Kendrick Lamar, Drake beef explained after the Super Bowl halftime show

There's a lot to take in after Kendrick Lamar's theatrical Super Bowl performance.

The Compton, California, native and Pulitzer prize-winning rapper was the headline performer at Super Bowl 59, with special guest SZA, and his performance included plenty of references that some non-rap fans may be hard-pressed to figure out, including his 2024 feud with Drake.

If you've missed what all the fuss is about, don't worry, here's a (comparatively) quick summary of what happened leading up to his performance and everything you need to know.

What is 'Not Like Us'?

"Not Like Us" was Lamar's final song in the newly resurfaced feud with Drake that bubbled up last March. The Billboard No. 1 hit won record of the year and song of the year at the Grammy Awards earlier this month, only the second rap song with either honor in the show's history.

'Not Like Us' lyrics meaning

Lamar seemingly alluded to previous allegations of grooming against Drake in some of the lyrics on "Not Like Us."

"Say, Drake, I hear you like (them) young. You better not ever go to cell block one," Lamar raps. "To any (girl) that talk to him and they in love, just make sure you hide your (little) sister from him." And later: "Tryna strike a chord and it's probably A minor." He also referenced Drake and his friends, rapping, "Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles."

Many fans attribute these lines to Drake receiving backlash in 2018 after "Stranger Things" star Millie Bobby Brown, then 14, revealed she considered the rapper "a great friend and a great role model," despite their 17-year age difference. Drake also faced backlash in 2019 for a resurfaced video in which he kissed and fondled a 17-year-old girl nearly a decade prior when he was 23.

'Not Like Us' at Super Bowl 59? Origins of the song fueled by Drake, Kendrick Lamar's feud

Origins of Kendrick Lamar, Drake feud

Drake and Lamar are feuding because of years of subliminal comments between the two via songs dating as far back as 2013, in Lamar's song "Control."

Then on Drake and fellow rapper J. Cole's 2023 track "First Person Shooter," Cole rapped that he, Drake and Lamar were the "big three" of rap music. On rapper Future and Metro Boomin's March song "Like That," Lamar fired back, distancing himself from the trio (rapping forget "the big three … it's just big me") and said, apparently in reference to Drake: "It's time for him to prove that he's a problem."

Kendrick Lamar, Drake rap beef had 9 songs and wild allegations

The first two full songs in their feud came from Drake, in "Push Ups" and "Taylor Made Freestyle" in April. Lamar responded with his track, "Euphoria," just over a week later and with "6:16 in LA" in early May.

This was when things took a turn from par for the rap course to serious allegations with real potential consequences.

All 9 Drake and Kendrick Lamar 2024 diss songs, including 'Not Like Us' and 'Part 6'

Fourteen hours after "LA," Drake followed up with the track "Family Matters" in a track that claimed Lamar physically abused his partner Whitney Alford. Minutes after, Lamar laid out serious allegations of abuse, addiction and a hidden second child against Drake in "Meet the Grahams." Then on May 4, Lamar released "Not Like Us," with accusations of grooming girls, calling Drake and his associates "certified pedophiles."

Though it's hard to boil down the exact reasoning of a decade-long feud, Lamar has used "Not Like Us" as a vehicle to attack Drake's presence and status in the industry, which he's said is one of a "colonizer" – someone who tries to ingratiate himself in Black culture and try on for size without really being of the culture.

Of all the songs in the feud, "Not Like Us" blew up on streaming and with fans, becoming a hit song everywhere from commercials to parties. The feud between the rappers took on new life with the instigation of social media, who felt Lamar came out victorious, as well as honors from the Grammys and performing at the Super Bowl.

Kendrick Lamar's fierce Super Bowl halftime show elevates Drake feud, makes history

Why Kendrick Lamar brought out SZA, Serena Williams at Super Bowl halftime show

SZA is a frequent collaborator of Lamar (they were previously on the same label) and they're going on tour together. She's also Drake's ex.

Fans learned that the singer and Drake briefly dated over a decade ago in Drake's 2020 song "Mr. Right Now." SZA confirmed the relationship and clarified the year, which is important (and perhaps ironic, given the accusations against Drake) as she was 18 and he was around 23. The two would later collaborate together on Drake's 2023 record "Slime You Out."

Lamar also brought out another of Drake's apparent exes, Serena Williams, a fellow Compton, California, native. Drake and Serena Williams were reportedly romantically involved around 2015. Drake only recently confirmed the relationship, noting the connection was the inspiration for his 2016 song "Too Good."

The Canadian rapper is no longer on good terms with Williams. Drake called out her husband, Alexis Ohanian, in his 2022 song "Middle of the Ocean," rapping that the Reddit founder was a "groupie." Ohanian responded on social media, taking the insult in stride: "The reason I stay winning is because I'm relentless about being the absolute best at whatever I do — including being the best groupie for my wife & daughter."

Kendrick defended Williams in "Not Like Us," referencing the Los Angeles area they're from: "From Alondra down to Central … better not speak on Serena."

Is Drake going to sue Kendrick?

At the Super Bowl, Lamar referenced Drake's lawsuit against his music distributor, Universal Music Group, over their promotion of "Not Like Us," saying, "I want to play their favorite song, but you know they love to sue."

Lamar, though heavily discussed, is not a part of the lawsuit.

Drake files federal lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar diss

Drake accused UMG of "corporate greed" in their buildup of the song. "UMG wants the public to believe that this is a fight between rappers, but this lawsuit is not brought against Kendrick Lamar," Drake's legal team wrote in a statement to USA TODAY last month. "This lawsuit reveals the human and business consequences to UMG’s elevation of profits over the safety and well-being of its artists, and shines a light on the manipulation of artists and the public for corporate gain."

Contributing: USA TODAY Entertainment staff

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Super Bowl: Kendrick Lamar's Drake beef and what you need to know