It’s official! The NFL has finally announced who will be headlining its electrifying Superbowl LIX halftime show and it’s not who a lot of people were expecting. Rumors were circulatingafter last year’s football season that it might be Taylor Swift due to her connection to Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs and her wildly successful Eras Tour. Others were hoping that it would be Lil’ Wayne due to his New Orleans roots and obvious impact on music throughout the years. But those guesses proved to be very wrong.
Drumroll please…Kendrick Lamar, the Compton born hip-hopgenius himself, will be the upcoming 2025 Super Bowl halftime show headliner in New Orleans, Louisiana! It’s safe to assume that true hip-hop fans and enthusiasts alike across the country (and maybe even the world) are satisfied with this surprising yet well-deserved selection. Let’s talk about it!
Kendrick made the announcement via an Instagram commercial on Sunday, September 8th. In the video he is standing on what is obviously a football field with the American flag as hisbackdrop. While he aims a football passing machine to an undisclosed person out of camera view, he speaks. “I’ll be performing at Superbowl 59. Will you pull up? I hope so. You know it’s only 1 opportunity to win a championship. No round 2’s.” He continues while he playfully encourages the person receiving the passes. “I wouldn’t want you to miss it. Meet me in New Orleans, Feb 9th, 2025. Wear your best dressed too. Even if you’re watching from home.”
This will be Lamar’s second time performing at the Super Bowl, having joined Doctor Dre, Snoop Dog, Eminem, Maru J Blidge and 50 Cent at their 2022 haltime performance.
Kendrick Lamar has been a hot topic for the entire summer. This is partly due to his infamous rap battle with Drake that started in April and ended with Kendrick’s undisputable hit “Not Like Us” and its equally provocative predecessor “Euphoria.” After unofficially being deemed the winner of the rap dispute, Kendrick’s status in the hip-hop community was solidified and ultimately etched in the stars. This admittedly may sound a tad dramatic, but the proof lies in the NFL’s decision.
Some may not understand this choice considering many headliners in the past like Katy Perry, Beyonce, and Rihanna have leaned closer to the pop genre as opposed to strictly hip-hop. We can probably attribute this decision to Jay Z’s NFL influence. Here’s why. In 2019, Jay Z was named the NFL’s live music entertainment strategist. The intention was for him to produce even better halftime performances, along with his record label Roc Nation. Considering Jay’s undeniable legend status in the hip-hop genre it makes perfect sense that he would choose Kendrick, especially after the success and buzz that has surrounded his name this year. Regarding Kendrick Jay Z stated, “Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally.” It seems like this decision was a no-brainer.
What can viewers expect? Well Kendrick has plenty of hits! Soit may be hard to fit all of them in the 12-15 minute time slot allocated to each halftime performance. But the question that many have is… “Will he be performing ‘Not Like Us?’” Some are even wondering if he will bring Drake on stage to confirm the official end of their rap beef. And in addition to Drake who else will he possibly include? Will it be west coast hip-hop themed? Or will the show encompass all of hip-hop’s biggest influencers regardless of coast and region? He’s also worked with Rihanna, Beyonce, T.I., and Lil’ Wayne in the past. Should we expect to see any of them join him on stage? Only time will tell.
What can be confirmed is that it will be epic and full of energy. If you have ever seen Kendrick perform you know that he has the rare and enigmatic gift of stage presence. He has the ability to be a combination of calm and relaxed but simultaneously hyperactive and live at the same exact time. He gets the crowd going whether he is sitting and rapping or jumping and yelling his speedy and clever lyrics to infectious beats. We’re excited for it all! So even if you’re not a football fan or your team is not playing in the Superbowl this season, mark your calendars for February 9th and be ready to experience the innovative culture that is hip-hop with one of the best to ever do it. Congratulations, Mr. Kendrick Lamar!
