Kendrick Lamar, the acclaimed rapper from Compton, California, will take center stage as the headlining performer at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans, marking his second appearance at the event but first as the primary act. This announcement was made by the National Football League (NFL), Roc Nation, and Apple Music.
A Year of Success and Controversy
Kendrick Lamar’s booking comes after a whirlwind year that saw him embroiled in a publicized feud with Drake, culminating in his chart-topping single “Not Like Us,” released in May. The track not only dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for 17 weeks but also reinforced Lamar’s status as a leading figure in rap. Addressing his performance, Lamar stated, “Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date… and I’ll be there to remind the world why.“
The feud with Drake began earlier in the year when Lamar appeared on Future and Metro Boomin’s song “Like That,” sparking a series of diss tracks between the two artists. Despite the tension, Lamar emerged victorious with “Not Like Us,” which became his fourth No. 1 single.
Kendrick Lamar’s Return to the Super Bowl Stage
Kendrick Lamar previously performed at the 2022 Super Bowl, sharing the stage with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, and Mary J. Blige in the first-ever hip-hop-centered halftime show. This time, as the headliner, Lamar will have the spotlight to himself, a testament to his impact on music and culture.
Jay-Z, founder of Roc Nation, praised Lamar’s artistry, saying, “Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer… His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision, and his impact will be felt for years to come.”
A Legacy of Excellence
Kendrick Lamar’s career trajectory is marked by groundbreaking achievements. Since his breakthrough with “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City” in 2012, Lamar has become a 17-time Grammy Award winner, a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for his album “DAMN.,” and an Oscar-nominated artist for his collaboration with SZA on “All the Stars” from the “Black Panther” soundtrack.
His performances, like the Juneteenth concert at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, where he performed “Not Like Us” multiple times, have cemented him as a symbol of unity and pride for his hometown of Los Angeles.
Roc Nation and the Super Bowl Halftime Show
The 2025 Super Bowl will mark the sixth halftime show produced in collaboration with Roc Nation. Jay-Z’s company entered into a partnership with the NFL in 2019, which gave Roc Nation co-production duties for the Super Bowl halftime show and tasked it with promoting the league’s social justice initiatives. This partnership was formed in response to controversies surrounding the NFL’s handling of protests, most notably Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the national anthem to protest police violence.
Since then, Roc Nation has been responsible for delivering memorable performances, starting with the Jennifer Lopez and Shakira co-headlined show in 2020. In subsequent years, artists such as The Weeknd, Rihanna, and Usher have taken the stage, with Lamar’s upcoming performance set to continue the tradition of featuring hip-hop’s most prominent figures.
The Impact of Hip-Hop at the Super Bowl
For years, hip-hop was sidelined at the Super Bowl, but that changed with the 2022 show, which featured some of the biggest names in rap. The genre has since become a mainstay at the event, with Rihanna’s 2023 performance and Usher’s 2024 show further solidifying hip-hop’s dominance on the global stage.
Lamar’s headlining role in 2025 represents not only the culmination of his career but also the full embrace of hip-hop by the NFL, with Jay-Z playing a pivotal role in making this possible. In a 2020 interview with The New York Times, Jay-Z highlighted the significance of hip-hop’s rise, saying, “The problem with the NFL is you all think hip-hop is still a fad when hip-hop has been the dominant music form around the world for 20 years.”
Anticipation for 2025
As anticipation builds for Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show, fans and critics alike are eager to see how the rapper will use his platform to deliver an unforgettable performance, further cementing his legacy as one of hip-hop’s greatest artists.
The Super Bowl will take place in February 2025 in New Orleans, and Lamar’s headlining performance is expected to be one of the most talked-about moments of the year.
