Latest news with #SuperBowlLIXHalftimeShow
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kendrick Lamar Takes Latest Verbal Jab At Drake During Grand National Tour
Kendrick Lamar reignited his feud with Drake in dramatic fashion during the explosive opening night of the Grand National Tour on Saturday (April 19). Held at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota, the joint tour with fellow TDE alum SZA kicked off with a bang — literally and lyrically — as Kendrick took aim at his longtime rival in a bold, theatrical moment that had fans buzzing. Midway through the show, the stadium's jumbo screen lit up with a pre-recorded skit featuring Lamar under cross-examination by a fictional attorney. The scene was set like a courtroom drama, as the lawyer grilled Kendrick about a key date: 'Sunday, Feb. 9,' a nod to his appearance at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show. 'I don't keep up with the dates,' Lamar coolly replied. But the moment that truly stole the spotlight came when the attorney fired back, 'Ok, does this ring a bell? Drop. Drop. Drop. Drop….' The phrase — clearly mocking Drake's 'drop, drop' ad-lib from his own diss track Family Matters — echoed through the stadium. Then, the screen abruptly cut to black. Seconds later, the pounding first line of Kendrick's chart-topping diss 'Not Like Us' blasted through the speakers, sending the crowd into a frenzy. It was a calculated move, showcasing Kendrick's flair for narrative and spectacle, as well as his refusal to let the rap beef simmer down completely. In a further flex of dominance, Lamar also performed 'Euphoria,' another fiery installment in the lyrical war between the two rap juggernauts. Now more than a year since the first lyrical shots were exchanged, Kendrick made it clear he has no plans to let the dust settle. With this opening act, he turned a live performance into a battlefield — proving once again that when it comes to rap rivalries, he's still very much in the fight. See footage of Kendrick's jab at Drake during his opening Grand National Tour set below. More from DeMar DeRozan Throws Hands After Being Accosted By Drake Fan At Sushi Restaurant Kendrick Lamar, SZA Bless Fans With Every Hit On Grand National Tour: Full Setlist Ye Calls Drake's Lawsuit Against UMG The "Biggest Victory In Music"
Express Tribune
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Drake teases 'uneasy' new chapter in cryptic Instagram post, hints at upcoming changes
Drake seems to be preparing for a new phase in his career, but fans may want to brace themselves, as the rapper's latest social media post suggests that his next chapter might not be for everyone. The OVO rapper shared a cryptic Instagram post that has fans buzzing with speculation about what comes next. 'U know I grew up non confrontational and always treated this game as a sport where my pen won gold, but my these days the podium has been hard for all of us to ignore,' the post began, leading many to believe that it could be a reference to his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar. Recently, Lamar delivered a fiery performance of "Not Like Us" at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, just days after taking home multiple Grammy Awards. Drake had previously promised another round in their rivalry, with Lamar responding during his halftime announcement, 'You know there's only one opportunity to win a championship. No round twos.' As Drake continues his message, he hints that whatever is coming next could be uncomfortable for some fans. He adds, 'I understand that this next chapter may leave you feeling uneasy, but I hope you see my honesty as clarity not charity that answers some questions especially about the unanswered texts you've been sending me.' This statement, along with the accompanying cryptic photos, has only deepened the mystery surrounding what's to come. Among the images shared, Drake posted selfies, live performance shots, and a screengrab from the 2017 film Phantom Thread. One particularly notable image features two Zofran pills, a medication used to prevent nausea, often linked to chemotherapy or radiation therapy. This choice of imagery only fuels curiosity about the artist's upcoming plans and whether this shift signa ls a new, more vulnerable direction for the rapper. While specifics about his next project remain unclear, the post comes on the heels of the February 14 release of $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, his collaborative album with PartyNextDoor. It also follows the postponement of several Australian and New Zealand tour dates, which were reportedly due to a 'scheduling conflict.' As fans await further details, it's clear that Drake's next move is sure to stir some reactions.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kendrick Lamar Sent Coded Message To Black America During Super Bowl, Amanda Gorman Warns Florida Parents After Inaugural Poem Gets Banned, Why Super Bowl Star Jalen Hurts Rents Modest Philly Apartment, What Happened During The Red Summer of 1919 And More
If the only takeaway you got from Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show performance was that he gave another deathblow to Drake's career – I'll need you to watch it again. And probably again after that. - Ernest Owens Read More When Amanda Gorman read her poem, 'The Hill We Climb,' at former President Joe Biden's inauguration, she became the youngest poet to deliver a poem at a presidential inauguration. Although the 26-year-old Los Angeles native says she felt an immense sense of pride at being included in such an important moment in American history, she had no idea her work would resonate the way it did. And in a recent interview with 'Meet The Press,' Gorman opened up to moderator Kristen Welker about how she felt when she learned that there was an active campaign to remove 'The Hill We Climb' from schools around the country. - Angela Johnson Read More After winning his first Super Bowl, you could expect Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts would need a bigger trophy cabinet, but it seems the NFL star has no plans to upgrade his lifestyle, and he has a pretty good reason for it. - Phenix S Halley Read More Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has a lot to celebrate these days. Hurts, who just led the Eagles to a 40 - 22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs to become one of just four Black quarterbacks with a Super Bowl 'W' under his belt, is about to join an even more exclusive team, as he prepares to say 'I Do' to his fiancée Bryonna 'Bry' Rivera Burrows. And because there's nothing we love more than Black love around here. we're taking a little time out to celebrate their story. - Angela Johnson Read More Philadelphia Eagles star C.J. Gardner-Johnson is feeling what it's like to be an enemy of the Swifties after attacking Travis Kelce on social media. But before he even has a chance to respond, his mother is coming to the rescue. - Noah A. McGee Read More Most Black Americans have never heard of the Red Summer of 1919…but it is an element of Black history that we need to pay attention to. This country specializes in committing monstrous atrocities and then ignoring the consequences of their actions. It happened with Native Americans and the Trail of Tears. And, of course, it happened with Black folks. This truth is best captured when we consider what happened in the year 1919. - Lawrence Ware Read More Even though social media can instrumental in building community amongst Black folks, it has become just as easy to peddle hate. One TikTok user was reminded of this fact when he posted about being a commercial pilot. - Candace McDuffie Read More Earlier this week, we told you that Kanye West — who now goes by Ye — bought local ad time in Los Angeles during the Super Bowl to promote the latest from his Yeezy fashion line. The ad, which was shot on his iPhone from a dentist chair (we're also confused), encouraged viewers to visit his website where the only thing for a t-shirt with a swastika on it. - Angela Johnson Read More While many states have a plethora of foods recognized as 'state foods,' it seems one southern state is looking to add cornbread to its growing palette... yes, that's right— cornbread. - Phenix S Halley Read More We know Marcus Garvey as a powerful figure in Black history who dedicated much of his life to promoting self-love among Black people and encouraging an eventual return to their ancestral homeland of Africa. An outspoken Black nationalist who is said to have influenced other civil rights leaders including Malcolm X, many of Garvey's supporters believe his 1923 conviction on mail fraud charges was politically motivated. However, former President Joe Biden issued a posthumous pardon to Garvey on his way out of the White House in January. - Angela Johnson Read More For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Express Tribune
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Kendrick Lamar dethrones Drake to set new Spotify record for highest monthly listeners by a rapper
Kendrick Lamar has set a new milestone in music streaming, surpassing Drake to become the rapper with the highest monthly listeners in Spotify history. The acclaimed artist now boasts over 88.8 million monthly listeners, breaking the previous record held by Drake. The achievement comes shortly after Lamar's highly anticipated performance at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show. Reports indicate that his performance attracted more than 133 million viewers, surpassing the legendary 1993 halftime show by Michael Jackson. The surge in listeners following the event indicates that the exposure played a key role in his latest streaming success. Lamar, known for his critically acclaimed discography and thought-provoking lyrics, has consistently been a dominant force in the rap industry. His recent surge in popularity is seen as a testament to his lasting influence and ability to connect with audiences worldwide. While this new record is remarkable, industry analysts expect his monthly listener count to rise even further in the coming days. The milestone further solidifies Lamar's place among hip-hop's greatest artists. His dominance on streaming platforms underscores how digital music consumption continues to shape the modern industry.
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
