Kendrick Lamar will be the first solo rap artist to headline a Super Bowl ever

Kendrick Lamar is stepping onto the biggest stage in sports and entertainment as the first solo rap artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. The NFL, Roc Nation, and Apple Music confirmed the news—he's taking over Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

Jay-Z, whose company Roc Nation has produced the halftime show since 2019, summed it up:

"Kendrick is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. His work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come."

This moment has been a long time coming. Hip-hop had to fight for a seat at the table, and now it finally has a king at the helm.

Super Bowl halftime shows rarely give rap this kind of respect—Lamar just changed the game by being the only rapper to headline the Super Bowl twice

This Super Bowl performance puts Lamar in rare company. He will become just the second artist ever to headline the halftime show twice. Justin Timberlake has done it three times—once solo, once with multiple artists, and once as part of *NSYNC. The only other hip-hop act to lead the show was the Black Eyed Peas in 2011, but they performed as a group.

Apple Music also confirmed that SZA will join Lamar on stage. The R&B singer, who is co-headlining the Grand National Tour with Lamar later this year, has collaborated with him on multiple songs, including luther and gloria from his latest album, GNX.

What time will Kendrick Lamar perform?

The Super Bowl LIX halftime show is expected to take place between 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. EST, depending on the pace of the game. The event will be broadcast on Fox.

How much will Kendrick Lamar be paid?

Lamar is unlikely to receive direct payment for his performance. The NFL does not pay halftime performers, though it covers production costs. In past years, artists like The Weeknd and Dr. Dre reportedly spent millions of their own money on their performances. However, the exposure from the event often leads to massive boosts in streaming and music sales.

Last year, Usher saw a 550% increase in Spotify streams after his Super Bowl performance, which was watched by 129.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched halftime show ever.

The Drake feud is still hot, and this Super Bowl gig makes Lamar look untouchable

Lamar’s Super Bowl performance comes at a time when rap is messy—specifically because of his ongoing war with Drake.

The two have been throwing shots at each other for over a decade, but things exploded last year. Drake called himself the “big three” of rap alongside J. Cole and Lamar. Lamar laughed and fired back on Like That with “just big me.” Then he dropped Not Like Us—a brutal diss track that went No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and had the entire industry picking sides.

Drake didn’t take it well. He filed a defamation lawsuit last week against Universal Music Group—his own label—over Not Like Us, saying it pushes a "false and malicious narrative" about him.

This is Lamar’s biggest stage yet, and the NFL is finally catching up to reality

For years, the NFL tiptoed around hip-hop at the Super Bowl, pretending rock and pop were the only genres that mattered. That’s why this moment isn’t just about Lamar—it’s about rap finally getting the recognition it deserves.

It’s also a big shift from the NFL’s messy past with hip-hop. Remember when they blackballed Colin Kaepernick and punished players for kneeling? They tried to keep politics out of football, but when Jay-Z partnered with them in 2019, things started to change.

Now, hip-hop isn’t just part of the show—it is the show.

And on February 9, 2025, Lamar will make sure nobody ever questions rap’s place on that stage again.

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