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USA Today
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Kendrick Lamar: Not like anyone else
Kendrick Lamar: Not like anyone else Show Caption Hide Caption Kendrick Lamar sets Billboard record with three albums in top 10 Kendrick Lamar has made history as the first rapper to have three albums simultaneously charting in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. unbranded - Entertainment Kendrick Lamar swept this year's Grammy Awards with his stinging No. 1 hit 'Not Like Us.' It's a layered title that the Compton rapper said embodies 'the man I represent … he has morals, he has values, he believes in something.' It's also definitive of his outlier status in music, an artist able to capture the respect of industry elites – he won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018 – while retaining his authenticity with hip-hop fans, many of whom have followed his 15-year-career since its infancy. Lamar was the first rapper to place three albums concurrently in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. He's the leading nominee at 2025's American Music Awards, earning more nods than Taylor Swift and Beyoncé at the fan-voted show. He's also in the midst of one of the most lucrative tours of the year, a career-defining spectacle unveiled in stadiums – rare venues for hip-hop artists – with friend and collaborator SZA. As Lamar returns to his home state for the first of three concerts at SoFi Stadium near LA, we look at how he has become unlike anyone else in music right now. Kendrick Lamar is at the 'commercial apex of his career' To call Lamar's recent eruption in the mainstream a breakout almost sounds silly. He has been a barrier-busting pop culture takeover. 'I don't think we've ever seen a calendar year for a rapper like the one Kendrick Lamar has had,' said Justin Tinsley, a Lamar fan since the rapper dropped his 'Overly Dedicated' mixtape in 2010. Tinsley, a senior sports and culture reporter with ESPN's Andscape, has delved into the cultural significance of other marquee hip-hop stars, with recent biographies on Notorious B.I.G. (2022's 'It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World That Made Him') and an ESPN podcast about Nipsey Hussle (2021's 'The King of Crenshaw'). Lamar's undiminished musical output – exemplified on his current 'GNX' album – bundled with the five 2025 Grammys, the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show ever and his coolly confident Grand National Tour, has led informed fans such as Tinsley to determine Lamar 'is at the commercial apex of his career.' But the embrace of Lamar isn't limited to his expanding mainstream appeal. The kudos hail from not only music industry cognoscenti, but from an array of familiar names including former President Barack Obama, Eminem, Misty Copeland, Taylor Swift and U2, the latter two who have collaborated with the acclaimed rapper. Need further proof of Lamar's stratospheric standing? Take a look at ticket receipts and music charts. The $11.8 million gross from the April 26 tour stop at AT&T Stadium outside of Dallas is the biggest haul by a rapper in a single concert as a headlining or coheadlining artist in history, according to the Touring Data site. The show ‒ a genuine timeshare with SZA ‒ showcases both Lamar's artistic leanings with dim lighting and socially provocative videos and his deliberate flow, highlighted on hits such as "DNA" and "Humble." On the charts, Lamar's current collaboration with SZA, the ballad 'Luther,' which is named for soul great Luther Vandross and samples his duet with Cheryl Lynn, 'If This World Were Mine,' has topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 11 weeks. The standing surpasses a nine-week record from 1981 for a song featuring only a solo man and woman: Lionel Richie and Diana Ross' iconic duet 'Endless Love.' Lamar's 'commitment to storytelling' sets him apart A few hours before Lamar and SZA launched their tour at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis in April, a dedicated disciple who identified himself as Mo B., sat at a nearby hotel bar before meeting the same five college friends with whom he's seen Lamar perform on every tour. Mo, a Minneapolis native now living in Chicago, flew in specifically to witness Lamar play his inaugural stadium show. 'A lot of artists, when they hit fame, they stray from who they are, but he doubled down on it and attracted new and younger fans,' Mo said. 'I always tell my friends, who would have thought the bigger he gets, the better he is? And that he's stayed true to who he is, is wonderful.' Despite the critical acclaim that included the Pulitzer for his 'Damn' album – the first time the award was bestowed upon a non-jazz or classical artist – and that trove of 22 Grammys (three behind leader Jay-Z) from 57 nominations, Lamar has skillfully teetered between mainstream adoration and undiminished credibility with fans. The reason, on its surface, is simple: his storytelling. It was after hearing the 'R.O.T.C.' interlude, Lamar's rumination on the music industry and his personal struggles from his 'Overly Dedicated' album, that Mo became enraptured by the rap luminary's music. 'His storytelling stuck with me and (Lamar's 2011 debut album) 'Section.80' solidified my fandom,' Mo said. 'It's like he makes a documentary of his life with his music.' Tinsley, who considers Lamar's 2012 major-label breakthrough 'Good Kid, M.A.A.D City,' one of the Top 10 rap albums in history, echoes the storyteller refrain to affirm his admiration of Lamar's music. 'He's been one of the most successful rap artists, but he's not sacrificing the soul of his music. When you listen to him speak, you can hear he's pulling from things that he's lived,' he said. 'There's a commitment to storytelling in his music, but he's also very theatrical and visceral.' Lamar's musical boldness is key Storytelling is only a portion of Lamar's genius. Marcus J. Moore, an author and music journalism teacher at University of Maryland, College Park, starting working on his book, 'The Butterfly Effect: How Kendrick Lamar Ignited the Soul of Black America,' the same year the cerebral rapper won his Pulitzer. In the five years since the book's October 2020 release, Moore has watched Lamar blossom from 'a scrappy upstart who wasn't confident in his ability' to a breakthrough where he feels Lamar has 'realized the music he makes and the message he has is vital … His recent music speaks to the notion of, 'I can stand in the back of the room and still be Kendrick Lamar.'' Along with that perspective comes a deeper dive into musical boldness. Lamar will turn 38 on June 17, but he's already proven his skill with multiple genres, mixing elements of pop ('All the Stars') with rock ('Humble') with stringent rap ('Blacker the Berry') with jazz ('Rigamortis'). This pledge to artistic integrity is another reason Lamar continues to accrue a diverse, multi-generational fan base, as demonstrated by the 50,000-plus fans at the Minneapolis tour kickoff. 'Kendrick has always marched to the beat of his own drum and made the record he wants to make,' Moore said. ' 'Good Kid, M.A.A.D City,' was incredible and he could have easily come out with part two. But instead he said, I'm gonna come out with this weird jazz record – 'To Pimp a Butterfly' – and jazz heads like me were like, 'Are you really gonna do that?' and then he said, 'I'm gonna make this loud record and call it 'Damn.' That's what he's done. He's never chased trends.' Did the Drake feud fuel Kendrick Lamar's popularity? Part of Lamar's marathon year backpedals to March 2024, when he dropped a strident verse on the Metro Boomin'/Future track 'Like That.' Forget 'the big three … it's just big ME,' Lamar rhymed, an obvious reference to the lyric crowning Drake, J. Cole and Lamar as the top three rappers in the game on Drake's 2023 song, 'First Person Shooter.' What followed was months of snarky, controversial lyrical slaps between Lamar and Drake. In January, Drake filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group alleging it defamed him by releasing Lamar's "Not Like Us," which insinuated the Canadian rapper as a 'certified pedophile.' UMG, which represents both Drake and Lamar, has moved to dismiss the case, calling diss track lyrics 'rhetorical hyperbole.' 'That Drake beef had been brewing for well over a decade,' Tinsley said. 'I doubt Kendrick did it with the intention of 'maybe I'll get some Grammys for this.' It just so happened that he and Drake are the two biggest names in the genre. It's like what you would have gotten with LeBron (James) and Kobe (Bryant) in the NBA Finals.' Moore agrees the publicity from the feud elevated Lamar in mainstream outlets since Drake was more of a household name because of his TV background (he acted on teen drama "Degrassi" from 2001 to 2008) and pop crossover appeal. But, he said, 'Real rap heads knew Drake didn't stand a chance. He's not a rapper, whereas Kendrick is a lyricist through and through and a student of old-school hip-hop. But for Kendrick to annihilate a name that big and then write a song that became a huge hit and then perform at halftime? That's the trifecta.'
The Star
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Filipino American composer Susie Ibarra wins 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Music
MANILA: Bridging ancestral tradition with environmental urgency, Filipino American composer and percussionist Susie Ibarra (pic) has recently claimed the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Music for her visionary work, 'Sky Islands.' 'Sky Islands' is a piece that reimagines the boundaries of contemporary music while celebrating the biodiversity of the Philippines. Premiered on July 18 last year, at the Asia Society in New York, 'Sky Islands' draws from the ecosystems found in the highland rainforests of Luzon. In a recent Ojai Talk with Ara Guzelimian, Ibarra emphasised the importance of biodiversity in these rare and vital landscapes, which deeply informed her creative process. 'Sky Islands,' she shared, was born from an urgency to give voice to the ecological and cultural stories embedded in these endangered terrains. The Pulitzer jury praised the work for '[challenging] the notion of the compositional voice by interweaving the profound musicianship and improvisational skills of a soloist as a creative tool,' highlighting its bold and collaborative spirit. At the heart of 'Sky Islands' is Ibarra's commitment to using sound as a medium for ecological storytelling. Drawing from native instruments like bamboo percussion, flutes and the kulintang – a traditional gong ensemble from southern Philippines – she created a layered sonic tapestry that invites reflection on both nature and heritage. The performance took place on 'Floating Gardens,' a set of sculptural gongs that served as both visual centerpiece and resonant sound chamber, elevating the immersive experience. The ensemble featured Ibarra alongside fellow percussionist Levy Lorenzo, flutist Claire Chase and the Bergamot Quartet: violinists Ledah Finck and Sarah Thomas, violinist Amy Huimei Tan and cellist Irene Han. Speaking about the piece, Ibarra expressed her hope to bring attention to the 'rich and fragile ecosystems' that inspired her. Through 'Sky Islands,' she invites listeners into a space where ancestral memory, environmental urgency and musical experimentation converge. In 2024, Fil-Am journalist Nicole Dungca was a finalist for her work on 'Searching for Maura' with The Washington Post. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
Bloomberg
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Bloomberg
A Master of Contemporary Opera Reconsiders US Optimism
If anyone can claim to transcend the extremely niche world of contemporary classical music, it's John Adams. He has received the Pulitzer Prize for Music, five Grammys and scores of other awards. He also serves as the creative chair of the Los Angeles Philharmonic; guest conducts orchestras around the world including the Berliner Philharmoniker, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Wiener Symphoniker and the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. Niche or no, he is, as the New York Times said in a 2022 profile, arguably 'the greatest living American composer.' For all that, Adams, 78, is not feeling particularly triumphant about his current place in the US's cultural firmament. 'I think over a two-year period, there were six different productions of Nixon in China in Germany, France and Spain, and several of Doctor Atomic ' he says in an interview, referring to two of his best-known operas. 'But I've been very frustrated at how little interest there has been in my opera in this country. You know, I consider myself an American composer and my stories are almost all about American life.'
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Super Bowl Halftime Show Spurred Unoriginal 'DEI' Digs — But We Know What They're Really Saying
Kendrick Lamar's highly-anticipated Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on Sunday night brought a lot of excitement and joy to fans and music lovers across the globe. But the performance also prompted attacks from some calling it a 'DEI halftime show' — an uninspired charge similar to President Donald Trump's recent crusade against diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, practices. Lamar ― a Black Grammy-winning artist from Compton, California, who won a Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018 ― made history becoming the first solo hip-hop performer to headline the big halftime event. Some prominent conservatives on X, formerly Twitter, were evidently distressed over his groundbreaking show, calling his music 'garbage' and complaining that they couldn't comprehend him. Other right-wingers opted to weaponize the term DEIby labeling the Super Bowlperformance, which celebrated aspects of Black culture, as an example of 'DEI.' People on X, formerly Twitter, have since pointed out that the DEI-related messaging surrounding the halftime show seems clear: DEI, for many, is code word for Black people. And this is not the first time DEI critics have appeared to use the term as a dog whistle to discredit the qualifications of Black people, and other marginalized groups. They're calling it a DEI halftime because they use DEI as a slur… — Nina Turner (@ninaturner) February 10, 2025 There are real problems with the ideology around DEI. But this is a reminder that to some people "DEI" just means "anything with black people."No one is oppressed because the halftime show was cast with black performers. People need to stop being such delicate snowflakes. — Billy Binion (@billybinion) February 10, 2025 If you didn't like the halftime show, coolBut inserting the DEI because you're mad It then becomes racist.. — Zoe Leigh 🇺🇸🌹 (@mrstealyourwig1) February 10, 2025 What Jack means is that he doesn't like Black people. When MAGA says 'DEI' they mean people of color. Racist pieces of trash should always be called out. Jack, you're an insecure, racist loser. — Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) February 10, 2025 Other X users called some of the DEI attacks hypocritical, since some critics complained about a lack of racial diversity in Lamar's performance, which spotlighted Black dancers and other prominent Black stars like singer SZA, tennis legend Serena Williams and actor Samuel L. Jackson. Lmaoo now you want DEI? — Why Stop Now🤷🏽♂️ (@Down4Mizzou) February 10, 2025 DEI is overrrr! What's pathetic is you publicly crying on X and letting everyone know you were looking for 1 white person in a NFL half-time show. I thought y'all were boycotting anyway. — Shawn's Perspective (@Shawns_Values) February 10, 2025 If the halftime show had people of every race represented some folks would complain it was DEI - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. It never occurred to them that an artist could just have an entirely Black cast. 🤣 — Decoding Fox News (@DecodingFoxNews) February 10, 2025 Conservatives have been ramping up attacks on actual DEI practices for years, and Trump's recent executive actions against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have already had real consequences since he took office last month. During his inaugural address, the president broached the topic of race by saying, 'We will forge a society that is colorblind and merit-based.' His rhetoric surrounding meritocracy — and other attacks on DEI — suggests that people representing marginalized groups don't actually earn their achievements. But as Parker McMullen Bushman, CEO and founder of Ecoinclusive Strategies, previously told HuffPost, DEI practices are instead about 'recognizing talent that has historically been ignored or undervalued.' And as with so many other cases, suggestions that Lamar wasn't qualified to perform at the Super Bowl couldn't be further from the truth. Lamar's rap beef with Drake dominated the mainstream music and pop culture world this past year. His hit diss track 'Not Like Us' had topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and it earned him five Grammy awards earlier this month. Lamar emphasized the influential role hip-hop and rap have on music culture overall during a speech onstage at the Grammys. 'At the end of the day, nothing more powerful than rap music — I don't care what it is,' he said while accepting the award for Song of the Year. 'We are the culture, it's going to always stay here and live forever ... I just hope you respect the art form.' Rap mogul Jay-Z, whose Roc Nation company served as co-executive producers of the halftime show, previously said in a statement announcing Lamar as the headliner that the Compton rapper has the 'ability to define and influence culture globally.' Lamar has long used his music as a vehicle for storytelling about different Black experiences in America — and this year's Super Bowl performance was no different. The performance was 'consistent with his brand of artistry, which masterfully centers culture while making a statement — and it's always done in a way that is so rich yet so nuanced that it deeply resonates with Black people in this country,' Danielle Bell, associate professor at Northwestern University, told HuffPost. And for those criticizing Lamar's Super Bowl performance for celebrating and focusing on hip-hop/rap and Black culture, Bell says: 'It absolutely did.' 'So the question then becomes, 'Why are you criticizing that?'' Matt Gaetz Gets Blunt Reminder After His Super Bowl Slam Of Kendrick Lamar Goes Viral Kendrick Lamar Shuts Down Super Bowl Halftime Show With Electrifying Set — And A Final Blow To Drake MAGA Thoroughly Flips Out Over 'Satanic' Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Show
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How long is Super Bowl halftime? What to know about Kendrick Lamar's performance
USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. The countdown to Super Bowl 59 has entered its final hours, and the highly anticipated matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles is almost here. Fans are on the edge of their seats, eagerly looking forward to the game, while others are excited about the Apple Music Halftime Show, which will feature a performance by hip-hop star Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick Lamar is renowned for his influential songwriting and is set to headline the biggest show of the year in New Orleans. He has received significant recognition, including winning the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018, making him the first artist in his genre to achieve this honor. His songs "Like That," featuring Future and Metro Boomin, and "Not Like Us" have both reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In addition to topping the charts, Lamar also swept five categories at the recent Grammy Awards. Adding to the excitement, Lamar has revealed that he will be joined by the Grammy-winning artist SZA at the Caesars Superdome for the Super Bowl halftime show. More: Eagles vs. Chiefs Super Bowl odds: What spread, moneyline say about Super Bowl 59 NFL games are divided into four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes. However, the actual duration of a football game typically lasts around 3.5 hours. Halftime usually occurs approximately 1.5 hours into the game. If kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET, you can expect the halftime show to start between 8:00 and 8:15 p.m. ET. The Apple Music Halftime Show at the Super Bowl lasts about 12 minutes, slightly longer than the typical NFL game. NEED HELP MAKING PICKS: Super Bowl picks: Unlock exclusive data-driven predictions Date: Sunday, Feb. 9 Time: 6:30 p.m. ET TV: Fox Streaming: Tubi | Fubo (free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV | YouTube TV | Hulu with Live TV Location: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans) Watch the Super Bowl in 2025 live with Fubo We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Super Bowl halftime show: Time for Kendrick Lamar's performance
