February 13, 2025 • 29 mins
Forget the touchdowns—this year’s Super Bowl was Kendrick Lamar’s grand petty opera. With SZA in red, Samuel L. Jackson channeling Uncle Sam, and a whole stadium unknowingly dragging Drake in unison, this was not just a performance—it was a statement.
We’re breaking down all the layers: the cryptic symbols (tic-tac-toe? Video game controllers?), the A minor of it all, and the bell-bottoms that had us questioning if Kendrick was dressing for the Super Bowl or a Soul Train line. And of course, we have thoughts on Drake’s never-ending beef—because at this point, even the aunties are tired.
It’s all messy, it’s all petty, and it’s all here. Tap in! 🎧 #SuperBowl2025 #KendrickLamar #PettyBowl #AMinor #WeWereDistracted
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Nele (00:00):
Hey y'all and welcome to.
Is this how it Ends?
I'm Nels, I'm so, and welcometo a special episode.
We're covering the Super Bowl2025.
Soph (00:19):
You mean the Kendrick Lamar show?
The Kendrick Lamar mini-album,because I'm not paying for those
tickets.
Nele (00:26):
The Kendrick Lamar show, the Kendrick Lamar meeting.
I'm not paying for thosetickets.
I'm using my Klarna for Beyonce, cowboy Carter right, that's
Klarna, and Affirm that may bethe only way I can go For those
that have been living under arock.
Kendrick Lamar performed forthe Halftime Show with a
(00:50):
featured guest, sza.
He also had Samuel L Jacksonplaying Uncle Sam slash, the
character.
I forgot the name of thecharacter.
I should know this from Django.
I think his name was Steven.
Yeah, yeah, anyway.
So it was pretty, it was.
It's a lot to unpack, so, soph,let's just start off.
(01:11):
What did?
Soph (01:15):
you think of the performance.
Overall, I liked it.
I like Kendrick Lamar.
I won't say like I listen tohis music all the time, but I
really liked it.
He's a storyteller, right.
So many layers personal history, cultural commentary, industry
critiques.
Just visually it was reallynice.
Whoever the camera person wasand whoever designed the stage,
(01:37):
it was pretty dope.
It was pretty dope, Can I say?
Tangent Samuel Jackson isprobably one of the the richest
actors, not because he's thehighest pay, but because he does
all these like random, like heworks so much he's doing capital
one credit cards.
Nele (01:52):
He's at the super bowl.
Samuel stays with a job, okay,and his breakout role wasn't
even until like maybe he waslike 40 something, for it was
like jungle fever.
That was like his breakout role.
So it's just kind of like sam,you stay working and he looks
really good he does look reallygood but to your point, um,
(02:15):
about the, just the artistry,right?
um, you know, kendrick, he has abalance, right?
It's like, okay, I'm gonna giveyou a little history and
artistry, but this train isultimately going to pettyville,
um, and I appreciate thedestination.
So I did kind of look up, um,what some of the symbolism was,
(02:39):
you know talk about a little bit.
So this is from doublexmagcom,and so, first of all, he started
off alright.
I don't know if you noticed.
He had a little A chain.
It was like a small A, a minor.
Soph (02:54):
Oh, my God.
Nele (02:56):
He already started.
The petty, petty king, also thecolors, the red, white and blue
representing the flag, ofcourse, and America was built by
us Also.
What else was there?
So again, just the formationsthat was on the field.
(03:19):
In the end he had like thetic-tac-toe like game over.
In the end he had thetic-tac-toe game over and then
he also had it looked like acontroller, like you're playing
for a video game, and then it'sjust, like you know, to Kendrick
.
This whole thing is a game.
We're not ready for it.
Soph (03:38):
It is a game.
Nele (03:39):
Yes, and of course, samuel L Jackson dressed up as um
Uncle Sam, right, kenji wasgetting deep.
But I also have a little bit ofcommentary on that.
You know I have to.
You know I have.
It's not a soapbox, but we needto stay woke, all right, but
(04:00):
we'll get to that.
But yeah, that was some of thesymbolism that was in there.
Now, as a whole, because I am afan, I didn't really like the
set list.
I felt, given the occasion andthe crowd and the crowd it
(04:22):
wasn't really.
It didn't get popping untilkind of the end.
Honestly, even I was kind oflike I don't know about this.
Soph (04:34):
You know I think he kind of went in there knowing like
that's not what it was about.
Nele (04:39):
Yeah, and you know he plays games.
Okay, because he was teasing,he would play a little bit like
ding ding, ding ding.
Oh, I can't play it.
Ding ding, ding ding, becausethey're going to sue.
Ding ding ding, like, stopplaying games, kendrick.
Stop playing games, because youknow there's this whole thing
about whether or not he wasgoing to perform that song,
(04:59):
because Drake was suing.
Soph (05:02):
He was suing Everybody.
Nele (05:04):
Drake was suing.
Sit down, you have no room inhip hop.
Just go somewhere.
Soph (05:11):
Can I just say, like the irony of it, right, like, cause
people tend to say, like Drakeis Drake is false.
He's not really for the culture, right, he's this guy from
Canada, he was under grassy,he's an actor and, like this,
hip hop is another persona, it'sanother role that he's playing,
right, and the irony of himbeing called out for that and
(05:31):
ensuing over a rap beat which ispart of hip-hop culture, to me
that's wild.
Nele (05:38):
It's like, instead of putting the pen to the paper,
it's like I'm going to go get mylawyer.
Soph (05:45):
That's the Canadian in him right.
That's the Nebraska.
That's that side of him.
Nele (05:52):
That ain't hip hop.
I want to talk about thefashions a little bit Now.
I was just highly distracted byKendrick's bell bottoms.
I don't know if this is an LAthing.
I mean, kendrick got a littlecake back there, just a little
(06:18):
grab on dude, just yank.
Oh my God, I'm just saying hewas just skipping around, I was
a little bit distracted.
I was a little bit distracted.
Soph (06:25):
I was distracted because I see your toe items.
Yes, I was like.
Nele (06:30):
I was like these flares.
Soph (06:34):
I was like Kendrick is me in 2003.
Nele (06:39):
You got them LEI bell-bottom jeans Everybody was
rocking.
Soph (06:45):
Oh my God bell-bottom jeans.
Nele (06:47):
Everybody was right, oh my god, yes, yes.
And also there was symbolism inhis jacket as well.
It had the word Gloria on it,which is one of the songs he did
with SZA on his album as well.
So that was cool a sizzle.
It's great in her red.
She did her thing, of course,and Serena, look, I want to be
(07:10):
like Serena when I grow up.
Here's why I want to be likeSerena.
I want to be able to be pettyTo my ex On a national Platform.
Okay, actually, sza's alsoDrake's ex too, so two of his
exes.
This is his ex as well.
Yeah, they date or messedaround or something.
(07:30):
He says some shady stuff.
He's been saying shady stuffabout her, so it's just like to
come together for like a pettytrifecta is great.
Oh, I want to be like Serenawhen I grew up.
Okay, I mean, look, who knowswhat may happen with?
No, I know what's going tohappen with this.
This is how it ends podcast,and I'm definitely going to make
(07:52):
sure, every once in a while, Ican be petty to the men that
I've dated.
However, I don't know if I'llbe able to do it the way Serena
did it, you know.
So Drake and Serena dated right,they actually dated, yes and
then, he was saying how herhusband is a groupie or whatever
(08:18):
, and it's just like, well,shouldn't your spouse be your
groupie?
I'm glad Serena didn't waitaround for him when he got
married, had her babies and justis doing her thing.
And who is it Stephen A Smithtalking about?
Oh, like I would divorce mywife, that I would divorce
Serena Over her.
(08:40):
After doing that no one askedyou.
So, yeah, I appreciated that aswell.
Um, overall, I thought it was agood performance towards the
end.
At least kendrick lamar wasn'tlike the guy that you dated for
(09:01):
a few months and then whenyou're like, where, where, what
are we?
He's like oh, I'm not your man.
He was like, look, I'm going totease you, but we're going to
commit, we're going to do this,and he definitely did it.
You know it was great I washere for I was very much shocked
to hear a whole stadium say aminor, all together.
(09:28):
Was Drake at home?
Was Drake at a Superbowl party?
Soph (09:33):
I mean, I'm pretty sure he was not at a Superbowl party,
like I'm pretty sure he was homealone cause he knew what was
coming.
I was trying to look to see,like, what his response was to
this.
First of all, these are twogrown-ass men feuding.
I need to say that again.
I don't really condone this.
I'm middle-aged, middle-agedand it's been going back.
(09:53):
This is so middle school.
It's been going back for awhile.
I was watching this comedianand he was saying because Drake
went after Pusha T, yes, andafter Pusha T, yes, and after
Pusha T was like well, you got ababy.
Nele (10:09):
Like leave people alone.
Leave people alone when youhave a hidden child, possibly
children but so I try to do alittle.
Soph (10:20):
You know, try to look into this beef a little.
I didn't really do a good job.
I was kind of of I was Ihalf-assed it, but so there was.
It was like just one day wherethey were like just releasing
all these back and forth, backand forth.
Nele (10:31):
Yeah, there was a point in time where, like they were
dropping one by one and then itwas like, hey, you drop one, I
drop one.
And then all of a sudden,kendra's's like
ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba,kendra's, just like one after
the other, after the other.
You couldn't keep up after awhile.
Now, I got in there after itwas long after the beef had
(10:52):
happened.
But just watching reactionvideos, people breaking things
down, and it was like it was asurprise, and you're just like,
okay, like how many more bulletscan Drake take?
But see, drake started it bygoing in on his family.
See, like that's what you get.
That's what you get.
Soph (11:14):
We don't do the family.
Nele (11:17):
Family is sacred, but yeah , and so I guess Drake is also
not on social media as well,because everybody's in on this.
The elderly pets just blackwhite.
There was this one like videoof these Indian women just black
(11:38):
white.
There was this one video ofthese Indian women dancing to
Squabble Up.
Soph (11:44):
He cannot, you can't escape it.
This is not like the 90s beef,the 90s beef it's really
contained, because you don'thave social media spreading
stuff Nowadays.
You just can't escape it.
Yeah, you can't escape it.
People who are not fans, whodon't even listen to rap, this
they'll know about.
Nele (12:04):
Yes, yes.
And so I mean is this the end?
Is this how this beef ends?
Shameless plug.
Soph (12:15):
I wonder, if he said game over, is that like saying he's
done with this, or I mean?
Nele (12:23):
It has to be with the Grammys and with this, like it's
done.
Soph (12:28):
But I mean it's done, but the song is.
That's one of those songs, thatit's, it's just.
Nele (12:37):
Yeah, drake didn't say anything to anybody because he
could just be like, not like,right and even like something is
wrong with Kendrick, becauseyou know there's a part where he
goes, say Drake, I hear youlike him young, but he like made
sure to like look the camera inthe eye, like say Drake, like
(12:58):
he was just very, I know you arelooking and here's the thing,
the part of the with the youngmoney, that's what Drake was a
part of, or whatever.
Like they were crying.
What about?
What about New Orleans?
What about Lil Wayne?
Lil Wayne should perform Firstof all.
Ain't nobody gonna see?
No, lil Wayne should performFirst of all.
Ain't nobody going to see?
No, lil Wayne.
Lil Wayne cannot perform.
(13:19):
I'd rather see a broomstickwith two lock extensions
attached to it on a stage thansee Lil Wayne perform at the
Super Bowl.
Okay, lil Wayne is more thancracked out Like it's sad.
Soph (13:34):
For real.
This man is always, is alwayslike high off of something and I
can't stand his mama Like Idon't like his mama.
I don't understand him.
I don't know who writes for him, but it just never makes sense.
Nele (13:46):
I know like a few Lil Wayne songs here and there.
You know, but you know, andthose who are rap aficionados
Say, like you know, he's one ofthe I don't know goats, but he's
up there Do you listen to hislyrics?
Soph (14:00):
Do you listen to his lyrics?
Nele (14:02):
I don't know girl, as mama say, I don't know about that
boom bam pop, I don't know aboutall of that I'm in a foolish
Little Because I can't see thebone and he has so many.
Soph (14:18):
What'd you find?
The one I was thinking about,real G's move in silence like
lasagna, I mean that's actuallykind of like.
Nele (14:30):
the G in lasagna is silent .
I mean, that's kind of clever,wasn't this?
I'm not hello, mr Shit G andlasagna is silent.
I mean, that's kind of clever,wasn't it something about shit
in?
Soph (14:37):
the bowl.
Nele (14:38):
Hello, mr Shit, I'm the toilet bowl or something like
that from him, something likethat.
Soph (14:44):
Yeah, the G and lasagna is silent, but there are so many
other.
I love that.
That don't go hard, man.
Nele (14:51):
I don't know.
I kind of like that one, but Imean, people doing all this
Almost got my eye.
People doing all this whiningwhen it's like I think I looked
it up the only other time theyhad the Super Bowl in New
Orleans was like 2013, I guessso was anyone campaigning for
(15:18):
lil wayne like back then.
Soph (15:21):
It's just, this has never happened like this has never
happened, where, like theyannounced train yeah, it is.
I mean, it was his people,though it was his it's it was
little boozy talking about.
Nele (15:35):
Yeah, there's all these Louisiana people.
Boozy, I mean, I loves me, someWipe Me Down.
But you know I could haveenjoyed Juvenile, you know, for
the 99s and the 2000s, you know.
And the Gadget Everybody knewwhat they were, you know.
(15:59):
But yeah, I'm just like, whyall this?
Oh, it's because the Kendrickhate is really real and at first
I thought like maybe he shouldhave incorporated more of like
the Louisiana sound in there.
However, first of all, thepre-show they had a lot of,
(16:22):
exactly.
First of all, they had thepre-show.
They had a lot of like thebands and stuff like that.
And then for the nationalanthem and the Black national
anthem, they had Louisianaartists, baptiste and Lettucey
they sung, and so it's like allright, you know, kendrick
(16:44):
doesn't have to carry the weightof New Orleans on his back.
Soph (16:50):
He doesn't.
No other artists are beingasked to do this.
Nele (16:54):
Yeah, so they're a whole bunch of haters.
Soph (16:58):
We are haters.
I mean who performed Rihannaperformed last year.
Where were?
I don't remember this, I thinkit was.
Nele (17:09):
Usher.
Usher was last year.
Usher was last year I think so,when Ludacris was, and then I
think Rihanna was the yearbefore.
Soph (17:19):
Oh right, because that's when she announced her Bebe.
Nele (17:23):
Yeah, but yeah, my favorite Super Bowl performance
Will always be as controversialas he is Michael Jackson.
It was sometime in the 90, 93,I don't know.
It was definitely like it washeal the world and then he had
(17:44):
like all the people in theaudience with like the faces and
yeah, it was pretty cool Ithink we have to say that when
we talk about an artist yeah,what is it?
Soph (17:57):
Is it Woody Allen?
Mm-hmm?
Woody Allen married hisdaughter yeah, that's, but he's
still out here doing like no one.
No one talks about him like andthey say, well, you know, I
know he's not like no, they justsay like yeah.
It's unfortunate that yourlegacy gets besmirched.
Nele (18:17):
But everyone's like cancel , cancel.
I love you, like this person orwhatever.
Soph (18:21):
I'm kind of that way too.
I don't cancel nobody unless Ifeel like it.
Yeah, I don't care.
The only person I got on thecancel train was Art Kelly.
Nele (18:33):
Yeah, that's just.
And Diddy too.
Oh Diddy, oh my god.
But apparently our cancellationdoes not matter, because the
event I went to February 2ndthey were definitely playing
Diddy, or it was all about theBenjamins, or whatever, and that
song came on like it was hard.
Soph (18:54):
It was all about the Benjamins or whatever and that
song came on, Look it was hard.
Nele (18:58):
It was hard.
They were like the part waslike you, like Wonder Woman with
the beat, huh, like you can'thelp it.
And then there was a part whereI was like Puffy, hold me down
baby.
And all the women were likePuffy, hold me down baby.
Soph (19:10):
Oh, just only female in my crew and I can't See.
See, I can't be there to askhim.
I just found a corner.
Nele (19:21):
It's just like the whole bad boy situation.
Like I remember I was at awedding and they were playing
some Peaches and Cream, like letme tell you what I want to do.
And I was just kind of likethis is not right, oh, like, but
I was like oh, my god, that'slike.
Soph (19:39):
Move your body like a steak, because that's one of my
favorite.
Oh, man, that's like, and thathas like such distinct memories
for me.
Yes, when you were young and atthe were we in college, you
were in college girl at themocha parties.
I definitely remember playingthere, yeah, girl every time I
hear that I was like like yeah,you just like give me a body
(20:02):
like the guilt on your face.
Nele (20:06):
Like that, god will deal me later.
Hell will be waiting for us ohman so, um, I do want to get on
(20:30):
my soapbox just a little bitokay girl so here's the thing,
right, maybe because I'm now, Idon't care so much about
celebrities and I don't have asmuch like I appreciate them.
You're an artist, you perform,this is what you do.
Not everything that you do isnecessarily for the culture.
Soph (20:55):
Right.
Nele (20:56):
And people are talking about, oh, what Kendrick Lamar
did and what it means, and blah,blah, blah.
And I'm like, yeah, but he isperforming NFL.
You know, at the end of the day, it's done, we go back to our
(21:20):
lives.
Trump just outlawed paperstraws like this is our life.
And so there was a quote oninstagram which kind of summed
up how I felt um, really well,it's um by her name, is
asiatucoach and um, she saidthis kendrick's performance was
absolutely creative.
Creative as F, brilliant andBlack representation, but not
(21:41):
revolution, as a revolutionwon't be televised, as Gil Scott
Heron said, which shout out toGil Scott Heron, I have his
album.
One can't be a capitalist andpro-Black Capitalism requires
Black exploitation.
Kendrick's performancebenefited both Jay-Z, a
billionaire, and the NFL.
For them to regain the Blackaudience, a Black entertainer
(22:03):
performing at a known anti-Blackand misogynistic company while
calling out playing the game isironic AF and that's the truth.
And so I was really here for,okay, the pettiness of it all
and, yes, the symbolism is dopeand it's important, but at the
end of the day, it's the.
Soph (22:23):
Super Bowl, like nothing is really being done, like how
does it better our lives?
Nele (22:30):
Yeah, Sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off.
Go ahead.
Soph (22:33):
How does it contribute to the Black cause?
Like I don't.
I agree with you too, and Iremember thinking, even as this
whole thing was.
This is why I never I'm like,I'm not really, because this
benefits the record industryfirst.
Whoever MGM, I think, owns them, make a shit ton of money from
this.
Whatever Kendrick is making andDrake is making, they're making
(22:56):
way more than that.
It's still exploitation.
They get a piece of the pie,but they're still being used as
any other artists are being usedto get our money.
Nele (23:09):
Yeah, I just think.
Black people, we can't keep onbeing bought by symbolism.
Oh, this is symbolic, this iswhat this represents, but, at
the end of the day, both men Imean even kanjik lamar, as much
of a fan I am of his like hedoesn't really practice what he
preaches all the time we can'tbe easily bought.
(23:29):
Yes, this is entertaining.
Why can't we just accept thingsfor what they are?
Um, at the end of the day, he,he is a capitalist, he is an
entertainer, and the NFL for theSuper Bowl, they don't pay you.
However, with the exposure andhis tour coming up, he's going
to be paid tenfold.
His streams have gone upsignificantly since the Super
(23:50):
Bowl, and so it's a win for him,yes, but it's not a win for us.
No, so they're entertainers andwe take them as that yes,
appreciate it for the shadinessand pettiness that it was,
because that's what I was herefor.
But again, like I think Iquoted before that, uh, drake
(24:15):
said kendrick's rapping likehe's always trying to feed the
slaves or whatever, which isexactly what he did at the Super
Bowl and you know he did puthis.
Sometimes it's okay just to bea conscious entertainer.
(24:38):
But yeah, that's it just.
It's okay to be a consciousentertainer, but you're not
really doing much for us as awhole they're not.
They're not pushing anybody like, they're not moving anything
forward no, like, yeah, like ifhe didn't do the Super Bowl, if
(25:01):
he turned down the Super Bowl,that would have been more of a
statement if you asked me.
But I can't tell people what todo with their money.
My bed is next to my sink.
I can't tell people what to do,but I appreciate it for what it
is, but appreciate it for whatit is.
Soph (25:18):
Appreciate for what it is, that's it.
Nele (25:21):
Yeah Well, that's all I have to say about that.
Any last words about theperformance?
Soph (25:31):
It was entertaining.
I like that he looked at thecamera directly.
Nele (25:39):
Yes.
Soph (25:41):
But this was just.
This was pettiness.
Nele (25:45):
Yes.
Soph (25:45):
On the grand stage Definitely.
Nele (25:48):
And before we go, I want to give a shout out to my auntie
, because she was definitelygiving Kendrick all the shade
for the performance.
She was like what is this?
She went and took a hot shower.
My other auntie, like I don'tknow, she made food or washed
(26:10):
the dishes, I don't know, theyweren't here for it at all.
But I told her that I will makeher a Kendrick Lamar fan.
Just yet I sent her PoeticJustice, the music video.
We're gonna start her off slow,but she will be a Kendrick
Lamar fan soon enough.
Soph (26:30):
I've never, I don't know a lot of his music.
I kind of brushed up.
Nele (26:36):
He's not for everybody, but he's gonna be for my auntie,
so she'll appreciate it I dohope drake gets professional
help, maybe because I feel likesomething like this.
Soph (26:51):
It's a bit like I won't say it's bullying, because he
started it, or you know.
Whoever started, I don't know,but they were both kind of added
until someone was like, well,I'm better than you, so he took
it from me.
I do think, though, to havethis everywhere in the whole
(27:11):
that's tough.
A minor like a whole stadium.
Nele (27:16):
Like is the song accusing you of being a you know.
Soph (27:22):
Yeah, and it's.
And they do that because youknow, just if you look at his
history, like, yeah, like girl.
Nele (27:31):
I took that deep dive and it is shifty as hell.
I don't know how you canexplain some of these things.
Soph (27:36):
It's weird, it's weird.
Yeah, I just know the BillyBobby Brown thing.
This is like a 12-year-old girland you're fangirling over them
.
This is weird, but I think,though, this could be traumatic.
(27:56):
Yeah, how do you show your face?
Like you have a whole body ofpeople just laughing at you,
like it's international, likeit's just.
Nele (28:12):
I'm sure they're saying A minor in another language.
Soph (28:16):
How do you say A minor?
In Spanish A menos I don't knowA know a menos imagine him
showing up somewhere and that'swhat people and I'm sure it's
happened I'm sure it hashappened.
Yeah, I feel bad for him alittle bit like I do feel bad
for him, you know like, even ifhe did start it like I do.
But you know why he got all hismoney to keep him warm.
Nele (28:39):
Yeah, just dry your tears with a $100 bill, you know.
Soph (28:44):
Again.
The crazy thing is he can'tescape anywhere.
You know, like back then withRat Beef, if it got too hot, we
could.
Nele (28:53):
I don't know go somewhere else maybe.
Speaking of hot, the block ishot, the block is hot, hot, hot
I.
The block is hot, the block ishot, hot, hot.
I think that's Lil Wayne.
The block is hot, the block ishot, hot.
It's up there, all right, y'all.
Well, thank you for tuning into this special episode.
(29:16):
If you like the vibe, pleasemake sure to like, comment and
subscribe.
Until next time, deuces.
Hey y'all and welcome to.
Is this how it Ends?
I'm Nels, I'm so, and welcometo a special episode.
We're covering the Super Bowl2025.
Soph (00:19):
You mean the Kendrick Lamar show?
The Kendrick Lamar mini-album,because I'm not paying for those
tickets.
Nele (00:26):
The Kendrick Lamar show, the Kendrick Lamar meeting.
I'm not paying for thosetickets.
I'm using my Klarna for Beyonce, cowboy Carter right, that's
Klarna, and Affirm that may bethe only way I can go For those
that have been living under arock.
Kendrick Lamar performed forthe Halftime Show with a
(00:50):
featured guest, sza.
He also had Samuel L Jacksonplaying Uncle Sam slash, the
character.
I forgot the name of thecharacter.
I should know this from Django.
I think his name was Steven.
Yeah, yeah, anyway.
So it was pretty, it was.
It's a lot to unpack, so, soph,let's just start off.
(01:11):
What did?
Soph (01:15):
you think of the performance.
Overall, I liked it.
I like Kendrick Lamar.
I won't say like I listen tohis music all the time, but I
really liked it.
He's a storyteller, right.
So many layers personal history, cultural commentary, industry
critiques.
Just visually it was reallynice.
Whoever the camera person wasand whoever designed the stage,
(01:37):
it was pretty dope.
It was pretty dope, Can I say?
Tangent Samuel Jackson isprobably one of the the richest
actors, not because he's thehighest pay, but because he does
all these like random, like heworks so much he's doing capital
one credit cards.
Nele (01:52):
He's at the super bowl.
Samuel stays with a job, okay,and his breakout role wasn't
even until like maybe he waslike 40 something, for it was
like jungle fever.
That was like his breakout role.
So it's just kind of like sam,you stay working and he looks
really good he does look reallygood but to your point, um,
(02:15):
about the, just the artistry,right?
um, you know, kendrick, he has abalance, right?
It's like, okay, I'm gonna giveyou a little history and
artistry, but this train isultimately going to pettyville,
um, and I appreciate thedestination.
So I did kind of look up, um,what some of the symbolism was,
(02:39):
you know talk about a little bit.
So this is from doublexmagcom,and so, first of all, he started
off alright.
I don't know if you noticed.
He had a little A chain.
It was like a small A, a minor.
Soph (02:54):
Oh, my God.
Nele (02:56):
He already started.
The petty, petty king, also thecolors, the red, white and blue
representing the flag, ofcourse, and America was built by
us Also.
What else was there?
So again, just the formationsthat was on the field.
(03:19):
In the end he had like thetic-tac-toe like game over.
In the end he had thetic-tac-toe game over and then
he also had it looked like acontroller, like you're playing
for a video game, and then it'sjust, like you know, to Kendrick
.
This whole thing is a game.
We're not ready for it.
Soph (03:38):
It is a game.
Nele (03:39):
Yes, and of course, samuel L Jackson dressed up as um
Uncle Sam, right, kenji wasgetting deep.
But I also have a little bit ofcommentary on that.
You know I have to.
You know I have.
It's not a soapbox, but we needto stay woke, all right, but
(04:00):
we'll get to that.
But yeah, that was some of thesymbolism that was in there.
Now, as a whole, because I am afan, I didn't really like the
set list.
I felt, given the occasion andthe crowd and the crowd it
(04:22):
wasn't really.
It didn't get popping untilkind of the end.
Honestly, even I was kind oflike I don't know about this.
Soph (04:34):
You know I think he kind of went in there knowing like
that's not what it was about.
Nele (04:39):
Yeah, and you know he plays games.
Okay, because he was teasing,he would play a little bit like
ding ding, ding ding.
Oh, I can't play it.
Ding ding, ding ding, becausethey're going to sue.
Ding ding ding, like, stopplaying games, kendrick.
Stop playing games, because youknow there's this whole thing
about whether or not he wasgoing to perform that song,
(04:59):
because Drake was suing.
Soph (05:02):
He was suing Everybody.
Nele (05:04):
Drake was suing.
Sit down, you have no room inhip hop.
Just go somewhere.
Soph (05:11):
Can I just say, like the irony of it, right, like, cause
people tend to say, like Drakeis Drake is false.
He's not really for the culture, right, he's this guy from
Canada, he was under grassy,he's an actor and, like this,
hip hop is another persona, it'sanother role that he's playing,
right, and the irony of himbeing called out for that and
(05:31):
ensuing over a rap beat which ispart of hip-hop culture, to me
that's wild.
Nele (05:38):
It's like, instead of putting the pen to the paper,
it's like I'm going to go get mylawyer.
Soph (05:45):
That's the Canadian in him right.
That's the Nebraska.
That's that side of him.
Nele (05:52):
That ain't hip hop.
I want to talk about thefashions a little bit Now.
I was just highly distracted byKendrick's bell bottoms.
I don't know if this is an LAthing.
I mean, kendrick got a littlecake back there, just a little
(06:18):
grab on dude, just yank.
Oh my God, I'm just saying hewas just skipping around, I was
a little bit distracted.
I was a little bit distracted.
Soph (06:25):
I was distracted because I see your toe items.
Yes, I was like.
Nele (06:30):
I was like these flares.
Soph (06:34):
I was like Kendrick is me in 2003.
Nele (06:39):
You got them LEI bell-bottom jeans Everybody was
rocking.
Soph (06:45):
Oh my God bell-bottom jeans.
Nele (06:47):
Everybody was right, oh my god, yes, yes.
And also there was symbolism inhis jacket as well.
It had the word Gloria on it,which is one of the songs he did
with SZA on his album as well.
So that was cool a sizzle.
It's great in her red.
She did her thing, of course,and Serena, look, I want to be
(07:10):
like Serena when I grow up.
Here's why I want to be likeSerena.
I want to be able to be pettyTo my ex On a national Platform.
Okay, actually, sza's alsoDrake's ex too, so two of his
exes.
This is his ex as well.
Yeah, they date or messedaround or something.
(07:30):
He says some shady stuff.
He's been saying shady stuffabout her, so it's just like to
come together for like a pettytrifecta is great.
Oh, I want to be like Serenawhen I grew up.
Okay, I mean, look, who knowswhat may happen with?
No, I know what's going tohappen with this.
This is how it ends podcast,and I'm definitely going to make
(07:52):
sure, every once in a while, Ican be petty to the men that
I've dated.
However, I don't know if I'llbe able to do it the way Serena
did it, you know.
So Drake and Serena dated right,they actually dated, yes and
then, he was saying how herhusband is a groupie or whatever
(08:18):
, and it's just like, well,shouldn't your spouse be your
groupie?
I'm glad Serena didn't waitaround for him when he got
married, had her babies and justis doing her thing.
And who is it Stephen A Smithtalking about?
Oh, like I would divorce mywife, that I would divorce
Serena Over her.
(08:40):
After doing that no one askedyou.
So, yeah, I appreciated that aswell.
Um, overall, I thought it was agood performance towards the
end.
At least kendrick lamar wasn'tlike the guy that you dated for
(09:01):
a few months and then whenyou're like, where, where, what
are we?
He's like oh, I'm not your man.
He was like, look, I'm going totease you, but we're going to
commit, we're going to do this,and he definitely did it.
You know it was great I washere for I was very much shocked
to hear a whole stadium say aminor, all together.
(09:28):
Was Drake at home?
Was Drake at a Superbowl party?
Soph (09:33):
I mean, I'm pretty sure he was not at a Superbowl party,
like I'm pretty sure he was homealone cause he knew what was
coming.
I was trying to look to see,like, what his response was to
this.
First of all, these are twogrown-ass men feuding.
I need to say that again.
I don't really condone this.
I'm middle-aged, middle-agedand it's been going back.
(09:53):
This is so middle school.
It's been going back for awhile.
I was watching this comedianand he was saying because Drake
went after Pusha T, yes, andafter Pusha T, yes, and after
Pusha T was like well, you got ababy.
Nele (10:09):
Like leave people alone.
Leave people alone when youhave a hidden child, possibly
children but so I try to do alittle.
Soph (10:20):
You know, try to look into this beef a little.
I didn't really do a good job.
I was kind of of I was Ihalf-assed it, but so there was.
It was like just one day wherethey were like just releasing
all these back and forth, backand forth.
Nele (10:31):
Yeah, there was a point in time where, like they were
dropping one by one and then itwas like, hey, you drop one, I
drop one.
And then all of a sudden,kendra's's like
ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba,kendra's, just like one after
the other, after the other.
You couldn't keep up after awhile.
Now, I got in there after itwas long after the beef had
(10:52):
happened.
But just watching reactionvideos, people breaking things
down, and it was like it was asurprise, and you're just like,
okay, like how many more bulletscan Drake take?
But see, drake started it bygoing in on his family.
See, like that's what you get.
That's what you get.
Soph (11:14):
We don't do the family.
Nele (11:17):
Family is sacred, but yeah , and so I guess Drake is also
not on social media as well,because everybody's in on this.
The elderly pets just blackwhite.
There was this one like videoof these Indian women just black
(11:38):
white.
There was this one video ofthese Indian women dancing to
Squabble Up.
Soph (11:44):
He cannot, you can't escape it.
This is not like the 90s beef,the 90s beef it's really
contained, because you don'thave social media spreading
stuff Nowadays.
You just can't escape it.
Yeah, you can't escape it.
People who are not fans, whodon't even listen to rap, this
they'll know about.
Nele (12:04):
Yes, yes.
And so I mean is this the end?
Is this how this beef ends?
Shameless plug.
Soph (12:15):
I wonder, if he said game over, is that like saying he's
done with this, or I mean?
Nele (12:23):
It has to be with the Grammys and with this, like it's
done.
Soph (12:28):
But I mean it's done, but the song is.
That's one of those songs, thatit's, it's just.
Nele (12:37):
Yeah, drake didn't say anything to anybody because he
could just be like, not like,right and even like something is
wrong with Kendrick, becauseyou know there's a part where he
goes, say Drake, I hear youlike him young, but he like made
sure to like look the camera inthe eye, like say Drake, like
(12:58):
he was just very, I know you arelooking and here's the thing,
the part of the with the youngmoney, that's what Drake was a
part of, or whatever.
Like they were crying.
What about?
What about New Orleans?
What about Lil Wayne?
Lil Wayne should perform Firstof all.
Ain't nobody gonna see?
No, lil Wayne should performFirst of all.
Ain't nobody going to see?
No, lil Wayne.
Lil Wayne cannot perform.
(13:19):
I'd rather see a broomstickwith two lock extensions
attached to it on a stage thansee Lil Wayne perform at the
Super Bowl.
Okay, lil Wayne is more thancracked out Like it's sad.
Soph (13:34):
For real.
This man is always, is alwayslike high off of something and I
can't stand his mama Like Idon't like his mama.
I don't understand him.
I don't know who writes for him, but it just never makes sense.
Nele (13:46):
I know like a few Lil Wayne songs here and there.
You know, but you know, andthose who are rap aficionados
Say, like you know, he's one ofthe I don't know goats, but he's
up there Do you listen to hislyrics?
Soph (14:00):
Do you listen to his lyrics?
Nele (14:02):
I don't know girl, as mama say, I don't know about that
boom bam pop, I don't know aboutall of that I'm in a foolish
Little Because I can't see thebone and he has so many.
Soph (14:18):
What'd you find?
The one I was thinking about,real G's move in silence like
lasagna, I mean that's actuallykind of like.
Nele (14:30):
the G in lasagna is silent .
I mean, that's kind of clever,wasn't this?
I'm not hello, mr Shit G andlasagna is silent.
I mean, that's kind of clever,wasn't it something about shit
in?
Soph (14:37):
the bowl.
Nele (14:38):
Hello, mr Shit, I'm the toilet bowl or something like
that from him, something likethat.
Soph (14:44):
Yeah, the G and lasagna is silent, but there are so many
other.
I love that.
That don't go hard, man.
Nele (14:51):
I don't know.
I kind of like that one, but Imean, people doing all this
Almost got my eye.
People doing all this whiningwhen it's like I think I looked
it up the only other time theyhad the Super Bowl in New
Orleans was like 2013, I guessso was anyone campaigning for
(15:18):
lil wayne like back then.
Soph (15:21):
It's just, this has never happened like this has never
happened, where, like theyannounced train yeah, it is.
I mean, it was his people,though it was his it's it was
little boozy talking about.
Nele (15:35):
Yeah, there's all these Louisiana people.
Boozy, I mean, I loves me, someWipe Me Down.
But you know I could haveenjoyed Juvenile, you know, for
the 99s and the 2000s, you know.
And the Gadget Everybody knewwhat they were, you know.
(15:59):
But yeah, I'm just like, whyall this?
Oh, it's because the Kendrickhate is really real and at first
I thought like maybe he shouldhave incorporated more of like
the Louisiana sound in there.
However, first of all, thepre-show they had a lot of,
(16:22):
exactly.
First of all, they had thepre-show.
They had a lot of like thebands and stuff like that.
And then for the nationalanthem and the Black national
anthem, they had Louisianaartists, baptiste and Lettucey
they sung, and so it's like allright, you know, kendrick
(16:44):
doesn't have to carry the weightof New Orleans on his back.
Soph (16:50):
He doesn't.
No other artists are beingasked to do this.
Nele (16:54):
Yeah, so they're a whole bunch of haters.
Soph (16:58):
We are haters.
I mean who performed Rihannaperformed last year.
Where were?
I don't remember this, I thinkit was.
Nele (17:09):
Usher.
Usher was last year.
Usher was last year I think so,when Ludacris was, and then I
think Rihanna was the yearbefore.
Soph (17:19):
Oh right, because that's when she announced her Bebe.
Nele (17:23):
Yeah, but yeah, my favorite Super Bowl performance
Will always be as controversialas he is Michael Jackson.
It was sometime in the 90, 93,I don't know.
It was definitely like it washeal the world and then he had
(17:44):
like all the people in theaudience with like the faces and
yeah, it was pretty cool Ithink we have to say that when
we talk about an artist yeah,what is it?
Soph (17:57):
Is it Woody Allen?
Mm-hmm?
Woody Allen married hisdaughter yeah, that's, but he's
still out here doing like no one.
No one talks about him like andthey say, well, you know, I
know he's not like no, they justsay like yeah.
It's unfortunate that yourlegacy gets besmirched.
Nele (18:17):
But everyone's like cancel , cancel.
I love you, like this person orwhatever.
Soph (18:21):
I'm kind of that way too.
I don't cancel nobody unless Ifeel like it.
Yeah, I don't care.
The only person I got on thecancel train was Art Kelly.
Nele (18:33):
Yeah, that's just.
And Diddy too.
Oh Diddy, oh my god.
But apparently our cancellationdoes not matter, because the
event I went to February 2ndthey were definitely playing
Diddy, or it was all about theBenjamins, or whatever, and that
song came on like it was hard.
Soph (18:54):
It was all about the Benjamins or whatever and that
song came on, Look it was hard.
Nele (18:58):
It was hard.
They were like the part waslike you, like Wonder Woman with
the beat, huh, like you can'thelp it.
And then there was a part whereI was like Puffy, hold me down
baby.
And all the women were likePuffy, hold me down baby.
Soph (19:10):
Oh, just only female in my crew and I can't See.
See, I can't be there to askhim.
I just found a corner.
Nele (19:21):
It's just like the whole bad boy situation.
Like I remember I was at awedding and they were playing
some Peaches and Cream, like letme tell you what I want to do.
And I was just kind of likethis is not right, oh, like, but
I was like oh, my god, that'slike.
Soph (19:39):
Move your body like a steak, because that's one of my
favorite.
Oh, man, that's like, and thathas like such distinct memories
for me.
Yes, when you were young and atthe were we in college, you
were in college girl at themocha parties.
I definitely remember playingthere, yeah, girl every time I
hear that I was like like yeah,you just like give me a body
(20:02):
like the guilt on your face.
Nele (20:06):
Like that, god will deal me later.
Hell will be waiting for us ohman so, um, I do want to get on
(20:30):
my soapbox just a little bitokay girl so here's the thing,
right, maybe because I'm now, Idon't care so much about
celebrities and I don't have asmuch like I appreciate them.
You're an artist, you perform,this is what you do.
Not everything that you do isnecessarily for the culture.
Soph (20:55):
Right.
Nele (20:56):
And people are talking about, oh, what Kendrick Lamar
did and what it means, and blah,blah, blah.
And I'm like, yeah, but he isperforming NFL.
You know, at the end of the day, it's done, we go back to our
(21:20):
lives.
Trump just outlawed paperstraws like this is our life.
And so there was a quote oninstagram which kind of summed
up how I felt um, really well,it's um by her name, is
asiatucoach and um, she saidthis kendrick's performance was
absolutely creative.
Creative as F, brilliant andBlack representation, but not
(21:41):
revolution, as a revolutionwon't be televised, as Gil Scott
Heron said, which shout out toGil Scott Heron, I have his
album.
One can't be a capitalist andpro-Black Capitalism requires
Black exploitation.
Kendrick's performancebenefited both Jay-Z, a
billionaire, and the NFL.
For them to regain the Blackaudience, a Black entertainer
(22:03):
performing at a known anti-Blackand misogynistic company while
calling out playing the game isironic AF and that's the truth.
And so I was really here for,okay, the pettiness of it all
and, yes, the symbolism is dopeand it's important, but at the
end of the day, it's the.
Soph (22:23):
Super Bowl, like nothing is really being done, like how
does it better our lives?
Nele (22:30):
Yeah, Sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off.
Go ahead.
Soph (22:33):
How does it contribute to the Black cause?
Like I don't.
I agree with you too, and Iremember thinking, even as this
whole thing was.
This is why I never I'm like,I'm not really, because this
benefits the record industryfirst.
Whoever MGM, I think, owns them, make a shit ton of money from
this.
Whatever Kendrick is making andDrake is making, they're making
(22:56):
way more than that.
It's still exploitation.
They get a piece of the pie,but they're still being used as
any other artists are being usedto get our money.
Nele (23:09):
Yeah, I just think.
Black people, we can't keep onbeing bought by symbolism.
Oh, this is symbolic, this iswhat this represents, but, at
the end of the day, both men Imean even kanjik lamar, as much
of a fan I am of his like hedoesn't really practice what he
preaches all the time we can'tbe easily bought.
(23:29):
Yes, this is entertaining.
Why can't we just accept thingsfor what they are?
Um, at the end of the day, he,he is a capitalist, he is an
entertainer, and the NFL for theSuper Bowl, they don't pay you.
However, with the exposure andhis tour coming up, he's going
to be paid tenfold.
His streams have gone upsignificantly since the Super
(23:50):
Bowl, and so it's a win for him,yes, but it's not a win for us.
No, so they're entertainers andwe take them as that yes,
appreciate it for the shadinessand pettiness that it was,
because that's what I was herefor.
But again, like I think Iquoted before that, uh, drake
(24:15):
said kendrick's rapping likehe's always trying to feed the
slaves or whatever, which isexactly what he did at the Super
Bowl and you know he did puthis.
Sometimes it's okay just to bea conscious entertainer.
(24:38):
But yeah, that's it just.
It's okay to be a consciousentertainer, but you're not
really doing much for us as awhole they're not.
They're not pushing anybody like, they're not moving anything
forward no, like, yeah, like ifhe didn't do the Super Bowl, if
(25:01):
he turned down the Super Bowl,that would have been more of a
statement if you asked me.
But I can't tell people what todo with their money.
My bed is next to my sink.
I can't tell people what to do,but I appreciate it for what it
is, but appreciate it for whatit is.
Soph (25:18):
Appreciate for what it is, that's it.
Nele (25:21):
Yeah Well, that's all I have to say about that.
Any last words about theperformance?
Soph (25:31):
It was entertaining.
I like that he looked at thecamera directly.
Nele (25:39):
Yes.
Soph (25:41):
But this was just.
This was pettiness.
Nele (25:45):
Yes.
Soph (25:45):
On the grand stage Definitely.
Nele (25:48):
And before we go, I want to give a shout out to my auntie
, because she was definitelygiving Kendrick all the shade
for the performance.
She was like what is this?
She went and took a hot shower.
My other auntie, like I don'tknow, she made food or washed
(26:10):
the dishes, I don't know, theyweren't here for it at all.
But I told her that I will makeher a Kendrick Lamar fan.
Just yet I sent her PoeticJustice, the music video.
We're gonna start her off slow,but she will be a Kendrick
Lamar fan soon enough.
Soph (26:30):
I've never, I don't know a lot of his music.
I kind of brushed up.
Nele (26:36):
He's not for everybody, but he's gonna be for my auntie,
so she'll appreciate it I dohope drake gets professional
help, maybe because I feel likesomething like this.
Soph (26:51):
It's a bit like I won't say it's bullying, because he
started it, or you know.
Whoever started, I don't know,but they were both kind of added
until someone was like, well,I'm better than you, so he took
it from me.
I do think, though, to havethis everywhere in the whole
(27:11):
that's tough.
A minor like a whole stadium.
Nele (27:16):
Like is the song accusing you of being a you know.
Soph (27:22):
Yeah, and it's.
And they do that because youknow, just if you look at his
history, like, yeah, like girl.
Nele (27:31):
I took that deep dive and it is shifty as hell.
I don't know how you canexplain some of these things.
Soph (27:36):
It's weird, it's weird.
Yeah, I just know the BillyBobby Brown thing.
This is like a 12-year-old girland you're fangirling over them
.
This is weird, but I think,though, this could be traumatic.
(27:56):
Yeah, how do you show your face?
Like you have a whole body ofpeople just laughing at you,
like it's international, likeit's just.
Nele (28:12):
I'm sure they're saying A minor in another language.
Soph (28:16):
How do you say A minor?
In Spanish A menos I don't knowA know a menos imagine him
showing up somewhere and that'swhat people and I'm sure it's
happened I'm sure it hashappened.
Yeah, I feel bad for him alittle bit like I do feel bad
for him, you know like, even ifhe did start it like I do.
But you know why he got all hismoney to keep him warm.
Nele (28:39):
Yeah, just dry your tears with a $100 bill, you know.
Soph (28:44):
Again.
The crazy thing is he can'tescape anywhere.
You know, like back then withRat Beef, if it got too hot, we
could.
Nele (28:53):
I don't know go somewhere else maybe.
Speaking of hot, the block ishot, the block is hot, hot, hot
I.
The block is hot, the block ishot, hot, hot.
I think that's Lil Wayne.
The block is hot, the block ishot, hot.
It's up there, all right, y'all.
Well, thank you for tuning into this special episode.
(29:16):
If you like the vibe, pleasemake sure to like, comment and
subscribe.
Until next time, deuces.
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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.