Kendrick Lamar Returns to Super Bowl Stage as 2025 Headliner

Award-winning rap megastar Kendrick Lamar will return to perform in iPhone maker Apple's 2025 Super Bowl half-time show this February, his first appearance since 2022. This time, however, he's the headliner.

Lamar's previous Super Bowl half-time showcase, which included other rap artists including Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Snoop Dogg, won a 2022 Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live). He has won other awards for his inventive lyrics, including the Pulitzer Prize for music, the first hip-hop artist to do so, as well as a Grammy.

The Super Bowl is one of the biggest televised sports event in the US, routinely drawing tens of millions of viewers. The NFL's Seth Dudowsky said of Lamar that "time and time again, Kendrick has proven his unique ability to craft moments that resonate, redefine, and ultimately shake the very foundation of hip-hop."

In 2024, Lamar scored a major hit with his single "Not Like Us," but got considerably more publicity out of his public feud with Canadian rapper Drake. Both artists released "diss tracks" about each other.

In a press release from the National Football League and Apple announcing the half-time show, Lamar said that the Super Bowl "got the right one" to head this year's event. "Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I'll be there to remind the world why."

Super Bowl LIX will take place in New Orleans, LA on February 9th, 2025. Kick-off will be at 6:30pm, Eastern time.

12 Comments

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M68000 7 Years · 887 comments

About 3 months ago

“rap” does not even qualify as music to me. When you say “rap”, I think of people yelling profanity and calling it music. I’m going to pass on watching this halftime “show”.

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Xed 4 Years · 2896 comments

M68000 said:

Rap “artist” ? Oh yeah, that is somebody yelling profanity and has little to no musical talent. That is what passes for music today. If I watch the Super Bowl I wont’t be watching that garbage and will do something else in the meantime. I would rather have real music or entertainment on the TV.

OK, boomer.

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ITGUYINSD 5 Years · 550 comments

Xed said:

M68000 said:

Rap “artist” ? Oh yeah, that is somebody yelling profanity and has little to no musical talent. That is what passes for music today. If I watch the Super Bowl I wont’t be watching that garbage and will do something else in the meantime. I would rather have real music or entertainment on the TV.

OK, boomer.

Number one, the Super Bowl is watched by every age group. The last what, 3 or 4, Super Bowl Half-time shows has been hip-hop or rap artists. There are other genres of music -- why they've been concentrated on one or two similar genres is disappointing. There are plenty of artists that appeal to all age demographics -- hip-hop and rap are not one of them.

Number two, "OK boomer" is derogatory and rude to people older than you. Try to use better words.

ITGUYINSD said:

Xed said:

M68000 said:

Rap “artist” ? Oh yeah, that is somebody yelling profanity and has little to no musical talent. That is what passes for music today. If I watch the Super Bowl I wont’t be watching that garbage and will do something else in the meantime. I would rather have real music or entertainment on the TV.

OK, boomer.

Number one, the Super Bowl is watched by every age group. The last what, 3 or 4, Super Bowl Half-time shows has been hip-hop or rap artists. There are other genres of music -- why they've been concentrated on one or two similar genres is disappointing. There are plenty of artists that appeal to all age demographics -- hip-hop and rap are not one of them.

Number two, "OK boomer" is derogatory and rude to people older than you. Try to use better words.

"OK boomer" is derogatory but the OP has nothIng but dipshit talking points other than to suggest "rap is crap", claim that it's not actually music, and the genre is just a vehicle for profanity *clutches pearls*? Makes sense.

BTW, it's been a bona fide music genre since the 1970s. You don't have to like it, but don't act like that because you don't like what is popular so you decide to get offended because some band that hasn't released any new material in decades isn't coming together to perform a half dozen partial songs for you. It's funny how this only seems to be an issue with this genre of music with a certain type of person. Calling someone a boomer as the most polite way I could frame it.

If the Super Bowl Halftime Committee (or whatever they call themselves) decided that Skrillex* and other Dubstep musicians were the best fit for the Super Bowl halftime show then you can decide to watch it or not depending on your interest. They area business trying to attract as many viewers as possible which likely won’t be done with having, say, the Eagles play some tired songs with no new material on the ready. Usually they pick artists that have a solid discography and that are promoting a new album. Either way just fucking deal with it and stop whining.

* Extreme example

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DAalseth 6 Years · 3072 comments

M68000 said:

“rap” does not even qualify as music to me. When you say “rap”, I think of people yelling profanity and calling it music. I’m going to pass on watching this halftime “show”.

I’m 64 years old. I grew up with the Beatles, Stones, Neil Diamond, Late Elvis, etc. Today i have to admit though that my taste goes more toward Verdi, Debussy, and Saint Sains. I say that as a preamble to mentioning that I also have a few rap and hip hop cuts in my collection. There is some great stuff out there, some great talents out there. It isn't all ‘people yelling profanity’.