If Kendrick Lamar performs his Drake diss track “Not Like Us” during the Super Bowl halftime show this Sunday—an event that just made history by winning five Grammys—he’ll have to make some major adjustments to avoid running afoul of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations.
The 919-word track, which is known for its fierce lyrics, includes 38 words that would likely not pass muster on a family-friendly network broadcast. Aside from salty language and the n-word, the song also includes a diss aimed directly at Drake, with some lyrics that are even part of an ongoing defamation lawsuit.
If Lamar chooses to perform the track, he’d probably need to tone it down, censoring certain words and phrases to make it airable on television. This wouldn’t be the first time the rapper has had to adjust his music for a mainstream audience. He’s had experience in editing songs for TV performances in the past, such as when he modified the lyrics of his hit “HUMBLE.” for a major televised appearance.
As exciting as it would be to see Lamar deliver such an intense track live, the question remains whether he can pull it off in a way that stays within the FCC’s guidelines.
