Kendrick Lamar just made a major return to the 2025 Super Bowl.
The “Not Like Us” rapper, 37, took the stage at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, where the Kansas City Chiefs are playing the Philadelphia Eagles, to headline the Halftime Show three years after performing in a five-artist lineup with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg Eminem and Mary J. Blige in 2022.
Lamar looked like a total star in flare jeans and a bold jacket that read “Gloria” across the front in capital letters. The jacket is likely a nod to his song “Glorida,” which is a track on his album GNX — it’s also a duet with SZA.
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He wore a backward hat and sneakers to keep the look fresh and casual. The Grammy winner accessorized with a diamond Rahaminov brooch worth $68,000 on his hat and a massive “a” chain, among other jewels.
The rapper was surrounded by dancers wearing red, white and blue outfits for an Americana theme, and he brought out Samuel L. Jackson who called himself Uncle Sam. SZA guest-starred, wearing an all-red look, and for a daring dig at his rival Drake, Lamar brought out his ex Serena Williams, who danced in a blue and white tennis outfit. His set list included hits like “Humble,” “DNA,” “Euphoria,” “Man at the Garden” and more.
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The excitement around Lamar’s performance has been building since September 2024 when it was announced. At the time, he spoke about the importance of highlighting his genre of music nationwide.
“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,” the Grammy-winning artist said in a statement.
Joining Lamar in bringing music to sport’s biggest night of the year are Jon Batiste, who will sing the national anthem, Trombone Shorty, who will perform “America the Beautiful” alongside Christian music singer Lauren Daigle, and Ledisi will conclude the pre-game performances with “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a hymn often referred to as the Black national anthem.
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Lamar’s appearance comes on the heels of the 2025 Grammys, where he clinched awards in five categories — including record of the year for “Not Like Us” (his diss track aimed at fellow rapper Drake) — among the seven he was nominated for. He brought his signature cool style to the event, rocking a denim-on-denim look featuring a jean jacket and pants. A few outlets including Vogue speculated that Lamar’s Canadian tuxedo was a subtle dig at Canadian rapper Drake.
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When it comes to fashion, no one can be as cool as Lamar, who throughout the years has expertly mixed tailored menswear with streetwear-inspired pieces. So, it’s no surprise that he’s been a fixture at multiple runway shows over the years, sitting front row with labels such as Chanel and Dior. He’s also worn his go-to designers on stage, wearing a Louis Vuitton suit the last time he performed at the Super Bowl.
Next up: Lamar will be heading on tour SZA, with whom he not only brought onstage during the Halftime performance, but has also collaborated on multiple hits, including the single “All the Stars” from Marvel’s Black Panther.
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On Dec. 3, the two announced a massive string of co-headlining U.S. stadium shows billed as the Grand National Tour.
Kicking off April 19 in Minneapolis, the tour will make stops in cities including Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto and more before wrapping June 18 in Washington, D.C.
The 2025 Super Bowl, in which the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs, is airing on Fox.
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