Kendrick Lamar is set to perform at the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime show, as confirmed by Roc Nation, Apple Music, and the NFL on Sunday.
Super Bowl LIX is scheduled for February 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans and will be broadcast on Fox.
This marks Lamar’s second halftime performance, having previously featured in Dr. Dre’s legendary 2022 lineup alongside Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and 50 Cent. His recent musical rivalry with Drake resulted in a significant victory for Lamar and produced one of the year’s standout tracks, “Not Like Us.”
Lamar commented on his upcoming performance, stating, “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.”
Roc Nation founder Jay-Z praised Lamar as a unique artist who profoundly influences culture. He highlighted Lamar’s deep connection to hip-hop, noting that his impact goes beyond music and will resonate for years.
The creative direction for the upcoming performance will be managed by Lamar’s company, pgLang, which also handled his captivating “Big Steppers” tour from 2022 until early this year.
Lamar’s appearance follows the performances of Usher, who was joined by Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and H.E.R. last year, as well as Rihanna’s show in 2023, during which she performed while pregnant.
Since releasing his significant debut album, “Good Kid, m.A.A.d City,” in 2012, Lamar has established himself as one of the most influential rappers globally. He has won 17 Grammy awards and made history in 2018 by becoming the first non-classical, non-jazz artist to receive a Pulitzer Prize for his album “Damn.” His latest album, “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers,” was released in May 2022.
In April, “Like That,” a collaboration between Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, while “Not Like Us” spent two weeks at No. 1.
The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show will be produced by DPS, with Roc Nation and Jesse Collins as executive producers and Hamish Hamilton as director. Roc Nation will also serve as the strategic entertainment advisor for the performance.
Oliver Schusser, Apple’s Vice President of Apple Music, Apple TV+, Sports, and Beats, expressed excitement about featuring Kendrick Lamar in the show, which aims to celebrate music on a grand scale with exclusive content available on Apple Music.
Seth Dudowsky, Head of Music at the NFL, noted Lamar’s significant impact on music and culture, emphasizing his talent for creating memorable moments that redefine hip-hop.
Earlier this year, the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show starring Usher became the most-watched halftime performance ever and received three Emmy nominations. Rihanna’s performance in 2023 garnered five nominations, winning two, while the 2022 performance featuring Dr. Dre and others also won three Emmys.