Kendrick Lamar to make Super Bowl History as First Solo Rapper Headliner
In a groundbreaking announcement, the National Football League (NFL) has confirmed that Kendrick Lamar will be the first-ever solo rapper to headline the Super Bowl halftime show in 2025.
The California-born artist, a 17-time Grammy winner, made history by landing the coveted slot, with the NFL, Roc Nation, and Apple Music jointly confirming the news. Jay-Z, the founder of Roc Nation, praised Lamar’s ability to shape culture on a global scale, hailing him as a “once-in-a-generation artist and performer”.
A statement from Lamar himself echoed his ambition to prove that hip-hop is still a genre with unmatched impact, declaring, “Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date, and I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.”
Lamar’s selection as the Super Bowl halftime headliner comes amidst ongoing public discord with fellow rap superstar, Drake, who has previously asserted his own unmatched prominence in the music industry, likening himself to the magnitude of the Super Bowl.
This revelation positions Lamar to take center stage at one of the world’s most-watched events, with the Super Bowl halftime show regularly attracting a global audience in the hundreds of millions.
Not only will his solo performance be a momentous occasion for rap and hip-hop fans worldwide, but it may also fuel the ongoing feud with Drake, as both artists vie for the title of hip-hop’s most influential figure.
References and Citations:
- BBC – Kendrick Lamar to headline super bowl halftime show
- CNN – Kendrick Lamar will headline the 2025 super bowl halftime show
- Daily Post – Kendrick Lamar set to become first rapper to solo headline super bowl
