Along with his extremely anticipated 2025 Tremendous Bowl halftime present looming, Kendrick Lamar not too long ago sat down for an in-depth pre-Large Sport interview.
Kendrick Lamar Fields Questions Throughout Tremendous Bowl Press Convention
On Thursday (Feb. 6), Kendrick Lamar sat down with Apple Music Radio‘s Ebro Darden and Nadeska Alexis for an unique interview throughout a press convention forward of his upcoming Tremendous Bowl halftime present. As Ok-Dot ramps as much as his large second on the grand stage this Sunday, Feb. 9, the Compton MC opened up about his street to the Tremendous Bowl, his enormous yr in 2024, what followers can anticipate on Sunday and extra. Listed here are the highlights from the in-depth interview.
“It is only a continuum of who I’m, actually. I’ve at all times stayed to myself. I’ve at all times been in my very own bubble, whether or not it is with the fam or coaching. How I course of all of it is, I simply cotinue to do what I used to be doing 10 years in the past. And that is simply bettering myself, bettering my craft and never trying on the vivid lights.”
- On Did He Ever Suppose He Would Carry out on the Tremendous Bowl
“The eagerness I’ve now remains to be the fervour I had then. I believe that carried on to the Tremendous Bowl. It is all about being current. So long as I used to be current within the studio and current in no matter that line was or mistake was, rapping or doing hooks or choruses, if I used to be current in that second, I felt that zeal. I believe being current and never truly foreseeing all the pieces saved me in a grounded frame of mind to be able to be in large phases like this.”
- On Being the First Solo Rap Artist to Carry out on the Tremendous Bowl
“It makes me take into consideration the grind of it. Lots of people do not see the story earlier than the glory…It jogs my memory of the essence and the core response of rap and hip-hop and the way far it could possibly go. For me, that sh*t imply all the pieces. As a result of it places the tradition on the forefront the place it must be. And never minimized to a catchy tune or verse. It is a true artwork kind.”
“My intent, from day one, was to at all times hold the character of it as a sport. I do not care how muthaf**kas take a look at it as a collaborative effort. That is cool, too. However I like when artists grit their tooth. I nonetheless watch battle raps…This has at all times been the core definition of who I’m. And it has been like that since day one. I do not suppose it was a factor for this yr. I believe it was a continuum.”
- On His Headspace Whereas Creating GNX
“I wished to again to the forfront of simply the chunk and the grit of rap. Simply all raps and onerous a*s beats. That the fundamentals for me. I considered, ‘Rattling, what did I used to love once I was a child?’ Hards raps, good beats that is smacking. It was an excellent transition from Mr. Morale.”
- On “Not Like Us” Profitable 5 Grammy Awards
“I simply take into consideration the tradition, actually. It is at all times there for me first. When folks discuss rap, the conversations I hear, they suppose it is simply rap and it isn’t an acutal artform. So while you put information like that on the forefront, it reminds folks that that is extra than simply one thing that got here 50 years in the past…I like to see that it will get that kind of recognition for some straigt raps. From awards to Billboards, all that. As a result of that is truely simply as large as an artform as another style. And I really feel completed to have the ability to do this.”
- On Creating His Personal Label pgLang
“That is my group. It is 30 unimaginable people, 5 extrordinary executives, that work day-in, day-out to ensure we’re doing one thing that can lengthy stay the tradition. From a music standpoint, from a artistic standpoint, style, movie, books. Day-in, day-out of simply being round like-minded people which have completely different views exterior of music…It challenges me and I can not wait to see what occurs subsequent.”
- On How He Approached His Tremendous Bowl Set
“I like being current. It’s extremely onerous for me to stay up to now. I respect the previous wholeheartedly. However being within the now and simply being locked in to how I really feel and the power I’ve now. That is the L.A. power for me. That is one thing that I need to carry over to New Orleans and for the world to see…I need that power to ooze out the tv and the folks in that buildilng.”
- On What Folks Ought to Anticipate From His Tremendous Bowl Efficiency
“Storytelling. I believe I’ve at all times been very open about storytelling thoughout my catalog and my historical past of music. I’ve at all times had a ardour about bringing that to no matter stage I am on.”
kendrick lamar tremendous bowl interview picture
Learn Extra: Why Selecting Kendrick Lamar to Carry out at 2025 Tremendous Bowl Makes Sense
When the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs hit the locker room on the midway level of the NFL’s 2025 season finale on Sunday, the eyes of an approximated 120-plus million folks will probably be fixated on Kendrick Lamar and his extraordinary stage presence. His former Prime Dawg Leisure labelmate and frequent collaborator SZA will probably be within the reduce as properly, as she was introduced as Kendrick’s particular visitor for the halftime set final month.
Learn Extra: Is Drake Attempting to Block Kendrick Lamar From Performing “Not Like Us” on the Tremendous Bowl?
Kendrick Lamar Is Coming Off a Clear Sweep on the 2025 Grammy Awards
Kendrick Lamar’s halftime efficiency will cap off what has already develop into one of the crucial monumental weeks in hip-hop historical past. This previous Sunday (Feb. 2), King Kenny added 5 Grammy Awards to his intensive trophy case. His chart-topping Drake diss observe, “Not Like Us,” gained golden gramophones in each single class he was nominated in, which included Finest Rap Track, Finest Rap Efficiency, Finest Music Video, Report of the Yr and the coveted Track of the Yr.
Ok-Dot’s clear sweep on the 67th annual Grammy Awards marks the very first time in music historical past a diss report created within the warmth of battle earned such honors.
Learn Extra: Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar Have Convo About 2025 Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present
Try Kendrick Lamar’s pre-Tremendous Bowl interview and watch the official trailer for his upcoming halftime efficiency under.