Kendrick Lamar’s Tremendous Bowl Set a ‘Actual Rap Display’

2025 is already off to a wild get started within the hip-hop global, and Billboard Unfiltered is again to damage all of it down with a brand new episode on Friday (Feb. 14), tackling all issues Kendrick Lamar’s Tremendous Bowl efficiency and Ye’s (previously Kanye West) crashout.

Billboard‘s Damien Scott gave his stamp of approval to Lamar’s efficiency, as he cherished to peer Kendrick deliver an “unadulterated rap display” to the most important degree in The usa.

“We’ve had rappers sooner than, however we’ve by no means had a rapper headline, and I’m satisfied it was once Kendrick as a result of what we were given was once an actual rap display. He didn’t lean into his pop bag,” Scott stated. “He saved his setlist outdoor of the SZA collabs it was once tremendous rap. You know the way laborious it’s to rap ‘DNA’? I will be able to’t consider doing that during a leather-based jacket.”

Body of workers author Kyle Denis loved Kendrick final in his “imperial section” and appearing his new album relatively than “mining for hits,” as we’ve observed a variety of different artists flip their Tremendous Bowl units right into a biggest hits medley of varieties to soothe the wide-ranging target audience.

“You’re on the most sensible of your recreation presently. Up to I sought after to listen to the outdated stuff, I in point of fact appreciate what he did up there,” Denis stated.

Unfiltered newcomer and hip-hop editor Angel Diaz admitted he was once to begin with “underwhelmed” by way of the display, however after leaving the chaotic atmosphere he was once observing the sport at and ran it again, he evolved extra of an appreciation for what Lamar delivered.

“It was once spectacular,” he stated. “His wind, voice regulate — I kinda sought after one of the crucial options to come out just like the mariachi singer, AzChike — I sought after to peer him do ‘Peekaboo.’ When he introduced SZA and other folks have been trashing him, I assumed she was once gonna do extra.”

Scott wonders how Kendrick’s set will translate to stadiums around the nation at the Grand Nationwide Excursion on account of how “tightly wound” the songs are he plays. He even when put next the tracks to “Swiss watches.”

Scott declared the Kendrick-Drake red meat over and warned the 6 God to by no means say Kendrick’s identify once more going ahead. “Don’t ever point out his identify once more. Simply depart this by myself, it’s over, bro,” he stated.

The place does Ye cross from right here? West delivered a sequence of antisemitic, homophobic and hate-filled rants on X over the weekend ,which noticed him reward Hitler and speak to for Diddy’s freedom.

“I don’t understand how Ye will get again in case you don’t have a integrated base to reinforce you when you wish to have it,” Scott provides. “As a result of we’re completed. We will have to be those, ‘Get some assist and we’re right here for you.’ We’re like, ‘It’s over, peace.’”

Denis thinks we’ve hit some degree the place we need to ask ourselves if it’s price overlaying Ye to this extent if he’s on the lookout for consideration.

Watch the whole episode above.