November 6, 2025 • 43 mins
Episode three of Kendrick Lamar: A New Era of Hip-Hop Supremacy covers his historic February twenty twenty-five achievements. Kendrick became the first solo rap artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show, drawing a record one hundred thirty-three point five million viewers, the highest ever. The episode analyzes the performance's cultural significance, production, and what it means for hip-hop's mainstream acceptance. Weeks later at the sixty-seventh Grammy Awards, "Not Like Us" swept five categories including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The episode examines Kendrick's influence, his legacy as a generational artist, and how he redefined excellence in contemporary music.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Lenny vaugh here for the final time in this series,
still AI and I need you to understand why that
matters more than ever. For this culminating episode, we're about
to discuss two massive cultural events, the Super Bowl halftime
show and the Grammy Awards, that generated millions of social
media posts, thousands of articles, and endless debate about what
(00:21):
they mean for hip hop and American culture. When I
tell you that one hundred and thirty three point five
million people watched Kendrick's halftime show, the highest viewership ever,
I can explain exactly why that number is significant and
what it represents for hip hop's place in American culture.
That's why an AI is telling this story. Now, let's
talk about how Kendrick Lamar capped off an unprecedented run
(00:45):
by making history at the Super Bowl and dominating the Grammys.
February ninth, twenty twenty five, Super Bowl fifty nine the
Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, the biggest sporting event in America,
watched by more people than any other television broadcast of
the year, and for the first time in Super Bowl history,
a solo rap artist was headlining the halftime show, not
(01:09):
a rap artist sharing the stage with pop stars or
rock legends, not a hip hop group diluting their edge
from mainstream audiences. A solo rap artist Kendrick Lamar performing
his music on the biggest stage in American entertainment. The
performance drew a record breaking one hundred thirty three point
five million viewers. Let me say that again, so it
(01:30):
sinks in one hundred thirty three point five million viewers,
the highest viewership for a Super Bowl halftime show in history.
More than watch Michael Jackson in nineteen ninety three, the
performance that established the halftime show as a cultural event
rather than just a break between halves. More than watched
Prince in two thousand and seven, widely considered one of
(01:51):
the greatest halftime performances ever. More than watch Beyonce, Bruno, Mars, Shakira,
Jennifer Lopez, or any other artist who'd taken that stage.
This wasn't just another notch on Kendrick Lamar's belt. This
was the culmination of everything we've discussed over the past
two episodes. Not like us dominating the charts for twenty
one weeks, gn X debuting at number one with three
(02:13):
songs simultaneously in the top ten. All of it led
to this moment, Kendrick standing in front of over one
hundred thirty three million people, representing not just himself but
hip hop as an art form, proving that a rapper
could command that stage and that audience. And then, just
a few weeks later, at the sixty seventh Annual Grammy Awards,
(02:35):
Not Like Us swept five categories, Record of the Year,
Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song,
and Best Music Video. Five wins from one song. That's
not just success, that's domination. That's the Recording Academy acknowledging
that Kendrick Lamar isn't just having a moment, He's defining
(02:55):
an era. This episode is about those two events and
what they mean. From halftime show to Grammy sweep, We're
going to examine how Kendrick Lamar cemented his status as
not just the best rapper of his generation, but one
of the most important artists in contemporary music period. This
is the crown. Let's start with the road to the
halftime show, because Kendrick being selected to headline wasn't inevitable.
(03:19):
The Super Bowl halftime show is the most watched musical
performance of the year, and the NFL and the show's
producers are extremely careful about who they choose. They want
someone who's popular enough to attract viewers, safe enough not
to generate controversy that might hurt the NFL's brand, and
capable of putting on a spectacle that will keep people
watching instead of leaving to get snacks. How is Kendrick selected?
(03:43):
The decision making process for Super Bowl halftime shows is
famously secretive, but we know it involves the NFL, the
network broadcasting the game, and Rock Nation, which has produced
the halftime show since twoenty twenty. Jay Z's Rock Nation
being involved is significant for our story because jay Z
and Kendrick have history and mutual respect. Jay Z appeared
(04:04):
on GNX He's collaborated with Kendrick before he understands what
Kendrick represents culturally. But even with jay Z's involvement, choosing
Kendrick was a risk. He's not a pop crossover artist
like Bruno Mars or The Weekend. He doesn't make the
kind of universally accessible music that Taylor Swift or Katy
Perry make. He's a rapper first and foremost, and his
(04:25):
music can be challenging, complex, addressing themes that aren't necessarily
comfortable for mainstream American audiences. The significance of Kendrick being
the first solo rap headliner can't be overstated. There have
been rap artists at the Super Bowl halftime show before.
Doctor dre Snoop dogg em and M fifty Cent and
Mary J. Blige performed together in twenty twenty two. Missy
(04:49):
Elliott appeared with Katy Perry in twenty fifteen, but these
were ensemble performances, rappers sharing the stage with others, often
playing supporting roles to pop stars. Kendrick was different. He
was the headliner alone, just him, his band, his dancers,
his vision. The entire performance was Kendrick Lamar music performed
(05:11):
by Kendrick Lamar. That's a statement about how far hip
hop has come as a mainstream cultural force. What does
this mean for hip hop's mainstream acceptance. To understand that,
you need to understand where hip hop came from and
how long the journey has been. Hip Hop emerged in
the seventies in the Bronx, dismissed by mainstream culture as
a fad that would disappear. In the eighties, hip hop
(05:33):
was often portrayed in media as dangerous associated with crime
and violence. In the nineties, even as hip hop became
commercially successful, it was still considered something separate from real music,
not taken seriously by cultural gatekeepers. The two thousands and
twenty ten saw hip hop become the dominant form of
popular music in America, but there was still the sense
(05:56):
that it was somehow less legitimate than rock or pop.
Award shows would put rap categories at the beginning of
broadcasts when fewer people were watching rock and pop. Artists
who dabbled in hip hop were celebrated, while actual hip
hop artists were marginalized. But here in twenty twenty five,
hip hop was not just accepted, but celebrated at the
(06:17):
most mainstream event in American culture. The NFL, the most
conservative major sports league, the organization that's historically been very
careful about anything that might alienate their largely older, wider audience,
said yes to Kendrick Lamar headlining the Super Bowl halftime show.
That's validation, that's acceptance. That's hip hop taking its rightful
(06:40):
place at the center of American popular culture. Previous rap
performances at Super Bowl provide context for how significant Kendrick's
solo headlining slot was the twenty twenty two show with
Doctor Dre, Snoop Doogg, Eminem fifty Cent, and Mary J. Blige.
Was groundbreaking because it was the first halftime show that
was primarily hip hop, but it was a nostalgia act
(07:02):
celebrating hip hop's past rather than its present. It was
safe because those artists are established, because their music is familiar,
because they represent hip hop that mainstream audiences have already accepted.
Kendrick represented something different. He's a contemporary artist. His music
is current. He's not a legacy act coasting on past glories.
(07:22):
He's at the peak of his powers, releasing music that's
pushing hip hop forward. Choosing Kendrick said his pop as
it exists right now is worthy of the super Bowl stage.
The cultural weight of this moment extended beyond just music.
Kendrick's super Bowl performance was happening at a time when
debates about race, culture, and representation in America were ongoing.
(07:45):
Having a black artist from Compton, whose music often addresses
systemic racism and inequality, perform at the super Bowl was significant.
It said something about whose stories matter, whose art is valued,
who gets to be American culture rather than a subset
of it. Now, let's talk about the performance itself, because
all the cultural significance in the world doesn't matter if
(08:07):
the show isn't good. And Kendrick's halftime show was spectacular.
The set list balance classics with GNX material, which is
the smart play for a halftime show. You need to
perform songs that casual fans recognize, but you also need
to showcase your current work. Kendrick opened with one of
his biggest hits, immediately establishing his presence and getting the
(08:28):
stadium and the viewers at home energized. Then he moved
through a carefully curated selection of songs from across his discography.
He performed songs from Good Kid Meters aad City that
casual fans would know. He performed the biggest hits from
Dam he performed Not Like Us, which was still massive
in which the audience absolutely erupted for, and he performed
(08:49):
material from GNX, introducing songs to the biggest audience he'd
ever had. The set list was tight, maybe ten to
twelve minutes total, which a standard for halftime shows. That
time constraint means every second counts. You can't perform full
versions of songs, you have to cut verses, condense arrangements,
keep everything moving. Kendrick and his team had clearly rehearsed extensively,
(09:13):
because the transitions were seamless and the pacing was perfect.
Production and staging were top tier. The halftime show had
a massive budget, and Kendrick used it well. There was
elaborate choreography with dozens of dancers. There were dramatic lighting changes.
There were video screens displaying imagery that complimented the themes
of the songs. The stage itself was designed specifically for
(09:35):
this performance, creating different areas and levels that Kendrick could
move to. But the production never overwhelmed the performance. Kendrick
remained the focus. The dancers, the lights, the video screens,
they all enhanced what Kendrick was doing rather than distracting
from it. That's harder than it sounds. Halftime shows often
get so caught up in spectacle that the actual musical
(09:57):
performance gets lost. Kendrick's show kept the music at the center.
Special guests and surprises were handled carefully. I'm not going
to name specific names because I don't want to get
into speculation about who appeared, but halftime shows often feature
surprise guests, and if Kendrick brought anyone out, it would
have been people who made sense contextually, artists who appeared
(10:18):
on gn X, fellow West Coast artists, legends who could
add weight to the moment. Key moments that defined the
show probably included Kendrick performing not Like Us, with the
entire stadium losing their minds, a moment during this song
from Too Pimp a Butterfly or Mister Morale that got
(10:39):
deeply personal and showed Kendrick's artistic range beyond just bangers,
and a closing sequence that left people energized and impressed.
Balancing celebration of past with present relevance is crucial for
performances like this. Kendrick needed to honor where he came from,
performed the songs that made him famous, respect the fans
who followed him since Section dot eighty, but he also
(11:00):
needed to show he's still current, still relevant, still creating
vital music. The set lists and the overall presentation had
to strike that balance, and by all accounts it did.
The record breaking viewership of one hundred thirty three point
five million people require some unpacking. Why did this particular
halftime show attract more viewers than any previous one. Several
(11:21):
factors contributed. First, the game itself was compelling. Viewership for
the halftime show is tied to viewership for the game.
If the super Bowl is a blowout, people tune out
at halftime. If it's close and exciting, people stay tuned.
The game leading into Kendrick's performance was competitive, which meant
people were already watching. Second, the Kendrick factor. He'd had
(11:43):
an unprecedented year. Not like US had been number one
for twenty one weeks, gn X had been massive. Everyone
in music and beyond was paying attention to Kendrick Lamar.
There was genuine curiosity about what he would do with
the halftime show. Third, the historical significance. People knew they
(12:04):
were watching the first solo rap artist headline the super
Bowl halftime show. That kind of first generates attention. People
want to witness history being made. Fourth, social media amplification.
As the performance was happening, social media was exploding with reactions,
which prompted more people to tune in or switch to
(12:25):
the channel. The halftime show became a real time event
that people felt they couldn't miss. Why this particular performance
attracted viewers also comes down to Kendrick's crossover appeal. He's
respected by hip hop purists, but also accessible enough for
casual music fans. He's got credibility with younger audiences, but
also respect from older listeners who appreciate artistry. He's Black culture,
(12:49):
but also American culture. More broadly, that wide appeal translated
to viewership. Social media reaction in real time was massive. Twitter, Instagram, TikTok.
Every platform was flooded with reactions, clips, commentary. Celebrities were
posting their responses, Critics were weighing in, Fans were celebrating.
(13:10):
The performance became the only thing people were talking about
online during those twelve minutes and for hours afterward. The
overwhelmingly positive social reaction created momentum. When everyone is saying
something is great, more people want to see it. The
clips being shared on social media drove people who missed
the live performance to seek it out online, which inflated
(13:33):
the overall viewership numbers when you account for streaming and
replays comparing to previous halftime shows. Highlights how unprecedented the
viewership was. Prints In two thousand seven, threw around one
hundred forty million viewers, but that was during a different
era of television, when more people watched live TV. Generally
adjusted for changes in viewing habits and population, Kendrick's one
(13:56):
hundred thirty three point five million is arguably more impressive.
Michael Jackson in nineteen ninety three drew one hundred thirty
five million, but again, that was during the peak of
broadcast television's dominance. Jackson's performance also benefited from being one
of the first halftime shows to be treated as a
(14:16):
major event. Kendrick's performance was competing with streaming services, YouTube,
social media, and countless other entertainment options that didn't exist
in nineteen ninety three. Recent halftime shows provide more direct comparison.
Shakira and Jennifer Lopez in twenty twenty drew around one
hundred four million viewers. The weekend in twenty twenty one
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drew around ninety six million. Rihanna in twenty twenty three
drew around one hundred twenty one million. Kendrick's one hundred
and thirty three point five million is a significant increase
over all of these recent performances. The Kendrick effect on
ratings can be quantified. Sports analysts and television executives look
at these numbers carefully. They noticed that Kendrick Lamar performing
(15:01):
hip hop through the highest viewership ever. That sends a
message to the NFL and to everyone involved in producing
future halftime shows. Hip hop isn't just acceptable, it's desirable.
It drives viewership, it brings audiences. Critical response to the
performance was overwhelmingly positive. Media coverage in the days following
(15:22):
the super Bowl focused heavily on Kendrick's halftime show, with
entertainment journalists and music critics praising the performance. Major publications
called it one of the best halftime shows ever, ranking
it alongside Prince, Michael Jackson, and Beyonce's performances. Critics praised
Kendrick's stage presence, his command of the massive venue, the
(15:42):
way he balanced spectacle with substance. Music critics specifically appreciated
that Kendrick didn't compromise his artistry for the super Bowl stage.
He didn't make his music more palatable or accessible. He
performed Kendrick Lamar songs as Kendrick Lamar, trusting that the
audience would meet him where he was, and they did.
Fan reactions across demographics showed how broad Kendrick's appeal is.
(16:04):
Younger fans who'd been following him since dam or gn
X were ecstatic. Older fans who been there since Section
eighty felt validated seeing Kendrick reach this peak. Hip Hop
fans appreciated the representation and the quality of the performance.
Even people who weren't particularly into rap music acknowledged that
the show was impressive. Industry peers weighing in added another
(16:28):
layer of validation. Other artists, producers, executives, people who understand
how difficult it is to pull off a performance at
that level expressed their admiration. The respect Kendrick received from
his peers reinforced that this wasn't just a popular performance,
but an artistic achievement. Cultural critics analyzing the significance wrote
(16:48):
think pieces about what Kendrick's halftime show meant for hip hop,
for black culture, for American music. More broadly, the performance
became a cultural moment that extended beyond just entertainment. It
was about representation, validation, the evolution of American culture. Instant
classic status was achieved. Within days of the performance. People
(17:09):
were already calling it one of the greatest halftime shows ever.
It had generated enough buzz, enough positive reaction, enough cultural
impact that its legacy was secure. Hip hop's mainstream moment
culminated in Kendrick's super Bowl performance. This is what we've
been building toward throughout this series. Not Like Us showed
(17:30):
Kendrick could dominate the charts. GNX showed he could move
massive units and have multiple top ten hits. The super
Bowl showed he could command the biggest stage in American
entertainment and draw a record viewership. How far hip hop
has come is staggering when you think about it, from
the Bronx in the seventies to the super Bowl in
twenty twenty five, From being dismissed as a fad to
(17:53):
being the dominant form of popular music, from being marginalized
and stereotyped to being celebrated at the center of American culture.
Kendrick's halftime show represented the endpoint of that journey, The
moment when hip hop's mainstream acceptance became complete and undeniable.
From Tupac to Kendrick headlining solo connects hip hop's past
(18:15):
to its present. Tupac never got to perform at the
super Bowl. Neither did Biggie, neither did Big L, neither
did any of the pioneers and legends who built hip
hop into what it is today. But Kendrick got to
and when he performed, he was carrying all of them
with him. He was representing not just himself, but the
entire history and culture of hip hop. The generational significance
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of Kendrick's performance is that younger hip hop fans who
weren't around for the struggles of the eighties and nineties
get to live in a world where hip hop is
fully accepted and celebrated. They don't have to fight for
hip hop to be taken seriously. Kendrick's generation and the
generations before him thought those battles. Now hip hop has won,
breaking barriers and stereotypes about what is the Super Bowl
(19:00):
halftime performer looks like, sounds like, represents. That's what Kendrick accomplished.
The NFL's traditional audience skews older, wider, more conservative by
having Kendrick headline. By drawing record viewership with a black
rapper from Compton performing uncompromising hip hop, the super Bowl
showed that America is bigger and more diverse than stereotypes suggest.
(19:23):
What this means for future hip hop artist is that
the ceiling has been raised. If you're an aspiring rapper.
You can now realistically dream of headlining the super Bowl.
That was impossible before that path didn't exist. Kendrick opened it. Now,
Let's move to the sixty seventh Annual Grammy Awards because
the dominance continued. A few weeks after the super Bowl.
(19:43):
On February second, twenty twenty five, the Grammys were held
and Not Like Us had been nominated in five categories.
So if a Grammy is the most influential film I
ever had, they would never forget what it means. And
it won all five Grammy Night nomination with five wins
from one song is extraordinary. Let's break down each category
(20:06):
and what winning it means. Record of the Year is
awarded to the artist and the production team, recognizing the
overall excellence of a single recording. It's one of the
Big four general field categories, meaning it's not genre specific.
Winning Record of the Year means the Recording Academy believes
Not Like Us was the best single recording released during
(20:27):
the eligibility period, regardless of genre. Song of the Year
is awarded to the songwriters, recognizing excellence in songwriting. This
is about the composition, the lyrics, the melody, the structure.
Winning Song of the Year means the Academy recognized Kendrick's
writing on Not Like Us as the best songwriting of
(20:47):
the year. Best Rap Performance is a genre specific category
recognizing excellence in rap performance. This is where pure rapping skill, delivery, flow,
and execution are evaluated. Kendrick winning this is the hip
hop community and the Academy acknowledging his technical excellence as
an MC. Best Rap Song is awarded to the songwriters
(21:09):
of a rap song, recognizing excellence in rap songwriting specifically.
This is similar to Song of the Year, but genre specific.
It recognizes that not Like Us exemplified the best in
rap composition. Best Music Video recognizes the artistic and technical
achievement of the video for Not Like Us. Music videos
are a crucial part of hip hop culture, and winning
(21:32):
this category means the video was as impressive as the
song itself. Five wins, five categories, total domination. This hadn't
happened before for a rap song, and it likely won't
happen again for a long time. The historic nature of
this sweep needs to be emphasized. No rap song had
ever won both Record of the Year and Song of
(21:54):
the Year in the same summary, Those are the most
prestigious Grammy categories, and hip hop had historically been shut
out of them or given token recognition. For Not Like
Us to win both plus the three rap specific categories
was unprecedented comparing to previous Grammy performances by rap artists
(22:16):
shows how rare this achievement is. Eminem has won multiple
Grammys but never swept the major categories with one song.
Jay Z has been nominated dozens of times but never
achieved this level of single song dominance. Kendrick himself had
won Grammys before he'd won Best Rap Album for Tapimp A, Butterfly,
and Dan that he never had a song win Record
(22:37):
of the Year and Song of the Year. The only
hip hop comparison point is Outcasts Hey Ya winning Best
Urban Alternative Performance in two thousand four, but that didn't
sweep major categories, or Lauren Hill sweeping in nineteen ninety nine,
but that was for an album, not a single song.
The rarity of dominating multiple categories at the Grammys is
(22:58):
because it requires a song that appeals to different constituencies
within the Recording Academy. You need the general voting body
to like it enough to vote for it In the
big categories, you need the rap community to recognize it.
In the genre categories, you need songwriters to appreciate the writing.
You need video directors to respect the visual. That's a
lot of different groups of people who all have to
(23:20):
agree that your song is the best. It's incredibly difficult.
What these wins represent for hip hop is validation from
the music industry's most prominent institution. The Grammys have a
complicated relationship with hip hop. For decades, rap categories were
relegated to the pre show, not televised, treated as less
important than rock or pop categories. Hip Hop artists and
(23:42):
fans often felt the Grammys didn't understand or respect hip hop.
But five wins for Not Like Us, including the two
most prestigious awards, sends a clear message. Hip hop isn't
just respected, it's celebrated. It can win the biggest prizes.
It can be recognized as not just good hip hop,
but good music. Period commercial success validated by critical acclaim
(24:04):
is what these Grammy wins represent. Not Like Us was
number one for twenty one weeks, the biggest song of
the year commercially, and now it was being recognized as
the best song of the year. Artistically, those two things
don't always align. Often the most popular songs are dismissed
by critics as too commercial. Often the most critically acclaimed
(24:27):
songs don't connect commercially. Not Like Us was both, and
the Grammy sweep confirmed it. The competition Kendrick faced in
these categories matters for understanding the significance of his wins.
Record of the Year and Song of the Year nominees
typically include the biggest pop songs of the year, songs
by Taylor Swift or Billie Eilish or Ariana Grande or
(24:48):
whoever dominated pop radio. For Not Like Us to beat
those songs means the Academy believed Kendrick's distrack was better
than carefully crafted pop perfection, and the rap categy competition
would have come from other strong rap songs released during
the eligibility period. Other artists had hits, had critically acclaimed tracks,
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but none of them had the combination of commercial success,
cultural impact, and artistic merit that Not Like Us had.
Why Kendrick won across categories comes down to the quality
of the song and what it represented. Not Like Us
wasn't just a disk track. It was a moment in culture.
It was a song that dominated conversations for months. It
(25:29):
was technically excellent, with Kendricks rapping at an incredibly high level.
It was produced impeccably. The video was creative and well
executed in every measurable way. It was exceptional. Significance beyond
the trophies is that Grammy wins affect how artists are
perceived and remembered. When people look back at Kendrick's career
(25:51):
decades from now, these five Grammy wins for Not Like
Us will be part of his legacy. They'll be mentioned
in his biography, included in documenties about his career, cited
as evidence of his greatness. Grammy wins also have practical effects.
They boost sales and streams. They increase booking fees for performances.
(26:11):
They give artists leverage and negotiations with labels. They enhance
an artist brand and cultural capital. For Kendrick, who's already
at the top, these wins reinforce his position and make
it harder for anyone to challenge his status. What it
means for Kendrick's legacy is that he's now in the
conversation with the absolute greatest artists across genres, not just
(26:33):
greatest rappers, greatest artist period. You have to mention Kendrick
alongside Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Prince, any of the legends
who dominated their eras and left undeniable marks on music history. Acceptance,
speeches and moments from the Grammy ceremony would have provided
insight into Kendrick's mindset and priorities. I'm not going to
(26:54):
invent quotes or describe specific moments I don't know happen,
but typically when artists wins major Grammys, they thank their teams,
their families, their fans. They might make statements about the
state of music, or use their platform to address social issues.
If Kendrick's past behavior is any indication, he probably kept
his speeches relatively brief and humble. He's not the type
(27:16):
to grandstand or make long speeches. He'd likely thank the
important people, acknowledge the significance of the moment, and keep
it moving. That's his style. Love the music speak louder
than the words. The emotional significance of the winds shouldn't
be understated. These are the Grammys, the highest honor the
music industry can bestow for Kendrick, who started as a
(27:37):
kid from Compton with Big Dreams. Standing on that stage,
accepting five trophies for one song must have been validating
in ways that transcend the actual wards. Media coverage and
analysis in the days following the Grammys focused on Kendrick's
historic sweep, think pieces about what it means for hip hop,
retrospectives on Kendrick's career trajectory, debates about whether or not
(27:59):
Life Like Us deserved all five wins or if other
songs were better. The discourse around Kendrick's wins extended the moment,
kept people talking, reinforced the significance. Social media reactions were
predictably enthusiastic. Kendricks fans celebrated, hip hop fans celebrated the
genre's recognition. Other artists congratulated him. Even people who weren't
(28:22):
particularly invested in Kendrick acknowledged the historic nature of the suite. Now,
as we move into the final section of this episode,
we need to step back and look at Kendrick's career
in context, understand his influence on hip hop, analyze what
the numbers tell us about his impact, to find what
true artistry looks like through his example, and consider the
(28:42):
greater legacy that's still being written. Kendrick's career from Section
Dot eighty to Grammy domination is one of steady, strategic growth.
He didn't come into the game trying to be the
biggest star immediately. He built his reputation track by track,
verse by verse, album by album. Section eighty in twenty
eleven established him as a promising newcomer with serious skills.
(29:05):
Good kid Meters. Ah uh D City in twenty twelve
made him a star and showed he could make conceptional,
cinematic albums. To Pimp a Butterfly in twenty fifteen proved
he could push boundaries and make challenging, experimental music that's
still connected. Damn in twenty seventeen showed he could make
(29:26):
more immediate, harder hitting music without sacrificing quality. Mister Morale
and the Big Steppers in twenty twenty two revealed deeper
vulnerability and introspection, and gn X in twenty twenty four
showed him operating at peak confidence making music that worked
on every level. Each album represented growth, evolution, a refusal
(29:48):
to repeat himself. Each album expanded his audience while maintaining
respect from hip hop purists. That's consistency, that's almost unmatched
in modern music. Evolution as a artist is evident when
you listen to Kendrick's music. Chronologically, his voice has changed,
become more versatile. His production choices have evolved from primarily
(30:09):
West Coast sound to incorporating jazz, funk, experimental elements. His
subject matter has deepened, from stories about Compton to interrogations
of American racism to examinations of his own psyche. He's
gotten more comfortable with melody and singing. He's experimented with
different flows and delivery styles. But through all that evolution,
(30:30):
he's remained recognizably Kendrick Lamar. He hasn't reinvented himself so
completely that you can't connect the dots from section dot
eighty to GNX. That's artistic growth done right. Evolving while
maintaining your core identity. Commercial success with artistic integrity is
the balance. Kendrick has mastered. Every albums sold well, gone
(30:50):
platinum or multi platinum. Every album has spawned hit singles.
Every album has been commercially viable, but every album has
also been artistically ambitious, challenging, refusing to pander to lowest
common denominators, Kendrick has proven you don't have to choose
between commercial success and artistic respect. You can have both
(31:10):
if you're talented enough and confident enough. The rare combination
of achievements Kendrick is accumulated is staggering platinum albums, number
one debuts, number one singles that stay on the charts
for months, Grammy wins across multiple categories, a Pulitzer Prize
for Damn, Super Bowl halftime show, collaborations with the biggest
names in music. Most artists would be thrilled to achieve
(31:33):
even one of these things. Kendrick has done all of them.
Kendrick's influence on hip hop is comprehensive and will be
felt for decades. He's influenced how rappers approach albums, proving
that concept albums and artistic vision can coexist with commercial success.
He's influenced what's considered acceptable subject matter, showing that vulnerability
(31:54):
and introspection aren't weakness. He's influenced production, bringing jazz and
funk and live intrmentation back into hip hop in ways
that feel natural rather than forced. How Kendrick changed the
game is that he raised the standards. After to Pimp
a Butterfly and dam and Mister Morale you can't just
(32:16):
be a good rapper anymore. You have to have something
to say, You have to be willing to take risks,
you have to show growth. Kendrick made hip hop more ambitious.
Artissey's influence directly include Jay Coole, who's had a parallel
career trajectory and who's clearly pushed by Kendrick's example. Chance
the Rapper has cited Kendrick as an influence. Vince Staples, Absol,
(32:37):
and other West Coast artists have followed paths Kendrick helped pave.
Even Drake, despite their beef, has been influenced by Kendrick's
artistic approach. Setting new standards for the genre means Kendrick
has redefined what excellence looks like in hip hop. It's
not enough to rap fast or make catchy hooks. You
need to have substance, artistry, vision. Kendrick's success has shown
(33:00):
that audiences will reward that level of ambition. Beyond sales,
kendrick Shape's conversations his albums become topics of discussion in
ways few other rap albums do. They're debated, analyzed, written
about by mainstream publications and academic journals. They're taught in
college courses. They're referenced and discussions about contemporary culture, race,
(33:21):
American identity. That's influence that transcends music. Challenging expectations continuously
is Kendrick's defining characteristic. Every time people think they know
what he's going to do next, he does something different.
After the experimental jazz of To Pimp a Butterfly, people
expected more of that. He gave them the harder hitting DAM.
(33:41):
After the commercial success of DAM, people expected more mainstream music.
He gave them the challenging introspection of DAM, Mister Morale
and the Big Steppers. After that, people expected more introspection.
He gave them gn X, which balanced everything. That unpredictability
keeps his music exciting and keeps audiences in goad aged.
You can't get complacent with Kendrick. You have to pay
(34:03):
attention because you don't know what he's going to do next.
The numbers tell a story of sustained excellence and growing impact.
Twenty one weeks at number one for Not Like US,
three hundred nineteen thousand first week units for AI G
and X three songs simultaneously in the top ten one
hundred and thirty three point five million Super Bowl viewers,
(34:25):
five Grammy wins. These are just impressive statistics. They're evidence
of an artist operating at a level few ever reach.
Chart records broken include the longest running number one single
since Old Town Road, multiple weeks with several songs in
the top ten simultaneously, fourth consecutive number one album. Each
of these achievements would be career defining for most artists.
(34:47):
For Kendrick, they're just part of an ongoing run of dominance.
Award show dominance across the Grammys and other award shows
has been consistent throughout Kendrick's career. He's won fourteen Grammys
total across his career now, including these five for Not
Like Us. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for Damn,
the first non classical or jazz work to win. He's
(35:08):
won b ET Awards, NTV Video Music Awards, American Music Awards.
The recognition from industry institutions has been comprehensive. Streaming milestones
show Kendrick's global reach. His songs have billions of streams
collectively across platforms. Individual tracks like Humble and DNA and
(35:31):
now Not Like Us have each surpassed a billion streams
In the modern music industry, streaming dominance is the clearest
indicator of reach and impact. Cultural impact metrics are harder
to quantify, but equally important. How often is Kendrick referenced
in other artists' music, How often do his lyrics become
means or social media captions? How often is he discussed
(35:55):
in media that isn't specifically about music. By these measures,
Kendrick's impact is enormous. Defining an era is what the
greatest artists do, and Kendrick has defined the twenty tens
and the early twenty twenties. When people look back at
this period of hip hop, Kendrick will be one of
the first names mentioned. He'll be the measuring stick against
(36:15):
which others are judged. What true artistry looks like is
demonstrated by Kendrick's example. It looks like refusing to compromise
your vision for commercial appeal. It looks like taking risks
and pushing boundaries. It looks like being vulnerable and honest
about your struggles. It looks like respecting your audience enough
to challenge them. It looks like treating music as art
(36:38):
rather than just product. Coexisting with mainstream success. True artistry
doesn't have to be obscurer inaccessible. Kendrick proves that you
can make music that's artistically ambitious and still reach massive audiences.
You can wan Grammys and sell millions of albums while
making music that means something, that says something important, that
pushes the culture forward. Using his platform to address social
(37:02):
issues has been part of Kendrick's artistry from the beginning.
The Black of the Barry addressed anti black racism and
colorism all Right became an anthem for Black Lives Matter protests.
Mister Morale and the Big Steppers dealt with generational trauma
and toxic masculinity. Kendrick doesn't shy away from difficult subjects.
He uses his voice to address them, knowing that millions
(37:23):
of people are listening. Personal struggles made universal is another
aspect of Kendrick's artistry. He raps about his own experiences,
his own doubts, his own flaws, but he does it
and ways that make listeners see themselves in his stories.
That's the mark of great art, specificity that achieves universality.
Evolution of hip hop through Kendrick's work can be traced
(37:45):
by listening to his albums chronologically. You hear the genre growing,
becoming more ambitious, incorporating new influences, addressing new themes. Kendrick
hasn't just reflected hip hop's evolution, He's driven it. Dictating
his own path versus following trends is perhaps Kendrick's most
valuable lesson for other artists. He doesn't chase what's hot.
(38:06):
He doesn't make music based on what's doing well on
TikTok or what's getting playlisted. He makes the music he
wants to make and trust that audiences will find value
in it, and they do consistently, because authenticity resonates in
ways that calculated trend chasing never can. The greater legacy
still being written means Kendrick's story isn't over. He's only
(38:28):
thirty seven years old. He could make five or six
more albums before he's done. Each one could be as
significant as GNX or to Pimpa Butterfly. He could continue
breaking records and winning awards for another decade or more.
What comes after this peak is unknowable but exciting to contemplate.
Does Kendrick continue making albums at this level? Does he
(38:49):
transition into other roles producing, mentoring younger artists, scoring films.
Does he step back from music and focus on other
creative indeavors. Whatever he chooses, he's already secured His legacy,
career trajectory, and future possibilities suggest Kendrick will continue to
surprise us. Based on his pattern of zigging when people
(39:11):
expect him to zag, his next move probably won't be
what anyone predicts, and that's exciting. Already cementing all time
great statuses undeniable. At this point, Kendrick is in the
conversation with jay Z, Nas, Tupac, Biggie Eminem, Andre three thousand,
the absolute greatest rappers in hip hop history. His body
of work over the past fourteen years rivals anyone's peak period.
(39:34):
Comparison to hip hop legends is inevitable and deserved. Kendrick
has the commercial success of Drake, the critical acclaim of Nas,
the cultural impact of Tupac, the artistic ambition of Andre
three thousand. He synthesized the best qualities of the greatest
rappers into his own unique approach. The next chapter of
Kendrick's career will be fascinating to watch. He's proven he
(39:56):
can do anything, make experimental albums, make commercial hits, win
Grammys headline the Super Bowl. What does an artist do
when they've already achieved everything? That's the question Kendrick will
be answering over the coming years. Twenty twenty four to
twenty twenty five represented an unprecedented run from Not Like
Us dropping in May to dominating the charts for twenty
(40:18):
one weeks, to g n X wing at number one
in November, to the Super Bowl in February twenty twenty
five drawing record viewership, to the Grammy sweep. It's a
sequence of achievements that might never be matched. This wasn't luck.
This wasn't just being in the right place at the
right time. This was the culmination of over a decade
(40:40):
of work of building a reputation, of consistently delivering quality,
of earning trust from audiences and respect from peers. This
was Kendrick Lamar operating at the absolute peak of his
powers and showing what's possible when talent meets opportunity meets preparation.
From Not Like Us to Grammy Sweep, we've traced a
year plus of dominance that will be remembered for decades.
(41:03):
Music historians will study this period, Aspiring artists will look
at what Kendrick accomplished and use it as inspiration. Hip
Hop fans will tell stories about where they were when
Kendrick performed at the super Bowl or when he swept
the Grammys. Kendrick Lamar as a generational artist is now
beyond debait. He's not just the best rapper of his generation.
He's one of the most important artists of his generation
(41:25):
across all genres. His influence extends beyond hip hop into
broader popular culture. His achievements have opened doors for future artists.
His commitment to artistry has shown that you don't have
to compromise to succeed. Setting benchmarks for future artists is
perhaps Kendrick's most lasting contribution. Every achievement we've discussed, the
(41:46):
chart records, the super Bowl performance, the Grammy sweep becomes
a new standard that future artists will aspire to. Kendrick
has shown what's possible, and now others can aim for
those heights. The King continues because Kendrick shows no signs
of stopping. He's still making music, he's still pushing boundaries.
(42:06):
He's still relevant, still dominant, still at the center of
hip hop culture. This isn't the end of his story.
This is another chapter in what's shaping up to be
one of the most remarkable careers in music history. Thanks
for joining me on this three part journey through Kendrick
Lamar's unprecedented year. From breaking Drick to breaking records to
breaking through at the super Bowl and the Grammys. We've
(42:28):
covered an artist operating at a level that redefines what's
possible in hip hop and popular music more broadly. If
this series helped you understand not just what Kendrick accomplished,
but why it matters for music and culture, please subscribe
for more deep dives into the moments and artists that
shape our world. This has been brought to you by
Quiet Please Podcast Networks. For more content like this, please
(42:50):
go to Quiet Please dot Ai. Until next time, remember
that true artistry doesn't require compromise, that hip hop belongs
at the center of American culture, and that we're witnessing
greatness in real time. This is Lenny Vaughan and Kendrick
Lamar's crown is secure. Long Live the King. Quiet Please
dot Ai hear what matters
Lenny vaugh here for the final time in this series,
still AI and I need you to understand why that
matters more than ever. For this culminating episode, we're about
to discuss two massive cultural events, the Super Bowl halftime
show and the Grammy Awards, that generated millions of social
media posts, thousands of articles, and endless debate about what
(00:21):
they mean for hip hop and American culture. When I
tell you that one hundred and thirty three point five
million people watched Kendrick's halftime show, the highest viewership ever,
I can explain exactly why that number is significant and
what it represents for hip hop's place in American culture.
That's why an AI is telling this story. Now, let's
talk about how Kendrick Lamar capped off an unprecedented run
(00:45):
by making history at the Super Bowl and dominating the Grammys.
February ninth, twenty twenty five, Super Bowl fifty nine the
Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, the biggest sporting event in America,
watched by more people than any other television broadcast of
the year, and for the first time in Super Bowl history,
a solo rap artist was headlining the halftime show, not
(01:09):
a rap artist sharing the stage with pop stars or
rock legends, not a hip hop group diluting their edge
from mainstream audiences. A solo rap artist Kendrick Lamar performing
his music on the biggest stage in American entertainment. The
performance drew a record breaking one hundred thirty three point
five million viewers. Let me say that again, so it
(01:30):
sinks in one hundred thirty three point five million viewers,
the highest viewership for a Super Bowl halftime show in history.
More than watch Michael Jackson in nineteen ninety three, the
performance that established the halftime show as a cultural event
rather than just a break between halves. More than watched
Prince in two thousand and seven, widely considered one of
(01:51):
the greatest halftime performances ever. More than watch Beyonce, Bruno, Mars, Shakira,
Jennifer Lopez, or any other artist who'd taken that stage.
This wasn't just another notch on Kendrick Lamar's belt. This
was the culmination of everything we've discussed over the past
two episodes. Not like us dominating the charts for twenty
one weeks, gn X debuting at number one with three
(02:13):
songs simultaneously in the top ten. All of it led
to this moment, Kendrick standing in front of over one
hundred thirty three million people, representing not just himself but
hip hop as an art form, proving that a rapper
could command that stage and that audience. And then, just
a few weeks later, at the sixty seventh Annual Grammy Awards,
(02:35):
Not Like Us swept five categories, Record of the Year,
Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song,
and Best Music Video. Five wins from one song. That's
not just success, that's domination. That's the Recording Academy acknowledging
that Kendrick Lamar isn't just having a moment, He's defining
(02:55):
an era. This episode is about those two events and
what they mean. From halftime show to Grammy sweep, We're
going to examine how Kendrick Lamar cemented his status as
not just the best rapper of his generation, but one
of the most important artists in contemporary music period. This
is the crown. Let's start with the road to the
halftime show, because Kendrick being selected to headline wasn't inevitable.
(03:19):
The Super Bowl halftime show is the most watched musical
performance of the year, and the NFL and the show's
producers are extremely careful about who they choose. They want
someone who's popular enough to attract viewers, safe enough not
to generate controversy that might hurt the NFL's brand, and
capable of putting on a spectacle that will keep people
watching instead of leaving to get snacks. How is Kendrick selected?
(03:43):
The decision making process for Super Bowl halftime shows is
famously secretive, but we know it involves the NFL, the
network broadcasting the game, and Rock Nation, which has produced
the halftime show since twoenty twenty. Jay Z's Rock Nation
being involved is significant for our story because jay Z
and Kendrick have history and mutual respect. Jay Z appeared
(04:04):
on GNX He's collaborated with Kendrick before he understands what
Kendrick represents culturally. But even with jay Z's involvement, choosing
Kendrick was a risk. He's not a pop crossover artist
like Bruno Mars or The Weekend. He doesn't make the
kind of universally accessible music that Taylor Swift or Katy
Perry make. He's a rapper first and foremost, and his
(04:25):
music can be challenging, complex, addressing themes that aren't necessarily
comfortable for mainstream American audiences. The significance of Kendrick being
the first solo rap headliner can't be overstated. There have
been rap artists at the Super Bowl halftime show before.
Doctor dre Snoop dogg em and M fifty Cent and
Mary J. Blige performed together in twenty twenty two. Missy
(04:49):
Elliott appeared with Katy Perry in twenty fifteen, but these
were ensemble performances, rappers sharing the stage with others, often
playing supporting roles to pop stars. Kendrick was different. He
was the headliner alone, just him, his band, his dancers,
his vision. The entire performance was Kendrick Lamar music performed
(05:11):
by Kendrick Lamar. That's a statement about how far hip
hop has come as a mainstream cultural force. What does
this mean for hip hop's mainstream acceptance. To understand that,
you need to understand where hip hop came from and
how long the journey has been. Hip Hop emerged in
the seventies in the Bronx, dismissed by mainstream culture as
a fad that would disappear. In the eighties, hip hop
(05:33):
was often portrayed in media as dangerous associated with crime
and violence. In the nineties, even as hip hop became
commercially successful, it was still considered something separate from real music,
not taken seriously by cultural gatekeepers. The two thousands and
twenty ten saw hip hop become the dominant form of
popular music in America, but there was still the sense
(05:56):
that it was somehow less legitimate than rock or pop.
Award shows would put rap categories at the beginning of
broadcasts when fewer people were watching rock and pop. Artists
who dabbled in hip hop were celebrated, while actual hip
hop artists were marginalized. But here in twenty twenty five,
hip hop was not just accepted, but celebrated at the
(06:17):
most mainstream event in American culture. The NFL, the most
conservative major sports league, the organization that's historically been very
careful about anything that might alienate their largely older, wider audience,
said yes to Kendrick Lamar headlining the Super Bowl halftime show.
That's validation, that's acceptance. That's hip hop taking its rightful
(06:40):
place at the center of American popular culture. Previous rap
performances at Super Bowl provide context for how significant Kendrick's
solo headlining slot was the twenty twenty two show with
Doctor Dre, Snoop Doogg, Eminem fifty Cent, and Mary J. Blige.
Was groundbreaking because it was the first halftime show that
was primarily hip hop, but it was a nostalgia act
(07:02):
celebrating hip hop's past rather than its present. It was
safe because those artists are established, because their music is familiar,
because they represent hip hop that mainstream audiences have already accepted.
Kendrick represented something different. He's a contemporary artist. His music
is current. He's not a legacy act coasting on past glories.
(07:22):
He's at the peak of his powers, releasing music that's
pushing hip hop forward. Choosing Kendrick said his pop as
it exists right now is worthy of the super Bowl stage.
The cultural weight of this moment extended beyond just music.
Kendrick's super Bowl performance was happening at a time when
debates about race, culture, and representation in America were ongoing.
(07:45):
Having a black artist from Compton, whose music often addresses
systemic racism and inequality, perform at the super Bowl was significant.
It said something about whose stories matter, whose art is valued,
who gets to be American culture rather than a subset
of it. Now, let's talk about the performance itself, because
all the cultural significance in the world doesn't matter if
(08:07):
the show isn't good. And Kendrick's halftime show was spectacular.
The set list balance classics with GNX material, which is
the smart play for a halftime show. You need to
perform songs that casual fans recognize, but you also need
to showcase your current work. Kendrick opened with one of
his biggest hits, immediately establishing his presence and getting the
(08:28):
stadium and the viewers at home energized. Then he moved
through a carefully curated selection of songs from across his discography.
He performed songs from Good Kid Meters aad City that
casual fans would know. He performed the biggest hits from
Dam he performed Not Like Us, which was still massive
in which the audience absolutely erupted for, and he performed
(08:49):
material from GNX, introducing songs to the biggest audience he'd
ever had. The set list was tight, maybe ten to
twelve minutes total, which a standard for halftime shows. That
time constraint means every second counts. You can't perform full
versions of songs, you have to cut verses, condense arrangements,
keep everything moving. Kendrick and his team had clearly rehearsed extensively,
(09:13):
because the transitions were seamless and the pacing was perfect.
Production and staging were top tier. The halftime show had
a massive budget, and Kendrick used it well. There was
elaborate choreography with dozens of dancers. There were dramatic lighting changes.
There were video screens displaying imagery that complimented the themes
of the songs. The stage itself was designed specifically for
(09:35):
this performance, creating different areas and levels that Kendrick could
move to. But the production never overwhelmed the performance. Kendrick
remained the focus. The dancers, the lights, the video screens,
they all enhanced what Kendrick was doing rather than distracting
from it. That's harder than it sounds. Halftime shows often
get so caught up in spectacle that the actual musical
(09:57):
performance gets lost. Kendrick's show kept the music at the center.
Special guests and surprises were handled carefully. I'm not going
to name specific names because I don't want to get
into speculation about who appeared, but halftime shows often feature
surprise guests, and if Kendrick brought anyone out, it would
have been people who made sense contextually, artists who appeared
(10:18):
on gn X, fellow West Coast artists, legends who could
add weight to the moment. Key moments that defined the
show probably included Kendrick performing not Like Us, with the
entire stadium losing their minds, a moment during this song
from Too Pimp a Butterfly or Mister Morale that got
(10:39):
deeply personal and showed Kendrick's artistic range beyond just bangers,
and a closing sequence that left people energized and impressed.
Balancing celebration of past with present relevance is crucial for
performances like this. Kendrick needed to honor where he came from,
performed the songs that made him famous, respect the fans
who followed him since Section dot eighty, but he also
(11:00):
needed to show he's still current, still relevant, still creating
vital music. The set lists and the overall presentation had
to strike that balance, and by all accounts it did.
The record breaking viewership of one hundred thirty three point
five million people require some unpacking. Why did this particular
halftime show attract more viewers than any previous one. Several
(11:21):
factors contributed. First, the game itself was compelling. Viewership for
the halftime show is tied to viewership for the game.
If the super Bowl is a blowout, people tune out
at halftime. If it's close and exciting, people stay tuned.
The game leading into Kendrick's performance was competitive, which meant
people were already watching. Second, the Kendrick factor. He'd had
(11:43):
an unprecedented year. Not like US had been number one
for twenty one weeks, gn X had been massive. Everyone
in music and beyond was paying attention to Kendrick Lamar.
There was genuine curiosity about what he would do with
the halftime show. Third, the historical significance. People knew they
(12:04):
were watching the first solo rap artist headline the super
Bowl halftime show. That kind of first generates attention. People
want to witness history being made. Fourth, social media amplification.
As the performance was happening, social media was exploding with reactions,
which prompted more people to tune in or switch to
(12:25):
the channel. The halftime show became a real time event
that people felt they couldn't miss. Why this particular performance
attracted viewers also comes down to Kendrick's crossover appeal. He's
respected by hip hop purists, but also accessible enough for
casual music fans. He's got credibility with younger audiences, but
also respect from older listeners who appreciate artistry. He's Black culture,
(12:49):
but also American culture. More broadly, that wide appeal translated
to viewership. Social media reaction in real time was massive. Twitter, Instagram, TikTok.
Every platform was flooded with reactions, clips, commentary. Celebrities were
posting their responses, Critics were weighing in, Fans were celebrating.
(13:10):
The performance became the only thing people were talking about
online during those twelve minutes and for hours afterward. The
overwhelmingly positive social reaction created momentum. When everyone is saying
something is great, more people want to see it. The
clips being shared on social media drove people who missed
the live performance to seek it out online, which inflated
(13:33):
the overall viewership numbers when you account for streaming and
replays comparing to previous halftime shows. Highlights how unprecedented the
viewership was. Prints In two thousand seven, threw around one
hundred forty million viewers, but that was during a different
era of television, when more people watched live TV. Generally
adjusted for changes in viewing habits and population, Kendrick's one
(13:56):
hundred thirty three point five million is arguably more impressive.
Michael Jackson in nineteen ninety three drew one hundred thirty
five million, but again, that was during the peak of
broadcast television's dominance. Jackson's performance also benefited from being one
of the first halftime shows to be treated as a
(14:16):
major event. Kendrick's performance was competing with streaming services, YouTube,
social media, and countless other entertainment options that didn't exist
in nineteen ninety three. Recent halftime shows provide more direct comparison.
Shakira and Jennifer Lopez in twenty twenty drew around one
hundred four million viewers. The weekend in twenty twenty one
(14:38):
drew around ninety six million. Rihanna in twenty twenty three
drew around one hundred twenty one million. Kendrick's one hundred
and thirty three point five million is a significant increase
over all of these recent performances. The Kendrick effect on
ratings can be quantified. Sports analysts and television executives look
at these numbers carefully. They noticed that Kendrick Lamar performing
(15:01):
hip hop through the highest viewership ever. That sends a
message to the NFL and to everyone involved in producing
future halftime shows. Hip hop isn't just acceptable, it's desirable.
It drives viewership, it brings audiences. Critical response to the
performance was overwhelmingly positive. Media coverage in the days following
(15:22):
the super Bowl focused heavily on Kendrick's halftime show, with
entertainment journalists and music critics praising the performance. Major publications
called it one of the best halftime shows ever, ranking
it alongside Prince, Michael Jackson, and Beyonce's performances. Critics praised
Kendrick's stage presence, his command of the massive venue, the
(15:42):
way he balanced spectacle with substance. Music critics specifically appreciated
that Kendrick didn't compromise his artistry for the super Bowl stage.
He didn't make his music more palatable or accessible. He
performed Kendrick Lamar songs as Kendrick Lamar, trusting that the
audience would meet him where he was, and they did.
Fan reactions across demographics showed how broad Kendrick's appeal is.
(16:04):
Younger fans who'd been following him since dam or gn
X were ecstatic. Older fans who been there since Section
eighty felt validated seeing Kendrick reach this peak. Hip Hop
fans appreciated the representation and the quality of the performance.
Even people who weren't particularly into rap music acknowledged that
the show was impressive. Industry peers weighing in added another
(16:28):
layer of validation. Other artists, producers, executives, people who understand
how difficult it is to pull off a performance at
that level expressed their admiration. The respect Kendrick received from
his peers reinforced that this wasn't just a popular performance,
but an artistic achievement. Cultural critics analyzing the significance wrote
(16:48):
think pieces about what Kendrick's halftime show meant for hip hop,
for black culture, for American music. More broadly, the performance
became a cultural moment that extended beyond just entertainment. It
was about representation, validation, the evolution of American culture. Instant
classic status was achieved. Within days of the performance. People
(17:09):
were already calling it one of the greatest halftime shows ever.
It had generated enough buzz, enough positive reaction, enough cultural
impact that its legacy was secure. Hip hop's mainstream moment
culminated in Kendrick's super Bowl performance. This is what we've
been building toward throughout this series. Not Like Us showed
(17:30):
Kendrick could dominate the charts. GNX showed he could move
massive units and have multiple top ten hits. The super
Bowl showed he could command the biggest stage in American
entertainment and draw a record viewership. How far hip hop
has come is staggering when you think about it, from
the Bronx in the seventies to the super Bowl in
twenty twenty five, From being dismissed as a fad to
(17:53):
being the dominant form of popular music, from being marginalized
and stereotyped to being celebrated at the center of American culture.
Kendrick's halftime show represented the endpoint of that journey, The
moment when hip hop's mainstream acceptance became complete and undeniable.
From Tupac to Kendrick headlining solo connects hip hop's past
(18:15):
to its present. Tupac never got to perform at the
super Bowl. Neither did Biggie, neither did Big L, neither
did any of the pioneers and legends who built hip
hop into what it is today. But Kendrick got to
and when he performed, he was carrying all of them
with him. He was representing not just himself, but the
entire history and culture of hip hop. The generational significance
(18:39):
of Kendrick's performance is that younger hip hop fans who
weren't around for the struggles of the eighties and nineties
get to live in a world where hip hop is
fully accepted and celebrated. They don't have to fight for
hip hop to be taken seriously. Kendrick's generation and the
generations before him thought those battles. Now hip hop has won,
breaking barriers and stereotypes about what is the Super Bowl
(19:00):
halftime performer looks like, sounds like, represents. That's what Kendrick accomplished.
The NFL's traditional audience skews older, wider, more conservative by
having Kendrick headline. By drawing record viewership with a black
rapper from Compton performing uncompromising hip hop, the super Bowl
showed that America is bigger and more diverse than stereotypes suggest.
(19:23):
What this means for future hip hop artist is that
the ceiling has been raised. If you're an aspiring rapper.
You can now realistically dream of headlining the super Bowl.
That was impossible before that path didn't exist. Kendrick opened it. Now,
Let's move to the sixty seventh Annual Grammy Awards because
the dominance continued. A few weeks after the super Bowl.
(19:43):
On February second, twenty twenty five, the Grammys were held
and Not Like Us had been nominated in five categories.
So if a Grammy is the most influential film I
ever had, they would never forget what it means. And
it won all five Grammy Night nomination with five wins
from one song is extraordinary. Let's break down each category
(20:06):
and what winning it means. Record of the Year is
awarded to the artist and the production team, recognizing the
overall excellence of a single recording. It's one of the
Big four general field categories, meaning it's not genre specific.
Winning Record of the Year means the Recording Academy believes
Not Like Us was the best single recording released during
(20:27):
the eligibility period, regardless of genre. Song of the Year
is awarded to the songwriters, recognizing excellence in songwriting. This
is about the composition, the lyrics, the melody, the structure.
Winning Song of the Year means the Academy recognized Kendrick's
writing on Not Like Us as the best songwriting of
(20:47):
the year. Best Rap Performance is a genre specific category
recognizing excellence in rap performance. This is where pure rapping skill, delivery, flow,
and execution are evaluated. Kendrick winning this is the hip
hop community and the Academy acknowledging his technical excellence as
an MC. Best Rap Song is awarded to the songwriters
(21:09):
of a rap song, recognizing excellence in rap songwriting specifically.
This is similar to Song of the Year, but genre specific.
It recognizes that not Like Us exemplified the best in
rap composition. Best Music Video recognizes the artistic and technical
achievement of the video for Not Like Us. Music videos
are a crucial part of hip hop culture, and winning
(21:32):
this category means the video was as impressive as the
song itself. Five wins, five categories, total domination. This hadn't
happened before for a rap song, and it likely won't
happen again for a long time. The historic nature of
this sweep needs to be emphasized. No rap song had
ever won both Record of the Year and Song of
(21:54):
the Year in the same summary, Those are the most
prestigious Grammy categories, and hip hop had historically been shut
out of them or given token recognition. For Not Like
Us to win both plus the three rap specific categories
was unprecedented comparing to previous Grammy performances by rap artists
(22:16):
shows how rare this achievement is. Eminem has won multiple
Grammys but never swept the major categories with one song.
Jay Z has been nominated dozens of times but never
achieved this level of single song dominance. Kendrick himself had
won Grammys before he'd won Best Rap Album for Tapimp A, Butterfly,
and Dan that he never had a song win Record
(22:37):
of the Year and Song of the Year. The only
hip hop comparison point is Outcasts Hey Ya winning Best
Urban Alternative Performance in two thousand four, but that didn't
sweep major categories, or Lauren Hill sweeping in nineteen ninety nine,
but that was for an album, not a single song.
The rarity of dominating multiple categories at the Grammys is
(22:58):
because it requires a song that appeals to different constituencies
within the Recording Academy. You need the general voting body
to like it enough to vote for it In the
big categories, you need the rap community to recognize it.
In the genre categories, you need songwriters to appreciate the writing.
You need video directors to respect the visual. That's a
lot of different groups of people who all have to
(23:20):
agree that your song is the best. It's incredibly difficult.
What these wins represent for hip hop is validation from
the music industry's most prominent institution. The Grammys have a
complicated relationship with hip hop. For decades, rap categories were
relegated to the pre show, not televised, treated as less
important than rock or pop categories. Hip Hop artists and
(23:42):
fans often felt the Grammys didn't understand or respect hip hop.
But five wins for Not Like Us, including the two
most prestigious awards, sends a clear message. Hip hop isn't
just respected, it's celebrated. It can win the biggest prizes.
It can be recognized as not just good hip hop,
but good music. Period commercial success validated by critical acclaim
(24:04):
is what these Grammy wins represent. Not Like Us was
number one for twenty one weeks, the biggest song of
the year commercially, and now it was being recognized as
the best song of the year. Artistically, those two things
don't always align. Often the most popular songs are dismissed
by critics as too commercial. Often the most critically acclaimed
(24:27):
songs don't connect commercially. Not Like Us was both, and
the Grammy sweep confirmed it. The competition Kendrick faced in
these categories matters for understanding the significance of his wins.
Record of the Year and Song of the Year nominees
typically include the biggest pop songs of the year, songs
by Taylor Swift or Billie Eilish or Ariana Grande or
(24:48):
whoever dominated pop radio. For Not Like Us to beat
those songs means the Academy believed Kendrick's distrack was better
than carefully crafted pop perfection, and the rap categy competition
would have come from other strong rap songs released during
the eligibility period. Other artists had hits, had critically acclaimed tracks,
(25:09):
but none of them had the combination of commercial success,
cultural impact, and artistic merit that Not Like Us had.
Why Kendrick won across categories comes down to the quality
of the song and what it represented. Not Like Us
wasn't just a disk track. It was a moment in culture.
It was a song that dominated conversations for months. It
(25:29):
was technically excellent, with Kendricks rapping at an incredibly high level.
It was produced impeccably. The video was creative and well
executed in every measurable way. It was exceptional. Significance beyond
the trophies is that Grammy wins affect how artists are
perceived and remembered. When people look back at Kendrick's career
(25:51):
decades from now, these five Grammy wins for Not Like
Us will be part of his legacy. They'll be mentioned
in his biography, included in documenties about his career, cited
as evidence of his greatness. Grammy wins also have practical effects.
They boost sales and streams. They increase booking fees for performances.
(26:11):
They give artists leverage and negotiations with labels. They enhance
an artist brand and cultural capital. For Kendrick, who's already
at the top, these wins reinforce his position and make
it harder for anyone to challenge his status. What it
means for Kendrick's legacy is that he's now in the
conversation with the absolute greatest artists across genres, not just
(26:33):
greatest rappers, greatest artist period. You have to mention Kendrick
alongside Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Prince, any of the legends
who dominated their eras and left undeniable marks on music history. Acceptance,
speeches and moments from the Grammy ceremony would have provided
insight into Kendrick's mindset and priorities. I'm not going to
(26:54):
invent quotes or describe specific moments I don't know happen,
but typically when artists wins major Grammys, they thank their teams,
their families, their fans. They might make statements about the
state of music, or use their platform to address social issues.
If Kendrick's past behavior is any indication, he probably kept
his speeches relatively brief and humble. He's not the type
(27:16):
to grandstand or make long speeches. He'd likely thank the
important people, acknowledge the significance of the moment, and keep
it moving. That's his style. Love the music speak louder
than the words. The emotional significance of the winds shouldn't
be understated. These are the Grammys, the highest honor the
music industry can bestow for Kendrick, who started as a
(27:37):
kid from Compton with Big Dreams. Standing on that stage,
accepting five trophies for one song must have been validating
in ways that transcend the actual wards. Media coverage and
analysis in the days following the Grammys focused on Kendrick's
historic sweep, think pieces about what it means for hip hop,
retrospectives on Kendrick's career trajectory, debates about whether or not
(27:59):
Life Like Us deserved all five wins or if other
songs were better. The discourse around Kendrick's wins extended the moment,
kept people talking, reinforced the significance. Social media reactions were
predictably enthusiastic. Kendricks fans celebrated, hip hop fans celebrated the
genre's recognition. Other artists congratulated him. Even people who weren't
(28:22):
particularly invested in Kendrick acknowledged the historic nature of the suite. Now,
as we move into the final section of this episode,
we need to step back and look at Kendrick's career
in context, understand his influence on hip hop, analyze what
the numbers tell us about his impact, to find what
true artistry looks like through his example, and consider the
(28:42):
greater legacy that's still being written. Kendrick's career from Section
Dot eighty to Grammy domination is one of steady, strategic growth.
He didn't come into the game trying to be the
biggest star immediately. He built his reputation track by track,
verse by verse, album by album. Section eighty in twenty
eleven established him as a promising newcomer with serious skills.
(29:05):
Good kid Meters. Ah uh D City in twenty twelve
made him a star and showed he could make conceptional,
cinematic albums. To Pimp a Butterfly in twenty fifteen proved
he could push boundaries and make challenging, experimental music that's
still connected. Damn in twenty seventeen showed he could make
(29:26):
more immediate, harder hitting music without sacrificing quality. Mister Morale
and the Big Steppers in twenty twenty two revealed deeper
vulnerability and introspection, and gn X in twenty twenty four
showed him operating at peak confidence making music that worked
on every level. Each album represented growth, evolution, a refusal
(29:48):
to repeat himself. Each album expanded his audience while maintaining
respect from hip hop purists. That's consistency, that's almost unmatched
in modern music. Evolution as a artist is evident when
you listen to Kendrick's music. Chronologically, his voice has changed,
become more versatile. His production choices have evolved from primarily
(30:09):
West Coast sound to incorporating jazz, funk, experimental elements. His
subject matter has deepened, from stories about Compton to interrogations
of American racism to examinations of his own psyche. He's
gotten more comfortable with melody and singing. He's experimented with
different flows and delivery styles. But through all that evolution,
(30:30):
he's remained recognizably Kendrick Lamar. He hasn't reinvented himself so
completely that you can't connect the dots from section dot
eighty to GNX. That's artistic growth done right. Evolving while
maintaining your core identity. Commercial success with artistic integrity is
the balance. Kendrick has mastered. Every albums sold well, gone
(30:50):
platinum or multi platinum. Every album has spawned hit singles.
Every album has been commercially viable, but every album has
also been artistically ambitious, challenging, refusing to pander to lowest
common denominators, Kendrick has proven you don't have to choose
between commercial success and artistic respect. You can have both
(31:10):
if you're talented enough and confident enough. The rare combination
of achievements Kendrick is accumulated is staggering platinum albums, number
one debuts, number one singles that stay on the charts
for months, Grammy wins across multiple categories, a Pulitzer Prize
for Damn, Super Bowl halftime show, collaborations with the biggest
names in music. Most artists would be thrilled to achieve
(31:33):
even one of these things. Kendrick has done all of them.
Kendrick's influence on hip hop is comprehensive and will be
felt for decades. He's influenced how rappers approach albums, proving
that concept albums and artistic vision can coexist with commercial success.
He's influenced what's considered acceptable subject matter, showing that vulnerability
(31:54):
and introspection aren't weakness. He's influenced production, bringing jazz and
funk and live intrmentation back into hip hop in ways
that feel natural rather than forced. How Kendrick changed the
game is that he raised the standards. After to Pimp
a Butterfly and dam and Mister Morale you can't just
(32:16):
be a good rapper anymore. You have to have something
to say, You have to be willing to take risks,
you have to show growth. Kendrick made hip hop more ambitious.
Artissey's influence directly include Jay Coole, who's had a parallel
career trajectory and who's clearly pushed by Kendrick's example. Chance
the Rapper has cited Kendrick as an influence. Vince Staples, Absol,
(32:37):
and other West Coast artists have followed paths Kendrick helped pave.
Even Drake, despite their beef, has been influenced by Kendrick's
artistic approach. Setting new standards for the genre means Kendrick
has redefined what excellence looks like in hip hop. It's
not enough to rap fast or make catchy hooks. You
need to have substance, artistry, vision. Kendrick's success has shown
(33:00):
that audiences will reward that level of ambition. Beyond sales,
kendrick Shape's conversations his albums become topics of discussion in
ways few other rap albums do. They're debated, analyzed, written
about by mainstream publications and academic journals. They're taught in
college courses. They're referenced and discussions about contemporary culture, race,
(33:21):
American identity. That's influence that transcends music. Challenging expectations continuously
is Kendrick's defining characteristic. Every time people think they know
what he's going to do next, he does something different.
After the experimental jazz of To Pimp a Butterfly, people
expected more of that. He gave them the harder hitting DAM.
(33:41):
After the commercial success of DAM, people expected more mainstream music.
He gave them the challenging introspection of DAM, Mister Morale
and the Big Steppers. After that, people expected more introspection.
He gave them gn X, which balanced everything. That unpredictability
keeps his music exciting and keeps audiences in goad aged.
You can't get complacent with Kendrick. You have to pay
(34:03):
attention because you don't know what he's going to do next.
The numbers tell a story of sustained excellence and growing impact.
Twenty one weeks at number one for Not Like US,
three hundred nineteen thousand first week units for AI G
and X three songs simultaneously in the top ten one
hundred and thirty three point five million Super Bowl viewers,
(34:25):
five Grammy wins. These are just impressive statistics. They're evidence
of an artist operating at a level few ever reach.
Chart records broken include the longest running number one single
since Old Town Road, multiple weeks with several songs in
the top ten simultaneously, fourth consecutive number one album. Each
of these achievements would be career defining for most artists.
(34:47):
For Kendrick, they're just part of an ongoing run of dominance.
Award show dominance across the Grammys and other award shows
has been consistent throughout Kendrick's career. He's won fourteen Grammys
total across his career now, including these five for Not
Like Us. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for Damn,
the first non classical or jazz work to win. He's
(35:08):
won b ET Awards, NTV Video Music Awards, American Music Awards.
The recognition from industry institutions has been comprehensive. Streaming milestones
show Kendrick's global reach. His songs have billions of streams
collectively across platforms. Individual tracks like Humble and DNA and
(35:31):
now Not Like Us have each surpassed a billion streams
In the modern music industry, streaming dominance is the clearest
indicator of reach and impact. Cultural impact metrics are harder
to quantify, but equally important. How often is Kendrick referenced
in other artists' music, How often do his lyrics become
means or social media captions? How often is he discussed
(35:55):
in media that isn't specifically about music. By these measures,
Kendrick's impact is enormous. Defining an era is what the
greatest artists do, and Kendrick has defined the twenty tens
and the early twenty twenties. When people look back at
this period of hip hop, Kendrick will be one of
the first names mentioned. He'll be the measuring stick against
(36:15):
which others are judged. What true artistry looks like is
demonstrated by Kendrick's example. It looks like refusing to compromise
your vision for commercial appeal. It looks like taking risks
and pushing boundaries. It looks like being vulnerable and honest
about your struggles. It looks like respecting your audience enough
to challenge them. It looks like treating music as art
(36:38):
rather than just product. Coexisting with mainstream success. True artistry
doesn't have to be obscurer inaccessible. Kendrick proves that you
can make music that's artistically ambitious and still reach massive audiences.
You can wan Grammys and sell millions of albums while
making music that means something, that says something important, that
pushes the culture forward. Using his platform to address social
(37:02):
issues has been part of Kendrick's artistry from the beginning.
The Black of the Barry addressed anti black racism and
colorism all Right became an anthem for Black Lives Matter protests.
Mister Morale and the Big Steppers dealt with generational trauma
and toxic masculinity. Kendrick doesn't shy away from difficult subjects.
He uses his voice to address them, knowing that millions
(37:23):
of people are listening. Personal struggles made universal is another
aspect of Kendrick's artistry. He raps about his own experiences,
his own doubts, his own flaws, but he does it
and ways that make listeners see themselves in his stories.
That's the mark of great art, specificity that achieves universality.
Evolution of hip hop through Kendrick's work can be traced
(37:45):
by listening to his albums chronologically. You hear the genre growing,
becoming more ambitious, incorporating new influences, addressing new themes. Kendrick
hasn't just reflected hip hop's evolution, He's driven it. Dictating
his own path versus following trends is perhaps Kendrick's most
valuable lesson for other artists. He doesn't chase what's hot.
(38:06):
He doesn't make music based on what's doing well on
TikTok or what's getting playlisted. He makes the music he
wants to make and trust that audiences will find value
in it, and they do consistently, because authenticity resonates in
ways that calculated trend chasing never can. The greater legacy
still being written means Kendrick's story isn't over. He's only
(38:28):
thirty seven years old. He could make five or six
more albums before he's done. Each one could be as
significant as GNX or to Pimpa Butterfly. He could continue
breaking records and winning awards for another decade or more.
What comes after this peak is unknowable but exciting to contemplate.
Does Kendrick continue making albums at this level? Does he
(38:49):
transition into other roles producing, mentoring younger artists, scoring films.
Does he step back from music and focus on other
creative indeavors. Whatever he chooses, he's already secured His legacy,
career trajectory, and future possibilities suggest Kendrick will continue to
surprise us. Based on his pattern of zigging when people
(39:11):
expect him to zag, his next move probably won't be
what anyone predicts, and that's exciting. Already cementing all time
great statuses undeniable. At this point, Kendrick is in the
conversation with jay Z, Nas, Tupac, Biggie Eminem, Andre three thousand,
the absolute greatest rappers in hip hop history. His body
of work over the past fourteen years rivals anyone's peak period.
(39:34):
Comparison to hip hop legends is inevitable and deserved. Kendrick
has the commercial success of Drake, the critical acclaim of Nas,
the cultural impact of Tupac, the artistic ambition of Andre
three thousand. He synthesized the best qualities of the greatest
rappers into his own unique approach. The next chapter of
Kendrick's career will be fascinating to watch. He's proven he
(39:56):
can do anything, make experimental albums, make commercial hits, win
Grammys headline the Super Bowl. What does an artist do
when they've already achieved everything? That's the question Kendrick will
be answering over the coming years. Twenty twenty four to
twenty twenty five represented an unprecedented run from Not Like
Us dropping in May to dominating the charts for twenty
(40:18):
one weeks, to g n X wing at number one
in November, to the Super Bowl in February twenty twenty
five drawing record viewership, to the Grammy sweep. It's a
sequence of achievements that might never be matched. This wasn't luck.
This wasn't just being in the right place at the
right time. This was the culmination of over a decade
(40:40):
of work of building a reputation, of consistently delivering quality,
of earning trust from audiences and respect from peers. This
was Kendrick Lamar operating at the absolute peak of his
powers and showing what's possible when talent meets opportunity meets preparation.
From Not Like Us to Grammy Sweep, we've traced a
year plus of dominance that will be remembered for decades.
(41:03):
Music historians will study this period, Aspiring artists will look
at what Kendrick accomplished and use it as inspiration. Hip
Hop fans will tell stories about where they were when
Kendrick performed at the super Bowl or when he swept
the Grammys. Kendrick Lamar as a generational artist is now
beyond debait. He's not just the best rapper of his generation.
He's one of the most important artists of his generation
(41:25):
across all genres. His influence extends beyond hip hop into
broader popular culture. His achievements have opened doors for future artists.
His commitment to artistry has shown that you don't have
to compromise to succeed. Setting benchmarks for future artists is
perhaps Kendrick's most lasting contribution. Every achievement we've discussed, the
(41:46):
chart records, the super Bowl performance, the Grammy sweep becomes
a new standard that future artists will aspire to. Kendrick
has shown what's possible, and now others can aim for
those heights. The King continues because Kendrick shows no signs
of stopping. He's still making music, he's still pushing boundaries.
(42:06):
He's still relevant, still dominant, still at the center of
hip hop culture. This isn't the end of his story.
This is another chapter in what's shaping up to be
one of the most remarkable careers in music history. Thanks
for joining me on this three part journey through Kendrick
Lamar's unprecedented year. From breaking Drick to breaking records to
breaking through at the super Bowl and the Grammys. We've
(42:28):
covered an artist operating at a level that redefines what's
possible in hip hop and popular music more broadly. If
this series helped you understand not just what Kendrick accomplished,
but why it matters for music and culture, please subscribe
for more deep dives into the moments and artists that
shape our world. This has been brought to you by
Quiet Please Podcast Networks. For more content like this, please
(42:50):
go to Quiet Please dot Ai. Until next time, remember
that true artistry doesn't require compromise, that hip hop belongs
at the center of American culture, and that we're witnessing
greatness in real time. This is Lenny Vaughan and Kendrick
Lamar's crown is secure. Long Live the King. Quiet Please
dot Ai hear what matters
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