Kendrick Lamar will take center stage at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans to perform during halftime of Super Bowl 59.
This will mark Lamar’s second time performing at the Super Bowl. Back in 2022, Lamar joined Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary J. Blige in Los Angeles at halftime as the Rams and Bengals squared off in Super Bowl 56.
Lamar is the solo headlining act this time, although SZA will join him on stage for the performance. The duo will almost certainly perform their hit song “All the Stars,” which cracked the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 back in 2018.
Here’s a closer look at Lamar’s performance and how he was selected as the headlining act of the Super Bowl 59 halftime show.
Why is Kendrick Lamar performing at the Super Bowl halftime show?
Lamar has been viewed as one of the premier hip-hop artists since he released his debut studio album “Section.80” in 2011. He’s held in high regard by music fans, critics and his peers.
Lamar has been appropriately recognized for his success and talent over the years. He’s won 17 Grammys, a Pulitzer Prize, and numerous other awards. Next on his list of achievements is headlining the Super Bowl.
The NFL’s head of music, Seth Dudowsky, perfectly summed up why they chose Lamar: “Few artists have impacted music and culture as profoundly as Kendrick Lamar. Time and time again, Kendrick has proven his unique ability to craft moments that resonate, redefine and ultimately shake the very foundation of hip-hop.”
Following the announcement that Lamar would be the halftime act, he released a statement of his own: “Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.”
In a world where hip-hop and rap are taking over as the predominant music genres among the youth and young adults, few artists are better suited to represent hip-hop than Kenrick Lamar.
When did Kendrick Lamar last release music?
Lamar’s latest studio album, “GNX,” was released on Nov. 22, 2024. Amid his controversy with fellow rapper Drake, Lamar released the album by surprise after he put out a string of inflammatory singles directed at Drake.
“GNX” draws its namesake from the 1987 Buick Grand National Experimental (GNX), a car that Lamar now owns and the car that Lamar was driven home in following his birth.
As has often been the with Lamar’s work, “GNX” was immediately a hit. It debuted at the top of the Billboard Top 200, marking his fifth consecutive No. 1 album.
The most popular song on the album is “luther,” which features SZA, who will be joining Lamar on stage in New Orleans. The song has over 345 million streams on Spotify alone.
Super Bowl 59 halftime show trailer
On Jan. 23, Apple Music released the trailer for the Super Bowl 59 halftime show. Lamar can be seen receiving a Gatorade bath from his co-star, SZA.
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