K-Dot Halftime Show

[BarfanyShart]

I loved it. And I think it's cool that this was the first one of these shows that was culturally relevant to my kids. I might have liked the Rhianna show and the Hip-Hop 50th show better, because it was more geared toward my generation, but the NFL really hit the mark with the next generation on this show.

 

[superheavyfunk]

I’ve truthfully never watched whatever game they play at the Super Bowl (it’s like, sportsball or something, right?) but I’ve seen a dozen halftime shows. This one is right up there with the Prince one for me

 

[The Bass Nerd]

Huge Kendrick fan! but this was me...

 

[Killing Floor]

I like Kendrick a lot. The show was good. Vocal way back behind the background so I think that could have been better. Loved the set and the the not so subtle message. He’s so smart.

 

[Killing Floor]

Huge Kendrick fan! but this was me...

I don’t think there’s guitar or bass guitar on GNX.

Thundercat played on about half of Pimp and a little on Damn. IIRC there is only one or 2 songs in his last 3 albums that has guitar.

 

[CoughSyrup]

I don't think anyone will ever top Prince's halftime performance, but Kendrick's was one for the books—easily in the top five.

 

[JonathanPDX]

I loved that he wasn't doing a greatest hits parade, or trying to sell records to white conservative dudes who have never listened to him before. He was celebrating where he's at now more than where he's been, and making a big statement about Black culture. I would have liked to hear Alright or something else off To Pimp A Butterfly, but it was still a great set.

I agree that the vocals should have been up, or the backing track brought down a little. I don't think anyone will ever top Prince, but Kendrick was better than most of the acts from the last 10-15 years.

 

[NeonVomit]

I loved that he wasn't doing a greatest hits parade, or trying to sell records to white conservative dudes who have never listened to him before. He was celebrating where he's at now more than where he's been, and making a big statement about Black culture. I would have liked to hear Alright or something else off To Pimp A Butterfly, but it was still a great set.

I agree that the vocals should have been up, or the backing track brought down a little. I don't think anyone will ever top Prince, but Kendrick was better than most of the acts from the last 10-15 years.

I don't think anyone will top Prince in any regard.

I didn't watch the game because it was on at stupid o clock eastern European time. I'm just glad the Chiefs didn't win for the same reason I'm glad whenever Real Madrid don't win the Champions League over here, plus I'm not even entirely sure what the rules of American football are, whenever I think I have it figured out something comes along to confuse me, but it's entertaining enough to watch with company I guess. (I lived and worked in the UK for ten years and still have no idea what the rules of cricket are, so maybe it's just me.)

The halftime show was pretty good, Kendrick is a solid performer even if it's not really my type of music.

 

[JonathanPDX]

The halftime show was pretty good, Kendrick is a solid performer even if it's not really my type of music.

Back in 2002 I took my first trip to one of Victor Wooten's camps, and he said "If I only listened to music I like, I'd be missing half the picture." That always stuck with me, so as I got older I've tried to explore lots of music I didn't really understand earlier in life. Being a white guy in a white town, the storytelling of hip hop never hit home. I had to study the music, the culture, and the history to get it.

Everyone should check out To Pimp A Butterfly, it's such an incredible record on so many levels, and even if you just want to hear cool bass stuff, you can't beat Thundercat!

Kendrick always has a vision, but he doesn't always spell it out for you. I'm really interested to see people who know more about hip hop culture and symbolism break down his Halftime performance and dig deeper into the layers he put on the stage today.

 

[five7]

I was with a large group of people from 3 to 70 years old and no one knew anything about him. Tried watching and listening but just didn't get the message or concept.

 

[Element Zero]

I… severely disliked it lol. I have a STRONG disdain for modern rap. I grew up with Snoop. Dre. Ice Cube. Pac. Biggie. E-40. Do Or Die. THAT’S the gold standard. The measuring stick that all things rap and hip hop are up against.

I dont care about the message. I don’t care about the packaging. Lamar’s art doesn’t move me in an emotional way one bit.

 

[RichardW]

I'm a geezer and stopped listening to rap past Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five. I recognized Kendrick's talent, but honestly could not tell one word from the other, or one song from the other. And this whole "diss" thing between him and Drake. I mean, what are they, 12-years-old?

 

[TheArchitect]

Back in 2002 I took my first trip to one of Victor Wooten's camps, and he said "If I only listened to music I like, I'd be missing half the picture."

Unfortunately the vocals were so buried I still didn't get to listen to it. This seems to be a thing in rap music. its not the first time I have heard that issue. One would think in a genre where what your saying is the key thing, they would make sure its right out front..

 

[TheArchitect]

I'm a geezer and stopped listening to rap past Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five. I recognized Kendrick's talent, but honestly could not tell one word from the other, or one song from the other. And this whole "diss" thing between him and Drake. I mean, what are they, 12-years-old?

The diss thing goes back decades. Ice cube / No Vaseline / NWA is the first one I recall. As for the rest.. us crusty white guys are not allowed to talk about that.... If we do we are racists / haters / take your pick negative adjective.

 

[InhumanResource]

I like Kendrick a lot. The show was good. Vocal way back behind the background so I think that could have been better. Loved the set and the the not so subtle message. He’s so smart.

I didn’t understand anything about it in the moment, but now that I’ve read about it I get some of the things he was saying and appreciate that portion of what he did. It isn’t anywhere near something I would choose to listen to or go see, though.

 

[JohnnyBottom]

The pre game show blew the half time show away imho. Ken probably said relevant words, couldnt tell if complaining, preaching, praising or whatever, but for me its about music and musicians jamming and at least I couldnt see that. Guess Ill have to look it up to be hip.

 

[TheArchitect]

I didn’t understand anything about it in the moment, but now that I’ve read about it I get some of the things he was saying and appreciate that portion of what he did. It isn’t anywhere near something I would choose to listen to or go see, though.

If you have to read about it after to understand it, the message is not being delivered very clearly. All they had to do was turn the damn mic up

 

[InhumanResource]

If you have to read about it after to understand it, the message is not being delivered very clearly. All they had to do was turn the damn mic up

I mean I was six beers deep at a Super Bowl party so it wasn’t my best critical thinking either.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Beats me... I watched the puppy bowl.
Haven't watched a half time since McCartney.

 

[charliethomas]

I don’t think there’s guitar or bass guitar on GNX.

Thundercat played on about half of Pimp and a little on Damn. IIRC there is only one or 2 songs in his last 3 albums that has guitar.

Reincarnated from GNX has a sick bass line. Fun to play.