Kendrick Lamar Reflects on Hip-Hop, Authenticity, and His Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Performance

Last night in New Orleans, Kendrick Lamar joined Apple Music Radio hosts Ebro Darden and Nadeska Alexis for the official Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Press Conference. During the conversation, Lamar spoke candidly about his artistic journey, the significance of hip-hop as an art form, and the challenge of condensing 15 years of music into a 13-minute performance. Lamar took a moment to reflect on his early days in Compton, shuffling mixtapes and performing in small venues. He emphasized how these grassroots experiences shaped his career and remain integral to his artistry.

“Lot of people don’t see the story before the glory, man. That shit is like, shuffling out your mixtapes and going to neighborhoods and parties and performing there in hole-in-the-wall spots. It reminds me of the essence and the core response of rap and hip-hop, and how far it can go. So, for me, that shit means everything.”

For Lamar, hip-hop is more than catchy hooks and viral hits—it’s a deep-rooted culture that deserves recognition. “It puts the culture at the forefront, where it needs to be, and not minimized to just a catchy song or verse. This is a true art form.” Despite his meteoric rise, Lamar never envisioned himself performing at the Super Bowl. His focus, he explained, was always on the music itself.

“I wasn’t thinking about no Super Bowl. We was thinking about the best verse, and how we gonna split this five dollars at Church’s Chicken or something like that. There wasn’t no Super Bowl.” He credits his present-minded approach for keeping him grounded. “As long as I was present in the studio or present in whatever the line was... I think being present and not actually foreseeing everything kept me in a grounded state of mind in order to be at big stages like this.”

Lamar’s track “Not Like Us” recently took home GRAMMYs for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, a milestone he sees as a win for rap’s legitimacy as an art form. “As a writer, that’s what I can appreciate the most. And knowing how much time I’ve dedicated over the years in just trial and error. Writing the most terrible shit to some of the greatest shit. You know, we all do it. Writer’s block to figuring out how to find inspiration from the most non-popular aspects around me.” He also noted the importance of hip-hop receiving its due respect: “When people talk about rap, man, the conversations I hear, they think it’s just rap, and it’s not an actual art form. So when you put records like that at the forefront, it reminds people that this is more than just something that came 50 years ago.”

Kendrick Lamar emphasized the deep cultural ties between Black identity and New Orleans, noting how the city’s history resonates with his own upbringing in Los Angeles. He highlighted the Southern roots of many Black families in LA, including his own, shaping their dialect and cultural expression. For Lamar, authenticity is central to his artistry—he refuses to dilute his truth or alter his perspective for mainstream appeal. As he prepares for his Super Bowl Halftime performance, he sees it as an opportunity to showcase not just his evolution but also the power of storytelling that has defined his career.

Curating a 13-minute set from a catalog spanning 15 years is no easy feat, yet Lamar embraces the challenge as a reflection of his artistic journey. He underscores the importance of authenticity in the music industry, advising artists to embrace their uniqueness rather than chase trends. His pre-show routine blends physical preparation with soulful music to balance his excitement. More than just a personal milestone, Lamar views this moment as a defining one for hip-hop—a chance to bring its rich storytelling and cultural significance to the world’s biggest stage.