Kendrick Lamar will pop out on the NFL's biggest stage next year: The Grammy winner will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Sunday that Lamar would lead the halftime festivities from the Caesars Superdome on Feb. 9.
The rap megastar said he was looking forward to bringing hip-hop to the NFL's championship game, where he performed as a guest artist with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg in 2022. “Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date,” Lamar said in a statement. “And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.”
Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show performance will be his first as the headliner, following a guest appearance with Dr. Dre in 2022. It’s a testament to Lamar’s growing cultural impact in the past year, spurred in part by a fierce musical feud with fellow rapper Drake, which resulted in one of the biggest songs of the year, “Not Like Us.” Lamar’s latest album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, was released in 2022. The album features the hit track “Like That” with Future and Metro Boomin, a song that spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this year. He also garnered another hit with “Not Like Us,” which was released amid a rap beef between Lamar and Drake earlier this year.
Lamar is considered one of the greatest hip-hop acts of all time, and he solidified that during the summer in a rap feud with Drake. But the back-and-forth between this generation’s top rappers is only the tip of the iceberg for Lamar’s discography. He’s accumulated 17 Grammy Award wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize for his album DAMN. His last album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, was released in 2022.
The Drake-Lamar Feud
The feud between Lamar and Drake began when Drake, seemingly unprovoked, threw out a jab at Lamar on the song “First Person Shooter.” In the song, Drake bragged that he was “as big as the Super Bowl by his lonesome,” a line that now seems ironic given Lamar’s upcoming performance. This jab set off a wave of diss tracks from both rappers, escalating the feud to the point of a full-blown war.
Lamar’s Diss Tracks
Lamar’s response to Drake’s jab came in the form of a series of diss tracks, each one more scathing than the last. “Like That,” a collaboration with Future and Metro Boomin, was initially thought to be a veiled shot at Drake, but after Drake responded with a diss track of his own, Lamar went all out. “Euphoria,” a seven-minute song that eviscerates Drake’s character, was a direct response to Drake’s diss track. Lamar followed this up with “Meet the Grahams,” an open letter to Drake’s son, mother, and the rapper himself, that reads more like a RICO indictment than a battle rap. The final blow came in the form of “Not Like Us,” a song that became an instant classic and arguably the biggest diss track of the year. “Not Like Us” spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, a testament to its power and its impact on the cultural conversation.
Lamar’s Victory Lap
After the release of “Not Like Us,” Lamar held a sold-out concert at the Forum in Inglewood, California, where he performed the song five times, stopping occasionally to let the crowd stretch the “A-minor” line into what felt like eternity. The concert, dubbed the “Pop-Out” show, was a celebratory victory lap for Lamar, who had vanquished his rival in stunning fashion.
The Super Bowl Performance
Now, Lamar will take the stage at the Super Bowl, a truly remarkable feat for a rapper who has always been a step or two behind Drake in terms of commercial success. This is the first time that a solo hip-hop artist will headline the Super Bowl halftime show, making Lamar’s performance a watershed moment for the genre.
For Drake, on the other hand, Lamar’s Super Bowl performance is a further blow to his already tarnished reputation. Drake’s attempts to regain his footing in the past few months have fallen flat, and his credibility has seemingly slipped from his grasp forever. It’s a reminder that the world of hip-hop is constantly evolving, and that even the biggest stars can be dethroned.
What to Expect
Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show performance is sure to be a spectacle, and he is expected to incorporate some of his most popular songs, including “Not Like Us.” The performance will be produced by DPS, with Roc Nation and Jesse Collins serving as executive producers. Hamish Hamilton will serve as director.
The show will be a testament to Lamar’s artistry and his impact on the world of music. It will be a celebration of hip-hop, and a reminder that even in the face of adversity, Lamar has the power to rise to the top.
The Future of Hip-hop
Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance is a sign of the times, a reflection of the growing cultural influence of hip-hop. It is a reminder that the genre is no longer a niche, but a force to be reckoned with, a genre that is capable of reaching the highest levels of popular culture.
The future of hip-hop is bright, and with artists like Lamar leading the way, the genre is poised for even greater success in the years to come.
