Fresh off a clean sweep at last weekend's Grammys, the 37-year-old Compton rapper elicited a slew of theories and interpretations, from both fans and peers, about his performance, which celebrated Black culture.

Kendrick Lamar, one of hip-hop’s most venerated artists for the past decade, performed “Not Like Us,” a diss track aimed at Drake, to cap the Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans, the first to be headlined by a solo rapper.

Kendrick, on the other hand, proudly stood alone on stage for Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Special musical guest SZA joined him halfway through the set, but the 37-year-old rapper became the first solo hip-hop artist to headline the halftime show in Super Bowl history.