Just three days shy of his highly anticipated halftime performance at the Super Bowl and four days removed from scooping up five prestigious Grammys, Kendrick Lamar offered a sneak peek into his upcoming act at the NFL's season finale. He hinted that fans should brace themselves for a "storytelling" extravaganza that promises to draw his widest audience yet deep into the realm of his music.
The 37-year-old, multi-platinum selling, Pulitzer Prize-honored rapper, who added to his already impressive trove of accolades by clinching the record of the year, song of the year, best rap performance, best rap song, and best music video awards at the Grammys for his summer smash hit "Not Like Us," spoke about his grand plans for the big game during a Thursday press conference. However, Lamar remained tight-lipped about the specifics. He didn't divulge any new guest artists who might share the stage with him at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, nor did he hint at whether he'd perform his controversial Grammy-winning track. Instead, he framed Sunday's show within the context of his stage performances spanning over two decades.
"I've always been transparent about my storytelling across my entire discography and musical journey," Lamar shared at the press conference. "And I've harbored a deep passion for bringing that to life on whatever stage I find myself… I've consistently possessed a unique ability to command people's attention, making them not just listen, but also see and ponder a bit."
In 2022, Lamar made his Super Bowl halftime debut alongside rap legend Dr. Dre and other titans of the rap and R&B scene, including Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Mary J. Blige. For this year's performance, Lamar will be joined by SZA, with whom he has collaborated on three tracks over the past six months ("Luther," "Gloria," and "30 for 30") and previously scored a massive hit in 2018 with "All the Stars." Lamar, who also features on the recently released reissue of SZA's critically acclaimed 2022 album SOS, heaped praise on the talented singer behind "Kill Bill."
"Observing her journey, her career trajectory, and her humble beginnings, it fills me with awe," Lamar remarked on Thursday. "I feel deeply honored to share the stage with such exceptional talent." Although Lamar refrained from divulging specifics about his upcoming performance setlist, recent reports have circulated that he will be featuring "Not Like Us" in his act. This particular track, amidst an ongoing rap beef, challenges Drake's cultural authenticity and moral integrity, while escalating accusations of pedophilia and sexual misconduct. In response, Drake has filed a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music, alleging that the song was 'deliberately crafted to disseminate a clear, unequivocal, and false accusation portraying Drake as a criminal pedophile, and to incite public vigilantism.' Notably, both Lamar and Drake are signed under the Universal Music Group.
Remarkably, "Not Like Us" was absent from the Grammy Awards performance on Sunday, sparking widespread speculation that it might make an appearance on Lamar's setlist this coming Sunday. This conjecture gained traction after a consortium of Louisiana legislators penned a letter to the heads of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and the Louisiana Stadium and Expo District, advocating for family-friendly halftime performances. On Wednesday, TMZ, citing credible sources close to Lamar, Fox Sports, and the NFL, confirmed that Lamar will indeed perform the chart-topping hit; however, it remains uncertain whether the allegedly defamatory verses targeting Drake will be recited live.
