Kendrick Lamar, SZA bring the hits and more to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford: Review
There was a praying mantis, a giant ant, a Buick GNX and a greeting from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy before the concert.
With all that, the Kendrick Lamar and SZA Grand National Tour show Thursday, May 8 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford sure wasn't dull.
The Murphy greeting, on social media, noted that it was a hometown show for SZA, aka Solána Rowe of Maplewood.
'Congrats to Jersey's own @sza!' Murphy posted on X. 'Keep making us proud.'
'Am I home or what?' said SZA to cheers from the stage at the beginning of the evening.
Thursday's concert, the first of the 2025 MetLife Stadium season, featured two distinctive artists, Lamar and SZA, who ambitiously merged their distinctive visions into one nearly three-hour show.
It was big, bold and brash and a bit disjointed at times, but overall its uniqueness was a strength. The two stars performed together and apart intermittently and also appeared together in a filmed vignette. Lamar's songs were framed by gray lighting hues on stage, set against Brutalist shapes on the video screens, and marching steps by his dance troupe.
Especially striking was the staging of 'Reincarnated,' which featured the dancers sitting on steps at the rear of the stage performing rhythmic arm movements while stark lighting overhead threw long shadows.
Lamar delivered his rhymes with verve and intent throughout the night, including on 'Not Like Us,' the Drake diss record that has grown into something more.
While Lamar was hard edges and blunt force, SZA was a floral treat thanks to lilting vocals and enticing melodies. 'Diamond Boy (DTM)' was exquisite and 'Kill Bill' had the stadium singing along. In contrast to Lamar's staging, SZA performed against a bright and colorful screen of green pastures and blooming florals.
And insects. A praying mantis was a motif for both artist, and SZA jumped atop a giant ant name Anthony for 'Garden.'
Later in the night SZA grew wings, but alas, she didn't fly over the audience. She and Lamar did rise over the crowd on two platforms for a duet on 'All the Stars,' their smash hit from 2018's 'The Black Panther.'
Speaking of smash hits, the two also performed 'Luther,' which is currently the No. 1 song in the country.
After nearly three hours, it was time to go home. Lamar and SZA both went into the Buick GNX on stage.
'MetLife Stadium, until the next time, which is tomorrow,' Lamar said. 'We love you.'
Lamar and SZA's Grand National Tour show begins 7 p.m. Friday, May 9 at MetLife. Ticket prices begin at $166 on Ticketmaster.
Before Thursday's show, SZA appeared at her Not Beauty 'pop-up experience' at the American Dream mall, which is across Route 120 but accessible by a pedestrian bridge, from MetLife Stadium. The pop-up is also open 1 to 8 p.m. Friday, and SZA has announced that that she'll also be making another appearance at the Not Beauty pop-up before Friday's show.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at cjordan@app.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Kendrick Lamar, SZA bring the hits, more to MetLife Stadium: Review
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