Kendrick Lamar’s influence and impact are no secret, and now he’s set to take the stage as the headliner for the Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans, as announced by the NFL on Sunday.
“Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date,” Lamar said in a statement released by the NFL. “And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.”
As one of the most acclaimed and celebrated rappers of all time, Lamar has 17 Grammy Awards, 29 BET Awards, and made history in 2018 by winning a Pulitzer Prize for Music — the first artist from outside the classical or jazz fields to receive this honor.
Now, he is set to become the first rapper in history to solo headline The Super Bowl halftime show, set for February 9, 2024, which will be co-executive produced by Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins.
“Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer,” said Jay-Z, founder of Roc Nation said in the same statement. “His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come.”
Lamar’s single “Not Like Us,” a diss track aimed at Drake, released earlier this year, was an instant hit — becoming L.A.’s summer anthem. It even debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the fastest rap song to hit 700 million streams on Spotify.
As die-hard fans may know, this isn’t Lamar’s first time performing at a Super Bowl halftime show. He previously appeared at the 2022 Super Bowl show in Los Angeles, joining a roster of West Coast hip-hop legends.
This announcement made X/Twitter explode with reactions, and we’ve collected our favorites below: