Kendrick Lamar Previews “Storytelling” at Super Bowl Halftime Show as “Not Like Us” Speculation Swirls
Three days ahead of his hotly-anticipated Super Bowl halftime performance and four days after taking home five Grammys, Kendrick Lamar previewed his upcoming performance at the NFL’s season closer, saying that audiences should expect “storytelling” that will help his biggest audience yet immerse themselves in his music.
The 37-year-old multi-platinum selling and Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper, who received even more accolades at the Grammys, winning record of the year, song of the year, best rap performance, best rap song and best music video for his massive summer hit, “Not Like Us,” spoke about his plans for the big game at a Thursday press conference.
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But Lamar was mum on details. The rapper did not reveal any new guest artists who may join him on stage at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans or whether he’ll perform his contentious Grammy-winning hit, but he did put Sunday’s show in context with his stage performances throughout his two-decade-plus career.
“I think I’ve always been very open about storytelling throughout all of my catalog and my history of music,” Lamar said during the press conference. “And I’ve always had a passion about bringing that on whatever stage I’m on … I’ve always had a form of that sense of making people listen, but also see and think a little.”
At the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show, Lamar made his debut on the NFL’s massive stage when he joined rap legend Dr. Dre and other titans of the rap and R&B world, including Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Mary J. Blige. For his performance at this year’s game, Lamar will be joined by SZA, who he has collaborated with on three tracks over the past six months (“Luther,” “Gloria” and “30 for 30”) and with whom he had a massive hit in 2018 with “All the Stars.” Lamar, who appears on the recently released reissue of SZA’s lauded 2022 album, SOS, had high praise for the critically acclaimed “Kill Bill” singer.
“Watching her, her career and where she’s come from, it’s amazing to see,” Lamar said on Thursday. “I’m just honored to be next to her talent.”
While Lamar did not discuss details of his upcoming set list, it was reported this week that he will be performing “Not Like Us.” The track, part of an ongoing feud between the rappers, questions Drake’s cultural identity and integrity while doubling down on allegations of pedophilia and sexual misconduct. Drake has since filed a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music, claiming the track was ‘intended to convey the specific, unmistakable, and false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal pedophile, and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response.”
Both Lamar and Drake release music under the Universal umbrella.
“Not Like Us” was not performed at the Grammys on Sunday and speculation has grown about it appearing on Lamar’s setlist this Sunday after a group of Louisiana lawmakers sent a letter to the leaders of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and the Louisiana Stadium and Expo District saying that halftime performances should be family-friendly. On Wednesday, citing sources close to Lamar, Fox Sports and the NFL, TMZ confirmed that Lamar will be performing the hit song, but it’s unclear if the allegedly defamatory lyrics about Drake will be uttered live.
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