What began as a mere insult has now secured its place in Super Bowl history. Perhaps an even more pressing question than which team would emerge victorious between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles was whether Kendrick Lamar would perform his controversial, now Grammy-winning track “Not Like Us” during this year's halftime show.

The definitive answer, as we now know, is affirmative.

On Sunday, Lamar electrified the audience at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans with a dynamic setlist that included: “GNX," “Squabble Up,” “Humble,” “DNA,” “Euphoria,” “Man at the Garden," “Peakaboo,” “Luther,” “All the Stars,” “Not Like Us,” and “TV Off.” The Pulitzer Prize-winning artist also surprised fans with special guests including SZA, DJ Mustard, tennis legend Serena Williams, and Hollywood icon Samuel L. Jackson.

Kendrick Lamar vs Drake continues

The debate continues regarding whether Kendrick Lamars halftime performance was the most outstanding musical presentation at the year's premier sporting event. However, a significant number of fans assert that he effectively "defeated" his competitor, Drake, during the show. While delivering an electrifying performance and triggering the “Not Like Us” alarm, Lamar took another jab at Drake, stating, “I want to play their favourite song, but you know they love to sue.”

In response, the legal team representing the “Hotline Bling” artist issued a statement concerning the ongoing legal dispute related to the song.

“UMG is pretending to be a defender of artistic freedom by labeling its actions as merely ‘entertainment’, yet there is nothing entertaining about pedophilia or child abuse in reality. We are confident that the evidence we will ultimately present at trial, including information we have already gathered and continue to receive since filing the lawsuit, will reveal UMG’s blatant prioritization of its own corporate profits and executive bonuses over the welfare of its exclusively signed artists and the truth,” the legal team stated prior to the halftime show, according to the New York Times.

Drake had previously filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group, which also represents Kendrick Lamar, regarding the release of “Not Like Us,” claiming that its promotion was defamatory. Although Lamar was not named as a defendant in the case, the lawsuit alleged that UMG advocated for the song's promotion despite it perpetuating a “malicious narrative” that Drake is a pedophile.

Fans react to Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl performance

Internet users quickly took to X/Twitter to express their opinions on the situation. One user remarked, “Oh, don’t let Drake be finished like that on the Super Bowl stage.” Numerous additional reactions followed, criticizing the Canadian rapper with remarks such as “Drake is being humiliated on live national television,” “OH DRAKE, YOUR TIME IS UP,” and “Kendrick surpasses Drake” dominating discussions on the micro-blogging site.

Kendrick Lamar-Goku comparisons shoot up

As Lamar's impressive display of intensity reminiscent of Super Saiyan transformations surged once more, online users were drawn back to comparisons with the iconic anime character Goku. In January, K. Dot disclosed that he drew inspiration from the Dragon Ball Z hero for his GNX album. He remarked, "When I heard the beat, I just felt like Goku or something," referring to his track "Hey Now." Expanding on this, he shared with the Recording Academy, "Yes, when I encounter certain elements in your beats, it evokes a different side of me, prompting me to express whatever I felt."

Anime streaming powerhouse Crunchyroll has also endorsed Team Kendrick in anticipation of the Super Bowl. This endorsement references the "Mustard" meme, which alludes to Lamar's mention of the renowned producer DJ Mustard in the song "tv off."

Check out Drake memes on X after Kendrick Lamar's halftime show:

Read Also: Junaid Khan-Khushi Kapoor Starrer ‘Loveyapa’ Earns ₹4.25 Crore by Day 3

"Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!"