Kendrick Lamar is about to set the Super Bowl LIX stage on fire. No doubt about it.
The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles are going head-to-head at the Caesars Superdome on February 9. But let’s be real — most of us are here for Kendrick.
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At 37, the LA rapper has more than earned his spot on that legendary halftime stage.
Kendrick Lamar’s rap battle with Drake made history
Look, I’ll admit it — Drake is cool. But Kendrick absolutely demolished him this year. Their diss track battle made 2024 one for the books.
Of all the shots fired, “Not Like Us” was the knockout punch. It pretty much sealed the deal, and now Drake, 38, is busy suing his record label, UMG, for defamation.
Kendrick Lamar’s incredible 2024 made him the perfect headliner
Beyond the whole Drake situation, Kendrick has been winning big time.
He walked away with eight BET Hip Hop Awards, including Song of the Year and Artist of the Year. Add to that his chart-topping album GNX, and it makes total sense why he’s headlining the Super Bowl.
What doesn’t make sense? He’s not getting paid for it.
Why Kendrick Lamar won’t be paid for the Super Bowl LIX halftime show
Like every artist before him, Kendrick isn’t seeing a paycheck from the NFL for this performance.
They will cover some expenses and production costs — but only to a point, according to Forbes.
Artists sometimes spend their own money on Super Bowl performances
Some artists even dip into their own pockets to make their performance next-level.
Back in 2021, The Weeknd reportedly dropped a whopping $7 million on his set. A year later, Dr. Dre supposedly spent about the same amount.
The Super Bowl halftime show provides massive exposure
Still, it’s not exactly a loss. The exposure is insane.
Take Usher last year — his show pulled in 129.3 million viewers. And right after, his Spotify streams shot up by 550%!
This is why artists don’t mind doing it for free. The numbers go crazy.
Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us” is expected to gain even more popularity
And if Kendrick performs “Not Like Us” — which, let’s be honest, he definitely will — his streaming numbers are about to skyrocket even more.
The track has already passed a billion plays on Spotify. Imagine what a Super Bowl boost will do.
SZA will be making an appearance at the halftime show
Oh, and SZA is showing up too.
Apple Music confirmed it earlier. We cannot wait.
Kendrick Lamar has performed at the Super Bowl before
If this feels like déjà vu, that’s because Kendrick has done this before.
In 2022, Dr. Dre brought out Kendrick, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and 50 Cent for an insane halftime show. People still call it one of the best ever!
This one’s about to be legendary. Buckle up!
Last Updated on February 9, 2025 by Reem Haqqi
