Rapper Kendrick Lamar will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans next month, after a year of commercial success marked by a prominent rivalry, and Apple Music confirmed this Thursday that R&B singer SZA will make an appearance in the show.
When he was announced as the headliner last September, Lamar stated: “Rap remains the most impactful genre to date. And I will be there to remind the world why,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Lamar was chosen as the halftime performer after a notorious year that focused primarily on his rivalry with Drake, which began in March and is still ongoing. Just last week, Drake filed a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group, which represents both him and Lamar, alleging that Lamar’s song “Not Like Us” promotes the “false and malicious narrative” that he is a pedophile.
Apple Music confirmed Thursday that Lamar will feature SZA at the halftime show, and the singer will also co-host the “Grand National Tour” with Lamar later this year.
The company posted a video of SZA and Lamar on X (formerly known as Twitter) with the message: “Watch @kendricklamar with guest @sza. #AppleMusicHalftime #SBLIX.”
SZA also collaborated on two songs on Lamar’s album, “GNX,” which was released in November: “luther” and “gloria.”
When is the Super Bowl?
Super Bowl LIX will take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9. It will air on Fox at 6:30 pm EST. The contending teams will be decided this Sunday, when the Kansas City Chiefs face the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship and the Washington Commanders play the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship.
Read: Drake sues Universal Music over controversial Kendrick Lamar song
What time will Kendrick Lamar perform?
Fox Sports indicated that the halftime show will likely be between 8:00 pm and 8:30 pm EST, although it will depend on “how the game plays out on the field.”
How much will Kendrick Lamar earn for the halftime show?
Most likely nothing. Performers who perform at the halftime show typically do not receive pay. The NFL has previously said it does not pay artists, but covers production costs and expenses. However, some artists have invested their own money in their performances: in 2021, The Weeknd spent $7 million, and Dr. Dre invested a similar amount in 2022.
Although they do not receive direct payment, the artists see benefits from the show in other ways. Last year, Usher, who was the headliner, saw a 550% increase in streams on Spotify after his performance.
Additional information
Headlining the show won’t be Lamar’s first time performing on the halftime stage: he already appeared as a guest on the 2022 show that featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, among others.
Featured figure
129.3 million. That’s how many people tuned in to Usher’s halftime show last year, making it the most-watched in history, according to The Associated Press.
The Super Bowl is regularly the most-watched television event annually, and the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the San Francisco 49ers last year was the most-watched broadcast in history, averaging more than 123 million viewers, according to the NFL.
Key context
Lamar has released six studio albums and several mixtapes and EPs, including his most recent album, “GNX,” which was surprise released in November.
Last year, Lamar charted on the Billboard Hot 100 amid his highly publicized rivalry with Drake, with both artists releasing confrontational songs against each other. His song “Not Like Us” debuted at No. 1 in May, and Billboard reported that Lamar’s entire music catalog saw an increase in streams during the feud.
Read: Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album ‘GNX’ and luxury collaborations
Fans believe the rivalry between the two has existed since 2013, but the conflict was recently reignited when Drake and J. Cole released “First Person Shooter,” in which Cole claimed that he, Drake and Lamar were “the great trio” of rap. , to which Lamar responded “that’s just me” in his verse on “Like That” in March.
This is the sixth year the NFL has partnered with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation company and the third year it has collaborated with Apple Music to produce the halftime show.
This article was originally published by Forbes US
Do you like to get informed through Google News? Follow our Showcase to have the best stories
