Three days forward of his hotly-anticipated Tremendous Bowl halftime efficiency and 4 days after taking residence 5 Grammys, Kendrick Lamar previewed his upcoming efficiency on the NFL’s season nearer, saying that audiences ought to count on “storytelling” that may assist his greatest viewers but immerse themselves in his music.
The 37-year-old multi-platinum promoting and Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper, who obtained much more accolades on the Grammys, successful file of the 12 months, tune of the 12 months, greatest rap efficiency, greatest rap tune and greatest music video for his large summer season hit, “Not Like Us,” spoke about his plans for the large recreation at a Thursday press convention.
However Lamar was mum on particulars. The rapper didn’t reveal any new visitor artists who might be part of him on stage at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans or whether or not he’ll carry out his contentious Grammy-winning hit, however he did put Sunday’s present in context along with his stage performances all through his two-decade-plus profession.
“I believe I’ve all the time been very open about storytelling all through all of my catalog and my historical past of music,” Lamar mentioned throughout the press convention. “And I’ve all the time had a ardour about bringing that on no matter stage I’m on … I’ve all the time had a type of that sense of creating individuals hear, but in addition see and assume just a little.”
On the 2022 Tremendous Bowl halftime present, Lamar made his debut on the NFL’s large stage when he joined rap legend Dr. Dre and different titans of the rap and R&B world, together with Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Mary J. Blige. For his efficiency at this 12 months’s recreation, Lamar might be joined by SZA, who he has collaborated with on three tracks over the previous six months (“Luther,” “Gloria” and “30 for 30”) and with whom he had an enormous hit in 2018 with “All of the Stars.” Lamar, who seems on the just lately launched reissue of SZA’s lauded 2022 album, SOS, had excessive reward for the critically acclaimed “Kill Invoice” singer.
“Watching her, her profession and the place she’s come from, it’s superb to see,” Lamar mentioned on Thursday. “I’m simply honored to be subsequent to her expertise.”
Whereas Lamar didn’t talk about particulars of his upcoming set record, it was reported this week that he might be performing “Not Like Us.” The observe, a part of an ongoing feud between the rappers, questions Drake’s cultural identification and integrity whereas doubling down on allegations of pedophilia and sexual misconduct. Drake has since filed a defamation lawsuit in opposition to Common Music, claiming the observe was ‘meant to convey the precise, unmistakable, and false factual allegation that Drake is a prison pedophile, and to counsel that the general public ought to resort to vigilante justice in response.”
Each Lamar and Drake launch music underneath the Common umbrella.
“Not Like Us” was not carried out on the Grammys on Sunday and hypothesis has grown about it showing on Lamar’s setlist this Sunday after a gaggle of Louisiana lawmakers despatched a letter to the leaders of the Larger New Orleans Sports activities Basis and the Louisiana Stadium and Expo District saying that halftime performances must be family-friendly. On Wednesday, citing sources near Lamar, Fox Sports activities and the NFL, TMZ confirmed that Lamar might be performing the hit tune, nevertheless it’s unclear if the allegedly defamatory lyrics about Drake might be uttered stay.
