Kendrick Lamar to headline the Super Bowl half-time show
Written by Zenna Issa on September 9, 2024
Rapper Kendrick Lamar is set to headline the Super Bowl half-time show, as announced by the National Football League and Apple Music on Sunday.
This will mark the second time the Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning artist will perform at this highly anticipated event, but it will be his first time as the main act.
In a statement, Lamar said, “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.”
The Super Bowl will take place on 9 February in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Lamar previously performed alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige at the 2022 Super Bowl show, which earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live).
The 37-year-old rapper, who hails from Compton, is known for being one of the most inventive lyricists in the hip-hop genre.
In 2018, he made history by becoming the first hip-hop artist to win the Pulitzer Prize for music.
“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,” said NFL’s Head of Music Seth Dudowsky in a statement.
Lamar also made headlines earlier this year for a public feud with Canadian rapper Drake, resulting in the release of a series of diss tracks.
Two of the tracks featuring Lamar, “Like That” by Future and Metro Boomin, and Lamar’s own “Not Like Us,” became major hits.
Previous performers at the Super Bowl include Rihanna, Usher, Beyonce, the Rolling Stones, and Bruce Springsteen.
The Super Bowl is the biggest sports event in the US, drawing tens of millions of viewers and is broadcast around the world.