Rapper Kendrick Lamar is set to headline the Super Bowl halftime 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 performs at the prestigious music event, but it will be his debut as the main headliner.
“Rap music remains the most influential genre today, and I’ll be there to remind the world why,” Lamar said in a statement. “They got the right one.”
The Super Bowl will take place on February 9 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Lamar previously took the stage at the 2022 Super Bowl alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige, a performance that earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live).
The 37-year-old Compton native is celebrated as one of the most innovative lyricists in hip-hop. In 2018, he made history as the first hip-hop artist to win the Pulitzer Prize for music.
“Kendrick consistently proves his ability to create moments that resonate, redefine, and transform the very core of hip-hop,” said Seth Dudowsky, the NFL’s Head of Music, in a statement.
Earlier this year, Lamar made headlines for a public feud with Canadian rapper Drake, with both artists exchanging diss tracks. Two of Lamar’s contributions turned into major hits, including “Like That” with Future and Metro Boomin, and his own track “Not Like Us.”
Lamar joins the ranks of iconic performers such as Rihanna, Usher, Beyoncé, the Rolling Stones, and Bruce Springsteen, who have all headlined the coveted halftime show.
The Super Bowl is the biggest sporting event in the United States, attracting tens of millions of viewers domestically and reaching audiences across the globe.
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