Get ready, folks! The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show is about to get a whole lot more poetic, and possibly a bit louder, too.
Kendrick Lamar, the man who turned hip-hop into high art, is set to headline the halftime show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9, 2025.
The announcement came in hot from Roc Nation, Apple Music, and the NFL, with Lamar ready to remind everyone why rap is the genre that still runs the world.
“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. And you know what? He’s probably right.
The Genius of Kendrick Lamar: More Than Just a Rapper
Lamar is not just any rapper; he’s an artist who has his finger on the pulse of culture. Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter himself, who’s no slouch in the music game, had this to say: “Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer.
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.” When Jay-Z calls you a “once-in-a-generation” talent, you’d better believe it.
But the accolades don’t stop there. Apple Music’s Oliver Schusser, who clearly knows his way around a playlist, is thrilled about Kendrick’s upcoming show: “The Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show is a celebration of the music we love and the incredible artists who make it, all on the world’s biggest stage.
Apple is thrilled to bring this show, starring the absolutely incomparable Kendrick Lamar, to fans worldwide with Apple Music’s industry-leading Spatial Audio quality along with tons of exclusive videos, interviews, playlists, and so much more across Apple Music.”
Schusser’s right—the stage couldn’t be bigger. And if there’s one artist who knows how to own it, it’s Kendrick Lamar.
Seth Dudowsky, Head of Music at the NFL, isn’t mincing words either: “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.” Well, when the NFL’s Head of Music says you’re a game-changer, you tend to believe it.
Kendrick Lamar: From Good Kid to Game-Changer
Kendrick Lamar has been redefining hip-hop since his breakthrough album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, hit the streets in 2012.
Since then, he’s racked up 17 Grammy Awards, making him one of the most awarded hip-hop artists of all time. And let’s not forget the Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 masterpiece, DAMN., which made him the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win the award. Not bad for a “good kid” from Compton.
Just this year, Lamar reminded us why he’s at the top of the game. His collaboration with Future and Metro Boomin on “Like That” held the Number 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks.
Then he followed it up with “Not Like Us,” which set records of its own, holding the top spot for two weeks. With each release, Lamar continues to prove he’s not just a rapper—he’s a cultural force.
With creative direction for his Super Bowl performance coming from his own imprint, pgLang, we can only imagine what kind of wild, mind-bending performance Lamar has up his sleeve.
Expect nothing less than a spectacle that could rival even the most epic fourth-quarter comeback.
The Super Bowl Halftime Show: The Biggest Stage in Music
The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show is being produced by DPS, with Roc Nation and Jesse Collins stepping in as executive producers.
And if that wasn’t enough star power, the legendary Hamish Hamilton will direct the live event. Roc Nation, of course, continues to serve as the strategic entertainment advisor, ensuring the halftime show doesn’t just entertain but leaves a lasting impression.
This isn’t the first time Apple Music has partnered with the NFL and Roc Nation to put on a halftime show that becomes the talk of the town.
Earlier this year, The Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show featuring Usher became the most-watched halftime performance ever, racking up three 2024 Emmy nominations.
And who could forget the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and, yes, Kendrick Lamar himself, which walked away with three Emmys, including Outstanding Variety Special (Live)?
With Kendrick Lamar set to headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show 2025, one thing is clear: We’re in for a performance that will be talked about for years.
So, mark your calendars, stock up on snacks, and make sure your Apple Music subscription is up to date—you won’t want to miss this one.