Kendrick Lamar is in his own lane. From proclaiming to be the best rapper alive, to winning multiple Grammy’s, creating one of the most widely played songs in the history of a rap beef, and now performing at the Superbowl, Kendrick star continues to rise.
The Grammy-winning rapper announced he had landed the coveted gig in September, telling viewers he hoped they would “be pulling up” for the performance and encouraging them to “wear your best dress,” even if they’re tuning in from home.
But this isn’t Kendrick Lamar’s first Super Bowl performance. He was among the group of artists who headlined the halftime show during Super Bowl LVI in 2022, sharing the spotlight with hip-hop legends Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, and Dr. Dre.
The rap megastar — who, earlier this month, secured the Grammy award for song of the year with his diss track, “Not Like Us” — said he’s looking forward to bringing hip-hop to the NFL’s championship game.
“Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date,” Lamar said in a September statement. “And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.”
While his lyrics and rhyme skills may get the party going, the things Kendrick does in his personal life may seem like he’s going against the grain. Even paying for a modest house cash instead of financing a multi-million dollar home like many other rappers, Kendrick seems to go left when others are going right.
The young MC is also, thanks to the California State Senate, an official icon. In 2014, the government body declared Lamar a “Generational Icon” for his artistic, charitable, and community efforts. In recognition of his work, the rapper was invited onto the Senate floor to speak and receive an oversized framed document.
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Lamar was introduced to the California Senate by fellow Compton native Senator Isadore Hall III. The Senator applauded the rapper’s 10-year music career, but specifically picked out his work helping the youth of his home city, by supporting music and sports programs and donating hundreds of thousands of dollars. Lamar might be one of the biggest names in hip-hop right now, but he’s certainly not forgotten Compton — the city is the backdrop to much of his material, including the autobiographical good kid, m.A.A.d city.
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What Kendrick Said He Will Never Do
During an interview on The Arsenio Hall Show, Kendrick Lamar admitted an unfortunate life lesson that he learned growing up.
Kendrick opened up about growing up in a family that partied regularly, including substance use. Because of this, he doesn’t drink or do drugs, and wants to be an advocate for living drug-free. In addition, he is speaking out against the promotion of drug use in hip-hop music. The latest drug he’s focusing on is “Molly,” the dangerous drug that rappers are now speaking about to impressionable youth.
Lamar says that he wants to tell the public that there are times when you can’t follow a trend just because it has become popular.
“Sometimes you have the trends that’s not cool,” Kendrick says.
The drug known as “Molly” was most recently publicized when the rapper Rick Ross spoke of using the drug to sleep with a woman without her permission. Another song by Wiz Khalifa repeats the word “Molly” over and over again in the song, as if the rapper is spending his life looking for it.
Kendrick is breaking with some of his fellow artists by stating that the promotion of the drug is not good because people are dying from using it.
“You may have certain artists portraying these trends and don’t really have that lifestyle and then it gives off the wrong thing. And it becomes kinda corny after a while. It’s really about keeping hip-hop original and pushing away the corniness in it.”
Why Mental Health is Important to Kendrick Too
Kendrick really opened up when discussing the song “u” off of his 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly. In the emotional track, Lamar discusses his inner demons, rapping, “I know your secrets… I know depression is restin’ on your heart for two reasons… And if this bottle could talk I cry myself to sleep / B—- everything is your fault… Shoulda killed yo a– a long time ago / You shoulda feeled that black revolver blast a long time ago / And if those mirrors could talk it would say ‘you gotta go’ / And if I told your secrets / The world’ll know money can’t stop a suicidal weakness.”
“I’ve pulled that song not only from previous experiences, but, I think my whole life, I think everything is drawn out of that. Even situations from Good Kid M.A.A.D City…” Lamar said, naming his smash hit 2012 album that launched his career. “Nothing was as vulnerable as that record. So it’s even pulling from those experiences of coming up in Compton. It’s pulling from the experience of going through change and accepting change — that’s the hardest thing for man, accepting change.”
The integrated health conglomerate Kaiser-Permanente repurposed some of Kendrick’s rhymes in an ad encouraging people to be more forthcoming about discussing the illness in order to break the stigma around it.
In the 90-second spot, a young black boy wanders around a desolate cityscape. His melancholy recital of Lamar’s words is superimposed as a voiceover.
“I’ve been dealing with depression ever since an adolescent,” the boy rhymes through Lamar’s lyrics. “Duckin’ every other blessin’, I can never see the message.”
“Nothing was as vulnerable as that record,” he said. “It’s pulling from the experience of going through change and accepting change — that’s the hardest thing for man, accepting change.”
Nearly 15 million Americans suffer from depression, Kaiser says, but many people feel ashamed or embarrassed to get help because of ongoing stigmas around mental health — particularly among black communities, where resources tend to be more limited.
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