This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Erika Gay. Find her on Instagram at @erikag0503. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Whether you are a fan of the NFL or not we know that the Super Bowl is one of the biggest events and most televised game each year. From the party foods, gatherings with friends, funny commercials, and exciting halftime shows, this is one event that many people are anticipating. Very soon we will see Kendrick Lamar performing at the halftime show bringing out a show to remember for all of America. To learn more about the road to Super Bowl LIX, guest stars in attendance, music industry drama, and more, keep reading!
A Football Battle
Most of us have a favorite NFL team or player we always root for but not many zillennials are huge football fans and pay attention to the regular games and road to the Super Bowl. I happen to be someone who does and I enjoyed watching the games, even winning some money and rooting on my team to the playoffs. The Wild Card round concluded mid-January where the twelve teams battled out for the win to continue one. Then the top eight continued on to the Divisional Round, and finally, the top four battled for the win at the Conference Championship. This led to the teams we will be seeing on February 9th in New Orleans which are The Kansas City Chiefs and Philidelphia Eagles. A super sequel, these teams are meeting again to win the ring for the second time, the first in 2023. The result of this game would make history either way, The Chiefs could be the first team ever in history to win three Super Bowls in a row. If the Eagles take home the trophy that will mean the first ring for quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley. I am rooting for the underdogs but just hoping for a good game and an even better halftime performance.
Drama In The Music Industry
If you are a fan of music, pop culture, and hip-hop specifically you may have heard about the drama in the industry surrounding the decision to select Kendrick Lamar to perform at halftime over Lil Wayne and other artists. He was selected by ROC Nation and Jay-Z which is the music label that signed huge stars like Rihanna, J.Cole, Big Sean, Meg The Stallion, and more. Many people were speculating that he was chosen as a slight to Lil Wayne which created tension between the two. This was even mentioned in Kendricks’s newest album ‘GNX’ in the song “Wacked out Murals”, where he says, “Used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud, Irony I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down..Won the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulate me…”. Referring to his recent success being the reason he was chosen to perform over Wayne. This music beef was squashed in an interview with Lil Wayne where he expressed he was okay with the decision and wished him good luck on his performance. Kendrick is a very talented artist and performer who has been thriving with his recent albums, features, and concerts. I think the choice for him to perform was a great one and he will not disappoint his fans.
Kendrick Cultural Reset Collaboration
Kendrick is known for his West Coast roots, being from Compton and his songs paying homage to L.A. His performances are very empowering to brown and Black people all over the country, especially back in Los Angeles. Lamar is also very inspiring with his outfits and street-style looks he wears on his album covers or even at his performances. His style and pop culture influence on fashion have led him to collaborate with Latin designer Willy Chavarria for a Super Bowl-themed line ahead of his performance. The apparel includes hoodies, gym shorts, and other athletic pieces tying into the NFL and sporty aesthetic. These items have just been released and are available for purchase on Kendrick’s website, Mitchell & Ness, and Fanatics. Chavarria and Kendrick linked up previously in 2023 with his debut of “Not Like Us” before he made his debut at Paris Fashion Week. The fashion industry is a combination of all things pop culture, art, movies, music, and more so this idea is great to see. This project is a great cultural collaboration and sheds light on L.A. streetwear on Hispanic designers in the industry.
Sza Making An Appearance
What is a Super Bowl performance without an exciting guest star to surprise the fans watching? One of the best performances I have seen was so iconic because of all the guest stars that showed out, including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, Mary J. Blige, Kenrick, and 50 Cent. This performance was dedicated to the West Coast legends and culture. What could possibly top that? That is what we were wondering for this upcoming show because Kendrick has performed with many other rappers and artists over the years for his albums so there were many possibilities for who he would choose to bring on. Only about a week ago he came out with a video that was released on Apple Music where he subtly announced that SZA, the hit R&B artist would be his guest star. She has been featured on his latest album GNX and all the way back to 2018 with their hit song together “All The Stars”. They have a rich history of complementing each other in their music and performance. Two great artists at the halftime show is something to look forward to and I believe that expectations will be exceeded with their chosen songs, outfits, and choreography.
The wait for Super Bowl LIX is almost over and the most anticipated halftime show will bring out Kenrick Lamar, SZA, and possibly more stars for a great performance. The top two teams in the nation will battle it out for the win and to take home the Lombardi trophy. Stylish athletic apparel with a collaboration of Kendrick and Willy Chavarria can be purchased ahead of the big game. And musical performances from Kendrick featuring SZA will be turning up the volume on all TVs!
Let us know who you want to win or what song you want to hear most at halftime!
Leave a Reply