By Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar will be the headlining act for the Super Bowl LIX halftime show.
This will be his first time headlining the mid-game performance, which is viewed by millions of people every year. The “Not Like Us” rapper made his debut on the Super Bowl halftime show stage in 2022 when he performed alongside Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and 50 Cent.
Jay-Z, whose company Roc Nation will serve as the strategic entertainment advisor of Lamar’s live performance, called the rapper a “truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer” in a statement.
About the artist: Lamar is one of hip-hop’s most celebrated artists. He has won 22 Grammys — including five at the award show held last weekend — and earned a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album “Damn,” becoming the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win the coveted honor.
He released his sixth studio album, “GNX,” last year.
Kendrick vs. Drake: “Not Like Us,” which was released in April and claimed the No. 1 spot on the chart for two weeks, was viewed by many fans as the decisive blow in Lamar’s rap beef last year with Drake, whose own status as a global music superstar made the feud a must-watch.
What started as somewhat cryptic slights on collaborative tracks culminated in spring of 2024, with Drake and Lamar quickly dropping multiple diss tracks back and forth with increasingly pointed and controversial claims about the other.
Drake is now battling his own record label over “Not Like Us,” suing UMG Recordings for defamation and seeking compensatory and punitive damages over the label’s publishing and promotion of the Lamar hit.
Out of the loop? Here’s a full breakdown of the events.
Announced guest: Grammy-winning R&B singer-songwriter SZA, a longtime collaborator of Lamar’s who will soon embark on a tour with the rapper, is expected to appear on stage at the big game.
Past halftime shows have ranged from essentially solo acts to medleys featuring a handful or more artists, so it will be interesting to see who — if anyone — also makes an appearance.
