The One Word Kendrick Lamar Censored: Inside The 'Not Like Us' Super Bowl LIX Halftime Controversy

The 2025 Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show in New Orleans delivered one of the most politically and culturally charged performances in the event's history, centered entirely around the inclusion of Kendrick Lamar’s seismic Drake diss track, "Not Like Us." Fans and industry insiders alike were on the edge of their seats, wondering if the Compton rapper would dare to bring the most brutal song of the year to the world's biggest stage. The answer was a resounding yes, but with one crucial, self-imposed lyrical change that spoke volumes about the pressure from the NFL, FOX, and the ongoing legal drama surrounding the historic rap beef.

The performance, which took place on February 9, 2025, cemented "Not Like Us" as a cultural phenomenon, driving the track back to the top of the charts and reigniting the debate over censorship and artistic freedom in mainstream media. The decision to perform the Grammy-winning song, which became the unofficial anthem of the Drake-Kendrick Lamar feud, was a bold move that dominated the post-game conversation even more than the football itself. It was a calculated risk that paid off, but not without a strategic omission from the track's most inflammatory verse.

Kendrick Lamar: Full Biography and Profile

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, known professionally as Kendrick Lamar (and formerly as K. Dot), is widely regarded as one of the most influential and greatest rappers of his generation. His artistry is celebrated for its deep lyrical complexity, narrative storytelling, and profound social commentary.

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• Full Name: Kendrick Lamar Duckworth
• Born: June 17, 1987
• Age (as of 2025): 37
• Hometown: Compton, California, U.S.
• Occupation: Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer
• Aliases/Former Names: K. Dot
• Musical Influences: Tupac Shakur, Nas, Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G.
• Record Labels: Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath, Interscope
• Key Albums: good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012), To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), DAMN. (2017), Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers (2022)
• Major Awards: Multiple Grammy Awards (including Best Rap Album), a Pulitzer Prize for Music (for DAMN.)
• Super Bowl Performance: Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show (2025)

The Super Bowl LIX Performance: A Battle on the Biggest Stage

The anticipation for Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show was enormous, specifically because of the buzz surrounding "Not Like Us." The song, released in May 2024, was the final, devastating blow in the highly publicized rap battle with Drake. Its inclusion on the setlist was seen as a final, public victory lap, broadcast to over 100 million viewers globally.

Lamar's 13-minute set, which also featured a surprise appearance from producer Mustard and a performance of his new track "TV Off" (dubbed a "Not Like Us" sequel), was a masterclass in stage control. He strategically teased the song throughout the night, building the tension before finally launching into the iconic, thumping beat. The crowd at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans erupted, singing along to the track's infectious chorus.

However, the decision to perform the track was not without significant behind-the-scenes drama. Reports indicated that the NFL and FOX, the broadcasters, were under immense pressure to censor the more explicit and legally sensitive lyrics. The song's content, which contains harsh accusations against Drake, presented a major legal and moral dilemma for the broadcast network.

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The Crucial Self-Censorship: What Word Was Omitted?

The most significant detail of the "Not Like Us" Super Bowl performance was the one word Kendrick Lamar chose to omit. The song is notorious for a line in the third verse that contains one of the most inflammatory accusations against Drake, referring to a specific and highly sensitive term.

During the Halftime Show, Kendrick Lamar refrained from rapping the word 'pedophile'. This was a direct self-censorship of the line: "You called Future when you didn't see the club, Lil Baby helped you get your first one / And your bodyguard is a pedophile."

While the NFL and broadcast networks routinely censor profanity and explicit sexual references for a family audience, the omission of this specific, highly controversial word was likely a strategic move to mitigate legal risk. The entire song's premise is a defamation minefield, and the inclusion of that specific term could have exposed the rapper, the NFL, and the broadcaster to immediate legal action.

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The Shadow of the Drake Lawsuit

The controversy was amplified by the legal actions taken by Drake. Following the viral success of "Not Like Us," Drake filed a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), the parent label for both artists, alleging that the label favored Kendrick Lamar and allowed the release of defamatory material.

The threat of this lawsuit loomed large over the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Lawyers for the NFL and FOX were reportedly in intense discussions leading up to the event, determining the level of censorship required to avoid becoming entangled in the highly public and legally complex rap feud. The decision to perform the song at all, despite the legal risks, was a powerful statement of artistic defiance. The strategic omission of the single, most legally damning word was the compromise that allowed the performance to proceed.

Topical Authority: The Impact of 'Not Like Us' on Hip-Hop and Culture

The Super Bowl LIX performance did more than just settle a rap beef on a grand scale; it had a measurable, immediate impact on the music industry and pop culture.

Billboard Resurgence and Chart Domination

The most immediate effect was the song’s commercial resurgence. Following the Halftime Show, "Not Like Us" skyrocketed back to the top of the charts, achieving a third non-consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This is a rare feat for any song, let alone a diss track nearly a year after its initial release. The Super Bowl stage proved its unparalleled power as a promotional platform, turning a beef anthem into a timeless cultural hit.

The 'TV Off' Connection and Mustard's Influence

Kendrick Lamar also strategically used the Halftime Show to introduce new material and pay homage to his West Coast roots. The inclusion of "TV Off," a track from his new album GNX, which was co-produced by West Coast legend Mustard, served as a spiritual successor to "Not Like Us." The performance underlined the theme of West Coast unity (Compton, New Orleans, Mustard's LA sound) against the perceived outsider, Drake. The infectious, G-funk-inspired beat of "Not Like Us" itself, produced by Mustard, was a key element of its success, and its live performance was a celebration of this distinct California sound.

Legacy of the Halftime Show

Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl LIX set is now regarded as a landmark moment, not just for its musical quality, but for its sheer audacity. It demonstrated that even the most high-stakes, corporate-controlled events like the Super Bowl can be used as a platform for current, controversial, and culturally significant dialogue. The "Not Like Us" performance, with its single, strategic censorship, will be studied for years as a perfect example of artistic expression navigating the treacherous waters of corporate oversight and legal threats. It was a victory for the culture, achieved through a single, powerful omission.