Kendrick Lamar has dropped a few hints about what fans can expect from his upcoming Super Bowl performance.
Days out from the big show, the Compton rap star sat down for a rare interview with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden and Nadeska Alexis on Thursday (February 6) at a pre-Super Bowl press conference in New Orleans.
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During the roughly 30-minute conversation, Kendrick spoke about his highly anticipated halftime show and promised to paint a picture through his music on the big stage.
Asked what fans can expect, he replied: “Storytelling. I think I’ve always been very open about storytelling through all my catalog, and I’ve always had a passion about bringing that on whatever stage I’m on — whether it’s a tour or a 500-people club.
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“I like to always carry on that sense of making people listen, but also think a little.”
Though he didn’t give anything away regarding his setlist or any potential surpise guests (outside of already-confirmed performer SZA), the GNX MC did say that he’s looking forward to bringing his L.A. etiquette to New Orleans (word to “TV Off”).
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“I love being present. It’s very hard for me to live in the past. I respect the past wholeheartedly, but being in the now and being locked into how I feel and the energy I have now, that’s the L.A. energy for me,” he said. “That’s something that I want to carry over to New Orleans and for the world to see.
“This is me, this is Kendrick Lamar, 37 years old, and I still feel like I’m elevating, I’m still on a journey. I want that energy to ooze out of the televisions and to the people that are in the building.”
Super Bowl LIX takes place at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday (February 9), where the reigning champions Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kendrick will become the first solo rapper to headline the halftime show in the event’s almost 60-year history, adding to what’s already been a milestone week following his five wins at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
The question on everybody’s lips leading up to the show is: will Kendrick perform his Drake diss song “Not Like Us”? According to TMZ, his proposed setlist will be pored over by executives and lawyers at both the NFL and FOX, the network broadcasting the big game, especially given Drizzy’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group over the defamatory track.
However, the outlet claims that Dot will perform “Not Like Us” — it’s just a question of which lyrics (beyond the curse words) he’ll be forced to censor.
