The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles are the main sporting events in Super Bowl 59, but many people will be watching for the halftime show and Kendrick Lamar.
The incredibly well-known rapper who just had an incredible night at the Grammys has thus far mostly kept his intentions for Sunday a secret. Although Lamar has mentioned emphasizing storytelling during his performance, SZA, another Grammy winner who has collaborated with the Los Angeles native on several occasions, is the sole confirmed visitor on his guest list.
This has led to a great deal of conjecture. Lamar has a history of including unexpected guests; at last year's The Pop Out performance, he famously brought a number of well-known performers on the stage.
The options for the Caesars Superdome halftime performance seem limitless, with a lengthy list of tunes featuring verses from other hip-hop superstars and an inventiveness that allows for the inclusion of performers from other genres. At Super Bowl 59, who might share the stage with Kendrick Lamar? Here are some forecasts:
Want to Know Who Will Perform with Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl?
SZA
It's something we already understand, not a prediction. Apple Music announced in January that SZA, who afterwards won her fifth Grammy, will perform with Lamar during the Super Bowl 59 halftime show.
The Grammy-nominated song "All the Stars" from 2018 is one of the many songs the team has produced together. They will go on a joint tour in April. It would have been surprising if SZA hadn't appeared in the halftime show, considering how frequently they work together.
The Black Hippy
Artists frequently team up with like-minded performers for Super Bowl performances, striking a balance between the requirement to ensure the performance runs smoothly and the desire to surprise spectators. That most likely means Kendrick Lamar will resort to Black Hippy.
The supergroup he spent years with together with Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and ScHoolboy Q. Although they never released an album, the four Los Angeles rappers collaborated for 14 years beginning in 2008. Rather, they produced a number of hits on one other's individual endeavors.
The duo got back together for Kendrick's "The Pop Out" mega-concert at the Kia Forum last summer after splitting up in 2022. Black Hippy reuniting seems like a good bet during Super Bowl 59, considering the concert's cultural effect.
Doechii
That most likely means Kendrick Lamar will resort to Black Hippy, the supergroup he spent years with together with Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and ScHoolboy Q. Although they never released an album, the four Los Angeles rappers collaborated for 14 years beginning in 2008. Rather, they produced a number of hits on one other's individual endeavors.
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The duo got back together for Kendrick's The Pop Out mega-concert at the Kia Forum last summer after splitting up in 2022. Black Hippy reuniting seems like a good bet during Super Bowl 59, considering the concert's cultural effect.
Mixing the classics with the new, performing some timeless tunes while unexpectedly introducing more recent music, is part of the art of putting together a Super Bowl halftime show. It will be unexpected, but not a complete shock, if Doechii appears on stage during a medley on Sunday.
Dr. Dre
The idea that West Coast icon Dr. Dre could share the stage with Kendrick Lamar at Super Bowl 59 is not outlandish. At Super Bowl 56, Kendrick was one of Dr. Dre's guests on stage, and the latter views the former as a mentor.
Dr. Dre was clearly thrilled to see Kendrick win five Grammy Awards earlier this month, and the aforementioned halftime show in Los Angeles three years ago was highly acclaimed. Kendrick is likely to repay the favor, perhaps by performing "The Recipe" from his 2012 hit song "Good Kid, m.A.A.d city."
Family Relationships
Baby Keem is most likely going to be one of Kendrick's unexpected guests at Super Bowl LIX. Given that Kendrick and Keem are biological cousins, it would be appropriate for Kendrick to perform on the biggest stage in the world.
The Hillbillies" from 2023, which ironically samples an interpolation of Drake's 2022 song "Sticky," and "Range Brothers," a single from Keem's 2021 album The Melodic Blue, are two of their few collaborations. "Family Ties" would be the ideal way to introduce Keem if he were to make an unexpected cameo on Super Bowl Sunday.
Freestyle Backseat
The legendary song "Backstreet Freestyle" by Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City was a sleeper pick for the Super Bowl LIX setlist because it wasn't played during Kendrick's last Super Bowl visit or during The Pop Out: Ken & Friends. M.A.A.D.
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City and "Backstreet Freestyle" would be electrifying in front of a Super Bowl crowd, emulating the big-stage excitement of "DNA." and "Family Ties." Kendrick must play at least one song from Good Kid. Given that Kendrick's LA anthem "M.A.A.D. City" was already played during the 2022 Super Bowl, "Backstreet Freestyle" would be a good substitute to prevent a recurrence.
Who Won't Be Performing with Kendrick Lamar?
We are aware of at least one speculated guest at Super Bowl 59 who will not be performing with Kendrick Lamar, aside from the obvious choice, which would be Drake. Lil Wayne, a native of New Orleans, has stated that he will not even be present in the city for the Super Bowl.
Even yet, "C4," one of Kendrick's first mixtapes, had a lot of freestyles over tracks from Lil Wayne's hugely popular album "Tha Carter III." To Lil Wayne's evident dismay, both rappers have openly stated that they will not be collaborating in Super Bowl 59.