Serena Williams' cameo for Super Bowl performances in the history of the event, and his inclusion of the 23-time grand slam winner has been viewed as a perfect cherry on top. Serena Williams making a surprise appearance in the show has only added to its memorability.

However, there's more to Williams' cameo for Kendrick Lamar than meets the eye. On the surface, people recognize that it's another shot from Lamar in his feud with Drake to get his ex to Crip Walk to his "Not Like Us" diss record, one where in his lyrics, Lamar warns Drake that he "better not speak on Serena."

I'm glad DeRoz' came home, y'all didn't deserve him neither

From Alondra down to Central, n**** better not speak on Serena

And your homeboy need subpoena, that predator move in flocks

That name gotta be ed and placed on neighborhood watch

Despite this, Serena Williams' Crip Walking on stage isn't just a diss to Drake; for Williams, it's a diss to her critics more than 12 years in the making.

Serena Williams' Appearance With Kendrick Lamar Wasn't Just Payback Against Drake

It Was Payback For The London Olympics

In 2012, Serena Williams battled Maria Sharapova at the Summer Olympic Games tennis tournament. In a little over an hour's time, Williams captured her first singles gold medal title in a dominating performance. Upon winning, Williams was elated as she leaped for joy and couldn't help but dance. Specifically, she danced the Crip Walk - a.k.a. the C-Walk - in the middle of Wimbledon's Centre Court. C-Walking has roots in 1970s gang culture, in which of the Crips would often execute this signature dance after killing someone.

Williams was chastised at Wimbeldon and now gets to celebrate on the biggest sports stage possible.

This move immediately sparked controversy, with critics calling Williams unprofessional at the time, and Williams being forced to defend herself when constantly questioned about it in interviews. It was a talking point that, ultimately, overshadowed what should've been the crowning achievement of her career. Coming to the Super Bowl to Crip Walk for Kendrick Lamar was more so the athlete getting revenge against those who took that moment from her than a shot at her ex. Williams was chastised at Wimbeldon and now gets to celebrate on the biggest sports stage possible.

Serena Williams' Explained Why She Crip-Walked At The Super Bowl

The Tennis Icon Silenced Any Other Theories

In an Instagram post, Serena Williams revealed that to get her involved in the Super Bowl performance, Kendrick Lamar's team reached out to her, making a point to mention that they actually loved Williams' Crip Walk after her gold medal win. And as for the rumors it was another dig at Drake? Williams is very clear on why she was there:

When @kendricklamar and team called and was like 'We've been trying to do something forever, what about this? We loved your crip walk at the Olympics after you won the gold medal. I'm like Super Bowl? Are you serious? When in the world would I ever be able to dance at a superbowl? (Never) let's do it!. I knew my winning dance after the @olympics would pay off one day. End of story.

Williams' own story on how the Super Bowl cameo came about makes it all the more apparent that the 2012 controversy was Lamar's prime motivation for involving Williams. It also highlights a deeper reason as to why they'd collaborate, since Lamar's team mention "trying to do something forever."

For Drake's part, his only public response to the Super Bowl half-time show perhaps offers some insight into how he took the performance. On his confirmed burner on Instagram, Drake posted a picture from Wimbledon alongside Wiliams' long-term former agent Jill Smoller. He posted no caption, but the comments thread has its own ideas about what he means: pointing at it as a response to Williams' Super Bowl cameo.

Kendrick Lamar Is Still Giving Back To Compton

Lamar Has A Long History Of Championing His Community

It's worth mentioning that Kendrick Lamar and Serena Williams were both raised in Compton. Lamar has largely used the success of "Not Like Us" to elevate Compton as a city and musical sound, as evident with his latest album, GNX, sporting several local featured artists.

Kendrick's rise to the top of hip-hop has notably been defined at all turns by acknolwedgment and celebration of his Compton roots and how his childhood informed his experience and his music. He's talked at times about how Compton plays an active role in his music, telling Vice:

What happens is it invites people in to get another perspective. It brings a whole ‘nother side to the world of Compton, to this backyard and say, ‘Okay, these are actually people.'

He's also committed to giving back to his community. In 2013, he donated $50,000 to his school - Centennial High School - music department, allowing the purchase of new instruments. Thanks in part to his donation, it was recognized as one of the top music programs in America, offering Compton's youth, who historically had a less then 10% college completion rate, huge opportunities. For that, the California State Senate awarded Kendrick Lamar a “Generational Icon Award.” In short, he cares for his community, and recognizes his role in their lives.

Giving Serena Williams a platform to get payback against her critics is yet another means of him giving back to his city. Kendrick Lamar has tried to put a spotlight on his home city and everyone in it, and that includes a fellow superstar in Serena Williams, assisting her with the ultimate revenge.