Kendrick Lamar has been announced as the headliner for the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans, marking another choice by Roc Nation, Apple Music, and the National Football League.
Lamar will make a return to the halftime show after his standout performance in 2022, where he shared the stage with fellow West Coast artists.
A highly acclaimed hip-hop artist, Lamar has earned 17 Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album Damn. His most recent work, the 2022 album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, marked his fifth studio release.
Lamar recently gained attention due to a public feud with fellow rapper Drake, which led to his popular song “Not Like Us” launched in May. This marked his fourth No. 1 single and has spent 17 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
While Lamar has a strong fan base, some believe that other artists with larger fan followings, more commercial success, and stronger stage presence would be more suitable.
With the next two Super Bowls planned for California, Lamar’s home state, some feel it would have been better to feature him in a later year.
The inaugural halftime show of the Roc Nation era featured co-headliners Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, while in 2021, the Weekend performed alone.
After the landmark full representation of hip-hop at the Super Bowl, Rihanna took the stage in 2023, followed by Usher leading the show last year, accompanied by special guests such as Alicia Keys, Lil Jon, and Ludacris.
