Kendrick Lamar is set to perform at the Super Bowl, and fans are buzzing with their reactions.
On Sunday (Sept. 8), it was announced that the acclaimed rapper from Compton will headline the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, scheduled for February 9, 2025, in New Orleans.
This will be Lamar’s second appearance at the NFL’s flagship event, following his role as a special guest during Dr. Dre’s West Coast hip-hop showcase at the 2022 Super Bowl.
In a promotional video for his upcoming performance, Lamar remarked, “You know there’s only one opportunity to win a championship. No round two’s.”
Following the announcement, social media exploded with reactions. Some fans commented on Lamar’s high-profile rap feud with Drake, while others expressed disappointment that Lil Wayne, a native of New Orleans, was not selected to represent his hometown at the Super Bowl.
There was also excitement over the potential of Lamar performing his hit diss track “Not Like Us” to a global audience.
One fan on Instagram commented under Lamar’s Super Bowl announcement, “The Compton kid has completely cracked the code.”
Another user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “HE IS ON TOP OF THE WORLD.” This enthusiasm was echoed by another fan, who posted, “OMG!!!!!!!!! THIS IS KENDRICK LAMAR’S YEAR!!!!!!”
Another commenter on X said, “I don’t usually watch the Super Bowl, but I’ll absolutely be watching for the Kendrick concert.”
As expected, many fans used the occasion to bring up Drake, referencing Lamar’s recent diss tracks against the Toronto rapper.
The feud reached a peak with Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two nonconsecutive weeks in May.
“Love this! Can’t wait to hear ‘Not Like Us’ on the world stage. Drake finna cry in the corner,” one comment on the NFL’s X account read.
Another user wrote on Lamar’s Instagram page, “They just gave bro the opportunity to diss tf outta Drake on Super Bowl,” and another added, “Drake drops 100 gigs of throwaway bs. Kendrick drops a SUPER BOWL ANNOUNCEMENT,” in reference to Drake’s recent content release.
Some fans speculated about the possibility of Lamar resolving his feud with Drake by inviting him onstage during the halftime show. “
Special guest, Drake?” one X fan questioned, while another joked on Lamar’s Instagram, “Scenes when he brings out Drake and they squash the beef and make out with each other.”
Following Lamar’s Super Bowl announcement, Lil Wayne became a trending topic on X, as many fans felt it was disrespectful to overlook the legendary rapper from New Orleans. “Not having Lil Wayne headline is a slap in the face,” one commenter wrote on Instagram.
Another user posted on X, “Lil Wayne definitely should’ve been picked to perform at the Super Bowl. He’s literally from New Orleans and a rap legend…” Some Instagram users suggested that featuring Wayne as a special guest would be “next level.”
Social media also buzzed with speculation about which other special guests Lamar might invite to join him on stage, with names like Eminem and Beyoncé being mentioned.
There were also hopes that Lamar’s Super Bowl performance would coincide with the announcement of a new album. His most recent studio release, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in May 2022.
The Super Bowl Halftime Show will be broadcast live on Fox from the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9.
This will be the sixth year that Roc Nation, in partnership with Jesse Collins, DPS, and director Hamish Hamilton, will produce the show.
Kendrick Lamar’s performance will also feature creative direction from pgLang, the creative imprint co-founded by the rapper.