Last month, Kendrick Lamar collaborated with the uber successful pop band Maroon 5 for their single, “Don’t Wanna Know.” The record appeared on the video game, Just Dance 2017, and even managed to crack the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 9.
To further its awareness, the two unlikely — yet effective — hitmakers are taking their show on the big stage of this year’s American Music Awards, which airs live on November 20 from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Viewers can watch the program at 8:00 p.m. EST on ABC.
The pop culture mashup of Gigi Hadid and Jay Pharoah will host the festivities and music superstars John Legend, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj, Bruno Mars, The Weeknd, Twenty One Pilots, The Weeknd and Lady Gaga, among others, are all slated to perform on what is now the world’s biggest fan-voted award show. Drake leads the nominations with a record 13 nods.
This year’s performance will mark King Kunta’s second American Music Awards performance, with the first being in 2013 to perform a medley of “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and “Poetic Justice” from his career-defining album, good kid, m.A.A.d. city. He also has two American Music Award nominations underneath his belt.
AD LOADING...
The Voices: Listen to “Don’t Wanna Know” right here.
Despite the inclusion, fans’ opinions of the AMA’s haven’t always aligned with those of typical Hip Hop fan opinions. Iggy Azalea notoriously beat out Eminem and Drake for best rap album in 2014 and ditto for Macklemore when he bested Kendrick’s aforementioned classic LP.
The show must go on.
