You could head over to the oddsmakers to place your bets on his opening or closing tracks, or you could just play this game instead – you may need it to get inebriated enough to distract yourself from the hundreds of shots of a nervous-looking Taylor Swift (hey, as a Philadelphia native, she wins either way).
Take A Shot If…
An entire football arena collectively screams “MUSTAAAAARD”: This one is basically a free space. Not only is the game being held in New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome, playing into Lamar’s lyrics about an LA-NOLA connection smash hit “tv off” (the track containing the aforementioned condiment), but the infectious beat has kept it in the upper echelon of the charts ever since the day it dropped. If Lamar wants to create a moment equally viral and hilarious, he’ll play this one early.
A GNX car is involved in the performance: The Weeknd famously kicked off his halftime show performance with a nice-looking car, and with its presence in his music videos and cover artwork, Lamar could one-up him by bringing his newly-purchased 1987 Buick collectors item to the festivities.
Lamar says “LA” or nods to LA culture: Always one to represent his city everywhere he goes, it’s likely that Lamar will bring some California flavour down to the Deep South. Whether he comes out in Dodger Blue, flashes some palm trees on the jumbotron or throws it back to the G-Funk era, it all counts.
Take a Sip If…
Lamar and SZA perform more than one track together: There are quite a few songs to choose from that would easily shut down a Super Bowl performance, so it’ll be tough to predict which tracks these two do together – why not make it a medley? Tracks like “Babylon” and “Doves In The Wind” are less likely, but whether it’s new hits “Luther” or “30 For 30” or they bring back “All The Stars,” it’s worth a celebration.
There’s another guest: The predictions for possible guest appearances have been running wild. Could Kendrick give a nod to New Orleans legend Lil Wayne after the Internet took offense to the NFL not booking him instead? Could he keep it in the family and ignite the crowd with one of his Baby Keem collabs, or will Future appear for “Like That”? With their recent rapport, maybe it’s fellow Angeleno Tyler the Creator’s time to shine? Whatever happens, raise your glass.
Lamar performs anything from To Pimp A Butterfly: While many wouldn’t consider it his most stadium-ready album, it still stands up as a monumental achievement that should be highlighted on the biggest stage in the world. He already performed it at his 2022 appearance, but if now’s not the time for “Alright,” when is?
Take Two Sips If…
Lamar goes all the way into the back catalogue for “Swimming Pools (Drank)”: It’s a drinking game, so we had to include this one – even if the track itself actually stands up as a cautionary tale. Taking more than two sips, for every one of the eight times Lamar utters the titular phrase in the chorus, is up to your own discretion.
Lamar comes out in a suit: In the very first advertisement announcing his performance, Lamar said “Meet me in New Orleans. Wear your best dressed, even if you’re watching from home.” Could this mean Lamar will turn the festivities into a bit more of a black-tie affair? We’re envisioning the strings of “Not Like Us” prompted by Lamar in a conductor’s outfit…
There’s any reference to a Grammy, won the week prior: Only one Sunday before the fabled Super Bowl Sunday, Lamar will be in attendance at the 67th annual Grammy Awards – and there’s a pretty solid chance he’ll pick up a trophy, even if only in the rap categories, though “Not Like Us” is up for both Song and Record of the Year.
Finish Your Drink If…
Despite the lawsuits, the beef continues: Noted enemy Drake has been firing off lawsuits left and right, so the performances of any of Lamar’s world-igniting diss tracks might be in murky territory. Of course, Lamar has never been one to play by the rules. Many have suggested that he might simply pause to let the audience fill in the gaps.
Lamar performs “Bad Blood” with Mrs. Kelce: We all know that Tay Tay will be in attendance as she cheers on her beau’s attempt to lead his team to a historic Super Bowl three-peat, something that’s never been done before. Why not come down from the luxury box and fire up Eras Tour memories in the same stadium she played three months ago? Bonus points if the football fans know her typical audience participation activity, when the crowd fills in Lamar’s lyrics in the bridge.
Pour One Out If…
Lamar mentions the LA wildfires: With other televised events drawing millions of eyes planning to attract attention to the disaster and raise money for relief efforts, one of the city’s figureheads with an audience of over 100 million could do a lot of work.
