
contributions of Black Americans, and I don't see why some of
these people who are makingthese comments oh, it was trash,
(02:56):
it was this, it was that.
Okay, it's either one side orthe other.
You know what I'm saying, andif you didn't understand it or
didn't get it, then you're partof the other, not like us.
The performance could also beinterpreted as a call to action
for unity among diverse racialand ethnic groups.
(03:16):
The use of the national colorsinvite all americans to
recognize their shared historyand strive towards a more
inclusive future.
But right now, our future seemslike the rights that we have is
trying to be taken away, andthat was the reason why he said
the revolution will be televised.
(03:38):
If you listen to one of thoseother songs on GNS.
He also said the revolution hasbeen televised.
Need somebody to talk about?
I think it's called proposition2025 that they say didn't exist
, that they was trying to makeamerica uh yte again.
Hey, it is still a melting pot,so hey, but throughout the
(04:01):
halftime show, this messageresonates, particularly in the
context of recent socialmovements advocated for black
lives and equality, and I did ashow when he did the pop out and
I was talking about how thatright there was going to be the
pivotal point for hip hop blackculture, being black and being
(04:26):
proud and in the catalyst forsocial change.
And I believe all that.
I believe that months ago and Ibelieve it now throughout the
halftime show.
The visual elements paired withthe music, creating a strong
atmosphere of celebration andreflection.
It wasn't only celebration andreflection, because I want to
get into a little bit of whateverybody talking about.
(04:49):
When, um, samuel l jackson saidthe duck one life, we're gonna
get into that.
But um, let me move on rightnow.
The symbolism of red, white andblue, combined with lamar's
powerful delivery, evoked asense of pride by simultaneously
challenging the audience toconfront uncomfortable truths
(05:10):
about racial injustice and inthat uncomfortable truth, we had
so many in denial.
But I want to talk about someof the symbols in a little bit,
because I really want to getback to that.
The Duck One life, because I amthe mother of two black sons
(05:32):
and that, right there, it didsomething to me.
The symbolism presented in theSuper Bowl halftime show and
transcends mere aesthetic,serving as a profound commentary
of Black history and its placewithin the broader American
narrative, because people arenot wanting to talk about Black
(05:55):
history and, kendrick, put it inyour face, you're going to talk
about it, whether you want toor not.
The revolution will betelevised.
Kendrick Lamar's performanceinvites viewers to engage with
his history, fostering dialogueabout identity, unity and all
those things that they're tryingto remove from American culture
(06:17):
the diversity, the inclusion,the melting pot, all these
things.
So let's talk a little bitabout the symbolism.
The symbolism of Uncle Samrepresents the complex
relationship between theAmerican government and its
citizens, particularly in thecontext of social justice.
Uncle Sam, often seen as apersonification of the United
(06:42):
States, evokes feelings ofpatriotism by simultaneously
critiquing the government'sfailures to uphold the rights of
marginalized communities.
This duality is essential tounderstanding the broader themes
of Lamar's performance, whichchallenges viewers to confront
the reality of systematicinequality, of systematic
(07:06):
inequality.
So some of the other things thatwere talked about that I
noticed and some othercommentators talked about was
when Uncle Sam said oh, you usethe cheat code, you're bringing
the culture with you, you'rebringing your homeboys Deduct
one life.
And at that very moment youhear a heel to help and hand.
(07:27):
And they're performing insidean X.
And it was brought to myattention that there was two
other little small X's abovethat signifying XXX.
So to me, within theperformance, kendrick out this
whole show and he was remindingDrake peek-a-boo.
So when that commandments,kendrick out this whole show and
he was minding and remindingDrake peekaboo.
So when that song came on andthat song started, they
(07:51):
performed it in front of theexits.
He's telling him say my name,you go ahead and say my name,
and I bet you Drake is not goingto ever say Kendrick's name
again.
So then, the GNX car serves as asymbol of aspiration and the
American dream, showcasing theintersection of culture and
(08:12):
consumerism.
I don't know about all of that,because I learned from
somewhere else that that was thetype of car that Kendrick was
brung home from the hospital inby his dad.
So Giannix has a lot ofsymbolism, I think personally,
(08:33):
for Kendrick, the car not onlyrepresents personal achievement,
but also highlights thematerialistic values often
associated with success inAmerican society.
By incorporating this symbol,lamar invites his audience to
reflect on the cost of suchaspirations, particularly for
the black individual navigatinga society laden with barriers to
(08:55):
success.
Because when Samuel L Jacksonfirst came out he said
Salutations, welcome to thegreat American game.
And all throughout the show hewas telling Kendrick, you're not
playing the game right.
This is not what America wantsto hear.
Slow it down.
Because whenever a group ofblack people get together, it is
(09:17):
always considered a threat andpeople oh, this happened and
there was no violence.
Black people are civilized andcan get together and be the
greatest and I'm glad thatKendrick put that on the
forefront for people tounderstand.
I even listened to Mace talkingabout.
(09:41):
Well, i'm'ma be the objectivevoice for me.
As much as I used to like mace,it's like these last few months
he's been talking at the sideof his neck, talking like a slow
fool to me, talking real slow,literally and figuratively.
So the game controller, combinedwith the imagery of three x's
(10:01):
the red, white and blue furtheremphasizes themes of control,
identity and nationalism.
The game controller symbolizesthe way society often treats
life as a game and basically howpeople who think that they are
superior, how they don't valuethe black life.
(10:22):
So when it says black lifematter, black lives matter,
black lives matter.
We built this country the most.
I talked about this, about howblack women were being portrayed
in the media and how 85 ofblack women I'm not even talking
(10:43):
about the men, just the womenare the most educated cohort in
America.
But you keep saying that youwant the top 10.
The top 10 is us.
The game controller symbolizesthe way society often treats
life as a game, whereindividuals, especially from
neglect, marginalizedbackgrounds, must navigate
(11:04):
challenges imposed by systematicstructures such as, if you have
a black name, let's move thisto the side, such as, if you
don't have, we can't let themhave this amount of income, or
if you do, you need to spend it.
This is what you want to do.
You want to spend all yourmoney.
You don't want to save.
So you have some groups.
(11:25):
That is financially literate,and then you have some that is
financially illiterate, and thereason why is because that's the
way the system was designed.
I did a show not too long agowith a realtor about how artists
(11:45):
can use their income to be ableto purchase a home.
As many artists as I haveworked with.
One of the things that I findis that artists do not know how
to, I would say, build on whatthey're trying to do.
I've seen a lot of independentartists that won't register
(12:12):
their work, that won't copyright, that won't do a lot of these
things.
That makes them a professionalartist.
So I'm just wondering why therewas so much hate, why people
cannot listen, why there is aproblem with accepting opinions
(12:32):
different than your own.
That's all that I have fortoday.
Uh, remember, you can catch thepodcast on our podcasting
platforms.
You can catch the sometimes onsocial media and on the website
wwwblood-intelligencecom, andI'm going to keep seeing what
(12:53):
people have to say about thisSuper Bowl performance.
I'm going to rate this SuperBowl performance a 9.
To me, it was great.
I was laying in a bed watchingit laying on my side.
So, hey, that's what it is, butI'll see you next week.
Bye.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Hey, girl, let me tell you about this podcast.
Girl, everybody has a podcastthese days, but this one
interviews new and interestingindie artists.
It's called Indie Artist MusicHostel with Blunt Intelligence.
Really, where can I find it?
It's on all podcastingplatforms Streams live on social
media and on RPENTradiocom,what you say it was called.
(13:29):
Again, it's called Indie ArtistMusic Hosted with Blind
Intelligence.
Girl, I'm gonna have to checkher out.
Give it a check, girl.
Music.
Welcome to this week's IndieArtist Music Hustle with Blind
Intelligence.
I'm your host, ms Ronnie, and Iam going to talk a little bit
about what everyone else istalking about this week.
I want to talk about the 2025Super Bowl halftime show
(00:45):
featuring Kendrick Lamar.
His use of red, white and blueserved as a powerful symbol of
Black history intertwined withAmerican identity.
These colors traditionallyrepresent the American flag,
also represent the Democrats andthe Republicans, also represent
(01:05):
the Crips and the Blood, alsorepresent color meaning, but yet
their presence in this contexthighlights the duality of the
black experience in Americapride and struggle.
So it's saying that blackAmericans to say I'm black and
I'm proud and to talk about thestruggle, people who feel
(01:29):
uncomfortable about it don'twant to hear it, and I think it
was.
I was watching CNN one timethat was when Don Lemon was on
there and I think that he had asegment titled the Uncomfortable
Truth.
Sometimes the truth is notgoing to make you feel good and
a lot of people are gettingschooled on this performance.
(01:51):
Lamar's performanceencapsulated the ongoing fight
for equality and justice,echoing the sentiments of the
civil rights movement while alsocelebrating black culture.
His lyrics during the show wereladen with references to
historical events such as theenslavement of black individuals
(02:11):
and the fight for civil rights.
These references serve as areminder of the ongoing struggle
and resilience within the blackcommunity.
And, by the way, it's BlackHistory Month, so this was black
history for your ass.
By blending contemporary musicwith historical context, lamar
effectively communicated themessage that black history is an
(02:35):
integral, integral part of theAmerican history.
Black history is Americanhistory.
You cannot teach Americanhistory without the
contributions of Black Americans, and I don't see why some of
these people who are makingthese comments oh, it was trash,
(02:56):
it was this, it was that.
Okay, it's either one side orthe other.
You know what I'm saying, andif you didn't understand it or
didn't get it, then you're partof the other, not like us.
The performance could also beinterpreted as a call to action
for unity among diverse racialand ethnic groups.
(03:16):
The use of the national colorsinvite all americans to
recognize their shared historyand strive towards a more
inclusive future.
But right now, our future seemslike the rights that we have is
trying to be taken away, andthat was the reason why he said
the revolution will be televised.
(03:38):
If you listen to one of thoseother songs on GNS.
He also said the revolution hasbeen televised.
Need somebody to talk about?
I think it's called proposition2025 that they say didn't exist
, that they was trying to makeamerica uh yte again.
Hey, it is still a melting pot,so hey, but throughout the
(04:01):
halftime show, this messageresonates, particularly in the
context of recent socialmovements advocated for black
lives and equality, and I did ashow when he did the pop out and
I was talking about how thatright there was going to be the
pivotal point for hip hop blackculture, being black and being
(04:26):
proud and in the catalyst forsocial change.
And I believe all that.
I believe that months ago and Ibelieve it now throughout the
halftime show.
The visual elements paired withthe music, creating a strong
atmosphere of celebration andreflection.
It wasn't only celebration andreflection, because I want to
get into a little bit of whateverybody talking about.
(04:49):
When, um, samuel l jackson saidthe duck one life, we're gonna
get into that.
But um, let me move on rightnow.
The symbolism of red, white andblue, combined with lamar's
powerful delivery, evoked asense of pride by simultaneously
challenging the audience toconfront uncomfortable truths
(05:10):
about racial injustice and inthat uncomfortable truth, we had
so many in denial.
But I want to talk about someof the symbols in a little bit,
because I really want to getback to that.
The Duck One life, because I amthe mother of two black sons
(05:32):
and that, right there, it didsomething to me.
The symbolism presented in theSuper Bowl halftime show and
transcends mere aesthetic,serving as a profound commentary
of Black history and its placewithin the broader American
narrative, because people arenot wanting to talk about Black
(05:55):
history and, kendrick, put it inyour face, you're going to talk
about it, whether you want toor not.
The revolution will betelevised.
Kendrick Lamar's performanceinvites viewers to engage with
his history, fostering dialogueabout identity, unity and all
those things that they're tryingto remove from American culture
(06:17):
the diversity, the inclusion,the melting pot, all these
things.
So let's talk a little bitabout the symbolism.
The symbolism of Uncle Samrepresents the complex
relationship between theAmerican government and its
citizens, particularly in thecontext of social justice.
Uncle Sam, often seen as apersonification of the United
(06:42):
States, evokes feelings ofpatriotism by simultaneously
critiquing the government'sfailures to uphold the rights of
marginalized communities.
This duality is essential tounderstanding the broader themes
of Lamar's performance, whichchallenges viewers to confront
the reality of systematicinequality, of systematic
(07:06):
inequality.
So some of the other things thatwere talked about that I
noticed and some othercommentators talked about was
when Uncle Sam said oh, you usethe cheat code, you're bringing
the culture with you, you'rebringing your homeboys Deduct
one life.
And at that very moment youhear a heel to help and hand.
(07:27):
And they're performing insidean X.
And it was brought to myattention that there was two
other little small X's abovethat signifying XXX.
So to me, within theperformance, kendrick out this
whole show and he was remindingDrake peek-a-boo.
So when that commandments,kendrick out this whole show and
he was minding and remindingDrake peekaboo.
So when that song came on andthat song started, they
(07:51):
performed it in front of theexits.
He's telling him say my name,you go ahead and say my name,
and I bet you Drake is not goingto ever say Kendrick's name
again.
So then, the GNX car serves as asymbol of aspiration and the
American dream, showcasing theintersection of culture and
(08:12):
consumerism.
I don't know about all of that,because I learned from
somewhere else that that was thetype of car that Kendrick was
brung home from the hospital inby his dad.
So Giannix has a lot ofsymbolism, I think personally,
(08:33):
for Kendrick, the car not onlyrepresents personal achievement,
but also highlights thematerialistic values often
associated with success inAmerican society.
By incorporating this symbol,lamar invites his audience to
reflect on the cost of suchaspirations, particularly for
the black individual navigatinga society laden with barriers to
(08:55):
success.
Because when Samuel L Jacksonfirst came out he said
Salutations, welcome to thegreat American game.
And all throughout the show hewas telling Kendrick, you're not
playing the game right.
This is not what America wantsto hear.
Slow it down.
Because whenever a group ofblack people get together, it is
(09:17):
always considered a threat andpeople oh, this happened and
there was no violence.
Black people are civilized andcan get together and be the
greatest and I'm glad thatKendrick put that on the
forefront for people tounderstand.
I even listened to Mace talkingabout.
(09:41):
Well, i'm'ma be the objectivevoice for me.
As much as I used to like mace,it's like these last few months
he's been talking at the sideof his neck, talking like a slow
fool to me, talking real slow,literally and figuratively.
So the game controller, combinedwith the imagery of three x's
(10:01):
the red, white and blue furtheremphasizes themes of control,
identity and nationalism.
The game controller symbolizesthe way society often treats
life as a game and basically howpeople who think that they are
superior, how they don't valuethe black life.
(10:22):
So when it says black lifematter, black lives matter,
black lives matter.
We built this country the most.
I talked about this, about howblack women were being portrayed
in the media and how 85 ofblack women I'm not even talking
(10:43):
about the men, just the womenare the most educated cohort in
America.
But you keep saying that youwant the top 10.
The top 10 is us.
The game controller symbolizesthe way society often treats
life as a game, whereindividuals, especially from
neglect, marginalizedbackgrounds, must navigate
(11:04):
challenges imposed by systematicstructures such as, if you have
a black name, let's move thisto the side, such as, if you
don't have, we can't let themhave this amount of income, or
if you do, you need to spend it.
This is what you want to do.
You want to spend all yourmoney.
You don't want to save.
So you have some groups.
(11:25):
That is financially literate,and then you have some that is
financially illiterate, and thereason why is because that's the
way the system was designed.
I did a show not too long agowith a realtor about how artists
(11:45):
can use their income to be ableto purchase a home.
As many artists as I haveworked with.
One of the things that I findis that artists do not know how
to, I would say, build on whatthey're trying to do.
I've seen a lot of independentartists that won't register
(12:12):
their work, that won't copyright, that won't do a lot of these
things.
That makes them a professionalartist.
So I'm just wondering why therewas so much hate, why people
cannot listen, why there is aproblem with accepting opinions
(12:32):
different than your own.
That's all that I have fortoday.
Uh, remember, you can catch thepodcast on our podcasting
platforms.
You can catch the sometimes onsocial media and on the website
wwwblood-intelligencecom, andI'm going to keep seeing what
(12:53):
people have to say about thisSuper Bowl performance.
I'm going to rate this SuperBowl performance a 9.
To me, it was great.
I was laying in a bed watchingit laying on my side.
So, hey, that's what it is, butI'll see you next week.
Bye.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Hey, girl, let me tell you about this podcast.
Girl, everybody has a podcastthese days, but this one
interviews new and interestingindie artists.
It's called Indie Artist MusicHostel with Blunt Intelligence.
Really, where can I find it?
It's on all podcastingplatforms Streams live on social
media and on RPENTradiocom,what you say it was called.
(13:29):
Again, it's called Indie ArtistMusic Hosted with Blind
Intelligence.
Girl, I'm gonna have to checkher out.
Give it a check, girl.
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