Rapper Kendrick Lamar will headline the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show, as announced by the artiste and the National Football League (NFL) early this week.
The highly anticipated show will take place at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9.
“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 said.
Head of Music at the NFL Seth Dudowsky praised Lamar’s contribution to culture, saying: “We’re excited to collaborate with Kendrick, Roc Nation, and Apple Music to deliver another unforgettable Halftime Show.”
He added: “Few artists have impacted music and culture as profoundly as Kendrick Lamar. Time and time again, Kendrick has proven his unique ability to craft moments that resonate, redefine, and ultimately shake the very foundation of hip-hop.”
However, the news has been met with celebration from super fans and criticism from others, as noted by Time Magazine.
“Some people questioned Lamar as the choice for the Super Bowl, saying that New Orleans native rapper Lil Wayne should have been selected to headline the show instead, since February’s big game is being held in his hometown. Lamar is from Compton, Calif.”
The outlet further reported that rapper Lil Wayne was trending on X on Monday September 9 following the announcement by Lamar and the NFL.
“Debates sparked online about whether the 41-year-old Grammy winner should have been chosen for the big game. Lil Wayne has released multiple number one albums, including The Carter II, The Carter III, The Carter IV, and in 2023, he was inducted into Billboard’s Hip-Hop Hall of Fame.”
The Superbowl is regularly the most watched television event annually, per Forbes.
The magazine notes that 129.3 million viewers tuned into Usher’s halftime performance last year, making it the most viewed ever.
“Lamar has put out five studio albums and a number of other mixtapes and EPs, including his most recent album, “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.” This year, Lamar has been charting on the Billboard Hot 100 amid his highly publicized feud with Drake, with both artists releasing diss tracks about each other.”
