On Monday, Feb. 10, the legendary director commended the "Not Like Us" rapper's performance on Instagram — and offered some insight to a historical reference he made. "I Want To Thank My Brother Kendrick For The 40 Acres And A Mule Shoutout Which Has Been The Name Of My Production Company Since NYU Grad Film School,

Kanye West stirs controversy, urging Kendrick Lamar to call for Diddy’s release during the Super Bowl halftime show. Fans react!

Spike Lee, like millions of other Americans, tuned in to the Super Bowl halftime show to watch Kendrick Lamar’s history-making spectacle. As Lee reflected on the Pulitzer-Prize winning artist’s show, the first rapper to headline the coveted mid-game performance, he drew parallels to his own film work.