Kendrick Lamar earns first UK Number 1 single after his controversial Super Bowl performance

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By JORDAN BECK FOR MAILONLINE

Published: 19:18 GMT, 21 February 2025 | Updated: 19:19 GMT, 21 February 2025

Kendrick Lamar has landed his first UK number one single with Not Like Us.

The rapper, 37, has been releasing music in the UK for over a decade but this is the first time the US-born star has topped the charts in Britain.

The track was initially released nine months ago, but it is thought that the increase in popularity has come from the star’s performance at the Super Bowl earlier this month. 

Having gained 6.4 million streams over the course of the last seven days, the song has also earned the title of the most-streamed song in the country this week.

Kendrick has also previously teamed up with Kiss Me More singer SZA for the tracks Luther, and All the Stars, and they have landed at number four and number five respectively.

The Element hitmaker is also at number 33 in the charts alongside SZA as he featured on her 30 for 30 single.

Kendrick Lamar has landed his first UK number one single with Not Like Us, following his performance at the Super Bowl in early February (pictured)

The rapper, 37, has been releasing music in the UK for over a decade but this is the first time the US-born star has topped the charts

Completing the Official Singles Chart top 5 is Lola Young with Messy at number two and Chappell Roan with Pink Pony Club at number three.

The Eagles’ victory over the Chiefs was the most-watched Super Bowl in history – setting a new record for a single event in US TV history.

But, according to reports, the game played second fiddle to Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show, which also broke new ground.

Philadelphia lifted its second Vince Lombardi Trophy with a 40-22 victory over Kansas City at the Superdome on Sunday.

Front Office Sports later reported that Super Bowl LIX averaged 127.7million viewers on Fox’s platforms and peaked during the second quarter at 137.7m.

The rapper’s 13-minute performance included cameos from SZA, Samuel L. Jackson and Serena Williams.  

Lamar included his famous diss track about bitter rival Drake in a show that was criticized by many viewers. Some branded it ‘the worst halftime show ever’.

Tennis legend Serena, who was once linked to Drake, was pictured dancing during his performance of  the now-chart topper Not Like Us.

Kendrick’s controversial halftime show drew an average audience of 133.5million people earlier this month

The performance in New Orleans earlier this month was slammed by some fans but he has now topped the charts in the UK

The show also included a protest from a man who unfurled a dual Sudanese-Palestinian flag. 

Kendrick was accused by some of putting on ‘the worst Super Bowl halftime show ever’, with reports suggesting the NFL now regrets inviting him to perform.

Taylor Dwift witnessed the rapper’s divisive show live that night as she cheered on Travis Kelce and the Chiefs at Caesars Superdome, and now fans are desperate to see her on the same platform.

Yet according to a source close to the pop megastar, she wants to wait until her boyfriend is no longer an active NFL player to perform the halftime show.

‘She doesn’t want to do it now until Travis is fully retired as she would like to be at the game supporting him rather than performing at it,’ the insider told DailyMail.com.

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Kendrick Lamar earns first UK Number 1 single after his controversial Super Bowl performance

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