Unabridged: Kendrick’s “Great American Game” with David Dennis Jr.
In this episode of The Stacks Unabridged, author and ESPN writer David Dennis Jr. joins us to break down Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show. We get into the performance itself, the layers behind it, and how it fits into his ongoing beef with Drake. Plus, we discuss the reaction to the show and what it says about Kendrick’s place in music and culture.
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Everything we talk about on today’s episode can be found below in the show notes. You can also find what we talked about on Bookshop.org and Amazon.
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show (NFL, Youtube)
The Movement Made Us by David Dennis Jr. and David Dennis Sr.
“The subversive genius of Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance” (David Dennis Jr., Andscape)
“Taylor Swift booed at Super Bowl 2025 — watch her reaction” (Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly)
“What Does 'Trust the Process' Mean?” (Khadrice Rollins, Sports Illustrated)
“Trump was both cheered and booed at 2025 Super Bowl” (Jack Izzo, Snopes)
“Photo of man giving 2 middle fingers to Trump wasn't taken at 2025 Super Bowl” (Jordan Liles, Snopes)
“Show & Tell: Kendrick is Super(Bowl)” (Unstacked)
“Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s Beef, Explained” (Josh Rosenberg, Esquire)
“Poetic Justice” by Kendrick Lamar, Drake
“Wacced Out Murals” by Kendrick Lamar
“Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
GNX (Kendrick Lamar, 2024)
GNX commercial (Kendrick Lamar, Youtube)
Prince’s Halftime Show (Music Entertainment, Youtube)
“Squabble Up” by Kendrick Lamar
“Humble” by Kendrick Lamar
“Alright” by Kendrick Lamar
Rihanna’s Halftime Show (NFL, Youtube)
Usher’s Halftime Show (NFL, Youtube)
“peekaboo” by Kendrick Lamar
“All of the Stars” by Kendrick Lamar ft. SZA
“DNA.” by Kendrick Lamar
“Luther” by Kendrick Lamar (with SZA)
“man at the garden” by Kendrick Lamar
“Pushups” by Drake
“Euphoria” by Kendrick Lamar
“gloria” by Kendrick Lamar
“A Break Down Of Everything Kendrick Lamar Wore During The Super Bowl Halftime Show” (Jessica Bennett, Vibe)
To Pimp a Butterly (Kendrick Lamar, 2015)
“dodger blue” by Kendrick Lamar
“Jada & Will Deserve an Oscar for Their Marriage Performance” (Into It, Vulture)
“Here's the Real Story Behind Serena Williams Crip Walking With Kendrick at the 2025 Super Bowl...and it's Messy” (Shanelle Genai, The Root)
“CBS Radio Fires Don Imus in Fallout over Remarks” (Robert Smith, NPR)
“tv off” by Kendrick Lamar
“6:16 in LA” by Kendrick Lamar
“Family Matters” by Drake
“meet the grahams” by Kendrick Lamar
Game of Thrones (HBO)
“Kendrick Lamar's background performer's flag leads to lifetime NFL ban” (CNN)
Black Panther (Soundtrack) (Kendrick Lamar, 2018)
2002 AFC Title Game Halftime Show- LLCool J and Amerie (Raiders 247TV, Youtube)
Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (Kendrick Lamar, 2022)
“Does Drake’s Lawsuit Over Kendrick Lamar’s Diss Track Stand a Chance? A Lawyer Explains.” (Nadira Goffe, Slate)
The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) (Eminem, 2024)
Eminem - Somebody Save Me & Houdini (Live from the MTV VMA’s 2024) (EminemMusic, Youtube)
“Started from the Bottom” by Drake
“The Motto” by Drake
“The Heart Part 6” by Drake
“Taylor Made Freestyle” by Drake
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