Though it appears that this is Kendrick Lamar’s second Super Bowl LIX halftime show. appearance, he wasn’t the headlining artiste.
A prior appearance by Lamar was at the hip-hop-heavy 2022 halftime performance along with a list of stars including 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem.
Since the release of his 2011 mixtape Section.80 and his 2012 major-label debut, “Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City,” Lamar has seen success in the music business.
With 17 Grammy Awards and the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Music for his album “DAMN,” he is the first non-classical or jazz musician to receive the esteemed accolade.
This year, he debuted at the top of the Billboard charts with Future and Metro Boomin’s infectious songs “Like That” and “Not Like Us.”
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Thus, it’s not shocking that he will be the headliner during the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show. Even though some die-hard hip-hop fans think it should have been Lil Wayne.
On Sunday, September 8, Roc Nation, the NFL, and Apple Music made the announcement.
In the statement, Jay-Z said: “Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. Kendrick’s deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come. 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,” Seth Dudowsky, NFL’s head of music, also said in a statement.
In the statement, Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music, Apple TV+, Sports, and Beats, also said;
“We’re excited to collaborate with Kendrick, Roc Nation, and Apple Music to deliver another unforgettable Halftime Show. The Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show is a celebration of the music we love and the incredible artists who make it, all on the world’s biggest stage.
Apple is thrilled to bring this show, starring the absolutely incomparable Kendrick Lamar, to fans worldwide with Apple Music’s industry-leading spatial audio quality along with tons of exclusive videos, interviews, playlists, and so much more across Apple Music.”
Additionally, Kendrick Lamar also stated in a statement that
“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.”
Jay-Z and his Roc Nation company are returning to produce the halftime show for the sixth year. Roc Nation will also serve as the strategic entertainment advisor for the live performance.
But the creative direction for Lamar’s upcoming performance will be provided by pgLang, the creative company founded by the rap star and his close collaborator Dave Free, the filmmaker and producer who has directed or co-directed the majority of Lamar’s music videos.
The big game will take place on Feb. 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. It will air on Fox.
This year’s halftime show featured Usher and became the most-watched halftime performance of all time. And with all the buzz the California native has had, we look forward to a great show.
