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DAMN! KENDRICK LAMAR has been announced as the headliner for the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, with Roc Nation, Apple Music and the NFL sharing the news on Instagram.
“What’s doing everybody. I’m Kendrick Lamar, and I’ll be performing at Super Bowl 59,” says the Compton rapper in the announcement video, standing on an NFL field in front of a giant American flag, as he launches footballs into the ether. “Will you be pulling up? I hope so. You know there’s only one opportunity to win a championship. No round twos. Let’s get it! Boom!”
The news has ripped through social media, and not just because hip-hop fans are thrilled to see Lamar nabbing the coveted headline spot ā he’s one of the most culturally relevant musicians in the world right now, and has been for quite some time, so you could argue this has been a long time coming. But also, Lamar has been engaged in 2024’s most high profile rap feud; his beef with Drake has made way for some big diss tracks from both parties, and fans are speculating on the meaning behind Lamar’s choice of words in the video. “No Round 2āsā after Drake posted about winning Round 2. This man just donāt quit lol,” wrote one commenter beneath the announcement post.
Whether or not the beef spills onto the football field ā a ‘Not Like Us’ performance, perhaps? ā one thing is for sure: it’s set to be a high-energy halftime show. “Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date,” Lamar said in a statement after the news was released. “And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.”
That they did. Read on for everything else we know about Lamar’s halftime show.
Who’s doing the 2025 halftime show?
Kendrick Lamar. On September 8 2024, the NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced that the 17-time Grammy award-winning rapper would headline the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, which takes place on February 9 2025 (February 10 Australian time).
Guest appearances haven’t been announced yet, but given Lamar’s long list of collaborators ā Jay Rock, Miguel, A$AP Rocky, 50 Cent ā the list goes on, our money is on the show being one big rap royalty reunion.
How many Grammys does Kendrick Lamar have?
Kendrick Lamar has won a whopping 17 Grammys in total, from 50 nominations. He took home his first two Grammys in 2015 ā ‘Best Rap Song’ and ‘Best Rap Performance’ for the track ‘I’. Most recently, he won those same categories for ‘The Heart Part 5’, while taking out ‘Best Rap Album’ at the 2023 awards with Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.
Did Kendrick Lamar ever perform at the Super Bowl?
Kendrick Lamar performed at the 2022 Super Bowl, but as a guest star ā not the headliner. The 2022 spectacle at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles was headlined by Dr. Dre, with 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Anderson .Paak and Kendrick Lamar all making guest appearances.
The 2025 Super Bowl will be the DAMN rapper’s first time headlining the Super Bowl halftime show.
Who headlined the Super Bowl in 2024?
Usher was the headline act at the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show. He performed classics like ‘Love in This Club’ and ‘Yeah!’, and was joined on stage by Alicia Keys, will.i.am, Lil Jon, Ludacris and H.E.R. In 2023, Rihanna was the headliner ā the superstar announced her pregnancy on stage, wearing a layered red look by Loewe no less.
How long is the NFL halftime show?
The NFL halftime show lasts between 12 and 15 minutes, which is surprisingly short. Needless to say, Lamar will make the most of the time, with pgLang, Lamar and Dave Free’s independent multidisciplinary creative communications company, managing the production of the show.
The Super Bowl LIX will kick off on Monday, February 10, 2025, around 10:30am AEST. You can stream it on ESPN and Foxtel.
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