Super Bowl LIX halftime show: What we could hear (and not hear) from Kendrick Lamar

Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans is less than a month away, and Kendrick Lamars momentum isnt slowing down heading into his halftime-show performance.

His 2024 success was sparked by a long-standing feud with Drake that exploded with a well-publicized back-and-forth rap battle.

Lamars biggest track in the beef, Not Like Us, became a Grammy-nominated hit.

Advertisement Lamar released his latest album GNX, in November.

He also announced his Grand National Tour with singer-songwriter SZA that starts in April.

With that said, The Athletic is back with an updated prediction of the songs that will and will not be performed by the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper during halftime of the Super Bowl at Caesars Superdome.

Past set lists from featured artists have included anywhere from 12 to 15 songs during timed shows that have lasted up to 15 minutes.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kendrick Lamar (@kendricklamar) Not Like Us Will the NFL allow Lamar to perform some of his most antagonistic lyrics aimed at Drake? Probably not.

Drake sued Universal Music Group (not Lamar) for defamation and harassment for promoting a song with punchlines involving accusations of pedophilia.

But Lamar is creative enough to still get one of the most played songs of the back half of 2024 into the show.

Will we see the crowd fill in the lyrics for him? Chance its played: 100 percent tv off Walk in New Orleans with the etiquette of L.A., yelling Mustarrrrrd! Lamar says that in the song.

Seems like an ideal way to walk onto the stage.

Chance its played: 100 percent squabble up Debbie Debs When I Hear Music is sampled in the track, and the original beat still hits more than 40 years later.

Its a song you can dance to.

Some of Lamars critics claim he doesnt make music that people can move to, but this song goes against that notion.

Chance its played: 95 percent luther This repackaging of Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynns version of If This World Were Mine features SZA and has become a hit.

Given the upcoming tour, SZA figures to be a key part of the halftime show.

Chance its played: 90 percent View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kendrick Lamar (@kendricklamar) Like That This song, featuring Future and Metro Boomin, reached No.

1 on the Billboard Hot 100 .

Lamars verse kicked off one of the biggest rap battles ever.

The sample of Rodney-O & Joe Cooleys Everlasting Bass helped make this song a hit.

Chance its played: 90 percent 30 for 30 This song is on SZAs album, Lana, which is a reissue of her 2022 album, SOS, featuring Lamar.

What better way to showcase another potential collaboration from the upcoming tour.

Advertisement Chance its played: 80 percent All the Stars This is another option if Lamar wants to add SZA to the set.

Chance its played: 75 percent Humble This could have been the option for Lamar when he performed at Super Bowl LVI, but he went with Alright as part of the show that featured Dr.

Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J.

Blige and 50 Cent.

Its one of Lamars most popular songs and it was used as the theme for the 2017 NBA Finals .

Chance its played: 85 percent DNA This is one of Lamars biggest songs from the DAMN album, which some argue is Lamars best work.

Chance its played: 75 percent Money Trees Jay Rocks verse on this song is one of his best.

Given the important role Jay Rock has played in Lamars career, it would be a great way to thank him on a large stage.

Chance its played: 60 percent Swimming Pools (Drank) In a city known for its cocktails, this song might be a great addition.

The chorus is catchy, too.

Chance its played: 60 percent King Kunta To Pimp a Butterfly is an album that still gets play from Lamars fans.

King Kunta is one of the more popular songs from that project.

Chance its played: 55 percent heart pt.

6 This song tells the story of the rise of Lamar and his former label, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), and features a sample of the 1996 SWV song, Use Your Heart.

SWVs Lelee Lyons posted on Threads that it would be a treat if they performed the song with Lamar at the Super Bowl.

Lamar clearly loves classic songs, and this would be a great way to salute 1990s R&B.

Chance its played: 50 percent Family Ties Lamar joined his cousin, Baby Keem, on this song off Keems The Melodic Blue album.

A perfect opportunity to showcase his family.

Chance its played: 50 percent Collard Greens This was a hit off ScHoolboy Qs Oxymoron album and another chance to get TDE on a big stage.

Advertisement Chance its played: 40 percent B-, Dont Kill My Vibe I am a sinner, whos probably going to sin again.

Lamar may only have to drop this part of the song.

Its popular enough to his fans where they could handle the rest.

Chance its played: 40 percent Alright Given Lamar performed this during Super Bowl LVI, hed have to add a new twist to make it fit in New Orleans.

Chance its played: 30 percent Euphoria This song predicts how Drake was going to respond in their rap battle pretty accurately ...

but I dont believe were going to get an overdose of Drake-bashing.

Chance its played: 30 percent Mona Lisa This would be a quick way to gain goodwill in New Orleans, by giving Lil Wayne time on stage for this song on his Tha Carter V album, which featured Lamar.

It helps that Wayne reiterated there isnt any animosity between the two after Lamar mentioned Wayne on wacced out murals, the opening track on the GNX album ( hard work let Lil Wayne down ).

Lamar grew up a Wayne fan, but Wayne once was vocal in his disappointment over not being selected for the Super Bowl halftime show.

Roc Nation, which partners with the NFL, is very secretive about the surprises for the show so we cant rule out a Wayne appearance.

Chance its played: 15 percent wacced out murals Imagine Wayne appearing on stage after the hard work let Lil Wayne down lyric? That would be an amazing moment.

Chance its played: 10 percent Meet the Grahams Nope.

Not happening.

Lamar will not kill the party vibe with this dark song.

Chance its played: 5 percent Bad Blood Taylor Swift collaborated with Lamar on this song in 2015.

Swift, however, might be in a suite watching her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce , play in New Orleans.

If thats the case, theres no way she could quietly leave to prepare for a performance.

Advertisement Chance its played: 0 percent Poetic Justice This song is a collaboration with Drake.

Lamar and Drake together? After everything that has happened? Plus, Drakes scheduled to be in Australia on tour.

Theres no way this song is being performed.

Chance its played: minus-10,000 percent (Top photo: Dave Creaney / Austin American-Statesman / USA Today).

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