The Compton legend Kendrick Lamar is gearing up for an exciting new chapter in his career with rumors of new albums and concerts. Here’s a breakdown of what’s coming next for the Not Like Us rapper.
The summer of 2024 has been monumental for music lovers, marked by Charli XCX‘s ‘brat summer‘ taking over the charts and Kendrick Lamar‘s headline-grabbing beef with Drake. As the two rap heavyweights spar in lyrical battles, fans are eagerly awaiting what’s next from Kendrick Lamar, whose upcoming projects could set the tone for hip-hop’s future.
Headline Super Bowl 59
Kendrick Lamar has officially been announced as the headliner for Super Bowl 59, set to take place in New Orleans next February. This highly anticipated performance is generating excitement across both the music and sports communities, marking a significant milestone in Kendrick Lamar’s career, as well as the history of hip-hop.
View this post on Instagram
As the first solo rap artist headlining the Super Bowl, Kendrick Lamar’s appearance is undoubtedly groundbreaking. However, it also stirs up some controversy. Lil Wayne, a New Orleans native and one of the biggest names in hip-hop, was overlooked for this opportunity. Lil Wayne expressed that being snubbed for the Super Bowl 59 halftime show “broke” him on an Instagram video. Nicki Minaj also called out Jay Z, the co-producer of the Super Bowl halftime show, for not giving the booking to her mentor Lil Wayne.
Social media’s reactions to Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl announcement are also mixed. Some people are opposed to the decision, claiming that the Super Bowl should invite “REAL musicians” who can sing and play instruments at the halftime show. However, just like Kendrick Lamar said in an NFL-released statement, “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.” And we can’t wait to witness the historical moment of hip-hop presented by Kendrick Lamar.
New Album Dropping Soon?
A day after the NFL announcement, K Dot shocked fans once again by releasing a new track titled “Watch the Party Die” on Instagram, sparking widespread speculation centered on his new album. The five-minute track feels more like Kendrick Lamar’s contemplation on the music industry and hip-hop culture than another diss track aimed at Drake. In the track, Kendrick Lamar expresses his anger at commercial artists, critiquing how they represent materialistic ideals in their music instead of truth.
View this post on Instagram
Many fans speculated this track to be the next “Heart Part 6”, following Kendrick Lamar‘s tradition of releasing a “Heart Part” track before a new album. Fans also noted a symbolic pattern in the recent series of release dates, with the track released on 9/11, his The Pop Out concert taking place during America’s Juneteenth celebrations, and the release of “Not Like Us” music video on July 4th. Kendrick Lamar might be strategically choosing to drop or hold events on American holidays to remind us of the ongoing fight for justice and equality. Based on that pattern, KL6 might be coming on October 14, Indigenous People’s Day? We’ll see about that.
View this post on Instagram
More The Pop Out Concerts?
The iconic moment of Kendrick Lamar and the entire stadium singing “Not Like Us” six times on The Pop Out Concert: Ken and Friends is unforgettable. Given Kendrick Lamar’s recent releases and the strategic timing of his events, it’s likely we can expect more concerts and performances in the near future. Keep an eye out for announcements, Kenny might be coming your way!
Let’s appreciate the “Not Like Us” performance once again, featuring Dr. Dre.
@hottopic and we would listen 20 more times 😤 #kendrick #kendricklamar #notlikeus #kenandfriends #thepopout ♬ original sound – hottopicofficial
2024 has undeniably been the year of Kendrick Lamar, and it also looks like 2025 will be too.
