Sampling “So [rt]” by Knxwledge, the ninth song on To Pimp a Butterfly is a list of Kendrick Lamar’s virtues, and an image of his trip to Africa. Kendrick knows everything: Compton, street shit, consciousness, highs, lows, and not caring about receiving recognition for his goodness. With this deep cut, he also deepened his critical acclaim. —J.B.

With actor Samuel L. Jackson serving as emcee and dressed like “Uncle Sam,” Kendrick Lamar opened his halftime performance crouched atop a Buick Grand National Experimental — the car for which his newest album,

Grinning from ear to ear, the hip-hop star traded in soul-searching and intellectualism for a cocky, catty party celebrating his recent victories.