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Kendrick Lamar performing at the Super Bowl LVI halftime show on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California.

The Super Bowl halftime show is a highly anticipated event that is one of the most watched and talked about events throughout the year, and the 2025 Super Bowl LIX is no exception. American rapper and one of the most influential hip hop artists, Kendrick Lamar, is announced to perform the halftime show this year. This marks a pivotal event in Kendrick’s career, as he will be making the stage his own on February 9th, 2025, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

Hailing from Compton, California, Kendrick’s journey in the music industry is nothing short of spectacular. He rose to fame with his second album, Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, and other singles such as, “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and “Poetic Justice” that were both top 40 songs. And recently, his disputes with Drake led him to more success, as his  track “Not Like Us” broke several streaming records and spent 8 weeks in the Top 10 and was No. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. Kendrick Lamar has also received numerous awards for his music, including 17 Grammy Awards and the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018 for his fourth studio album. Additionally, this will not be Kendrick’s first time performing at the Super Bowl halftime show. In 2022, he performed alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige in a hip-hop centered halftime show. 

However, there is some controversy surrounding the fact that Kendrick will be performing instead of Lil Wayne, who hails from New Orleans. This was met with a lot of disappointment from fans and other artists, such as Nicki Minaj. Minaj was mentored by Lil Wayne, so she fiercely defended Wayne on social media after Lamar was selected. Lil Wayne won’t have the chance to perform in his hometown, to which he expresses on his Instagram video, “I thought there was nothing – I thought there was nothing better than that spot, than that stage and that platform in my city,” he said, “So that hurt. It hurt a whole lot” (ABC News).

There are quite a few potential things to expect from Kendrick Lamar’s show. Fans can expect him to perform some of his biggest hits such as “HUMBLE,” “All the Stars (with SZA),” and “Money Trees.” Jillian De la Cruz (10) expresses her excitement by saying, “I am personally a fan of his music, and I like a lot of his songs, and I hope he plays “LOYALTY.” or “Like That.’” Another exciting aspect of the Super Bowl is the possibility of a surprise guest appearance. Kendrick has collaborated and worked with many artists such as SZA and Dr. Dre. Therefore, there is a wide range of potential surprise guests. Although none of these are confirmed, it will be exciting to see what songs he will perform and see if he brings out any special guests. 

The selection of Kendrick Lamar for the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show is a significant moment for the hip-hop industry and culture. It highlights the genre’s popularity and its influence on popular culture. With his elaborate stage performance that combines music, catchy lyrics, and electrifying visuals, Kendrick will deliver a performance that will appeal to many football fans and younger audiences. With Kendrick Lamar headlining the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, it will be an unforgettable show for many fans.