kendrick lamar tour south africa

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US rapper Kendrick Lamar dazzles as he shares South Africa stage with local artists

Grammy award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar performs at the inaugural Hey Neighbour Festival in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Mogomotsi Magome)

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PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Grammy Award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar has drawn raves in South Africa as a headliner at a music festival there over the weekend.

Lamar told the crowd at the Hey Neighbor festival that his 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly was inspired by his first visit to South Africa.

“It was 2014 when I first came to South Africa, right, and that inspired a particular album, one of my most favorite albums,” he said.

Lamar also performed in the Rwandan capital of Kigali last week.

“It is not just music, it is poetry,” festival attendee Tshepo Sedikwe said of the rapper.

The festival also saw performances from Grammy-winning artist H.E.R. and Grammy-nominated Khalid.

Organizers have said they hope to make the festival one of the biggest on the African continent and one where international acts perform alongside talented local musicians.

The festival provided a platform for artists who have flourished with the popularity of amapiano and Afrobeats.

South African amapiano artists Musa Keys and Tyla, who have both been nominated in the Best African Music Performance category at the 2024 Grammys, also performed at the festival.

This version corrects to say Khalid is Grammy-nominated, not a Grammy winner.

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Kendrick Lamar to perform in South Africa later this year

In addition to the exceptional international line-up of H.E.R. , Khalid , The Chainsmokers , and  Swedish House Mafia , the renowned American hip-hop star Kendrick Lamar will also be performing at the Hey Neighbour Festival .

The festival is set to take place from 8 to 10 December 2023 at Legends Adventure Farm in Pretoria.

This isn’t the first time Kendrick has graced South African stages — in 2014, he performed at the Miller’s  Boomtown Tour in Joburg, Durban, and Cape Town.

The Hey Neighbour Festival international acts line-up:

• Friday, 08 December 2023 – The Chainsmokers and Khalid
• Saturday, 09 December 2023 – Kendrick Lamar
• Sunday, 10 December 2023 – Swedish House Mafia and H.E.R.

The local artists’ line-up is yet to be announced.

This festival is put together by Glen21 Entertainment.

Tickets are already selling through ticketpros.co.za .

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US rapper Kendrick Lamar dazzles as he shares South Africa stage with local artists

Grammy award-winning rapper kendrick lamar has drawn raves in south africa as a headliner at a music festival there over the weekend, article bookmarked.

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Grammy Award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar has drawn raves in South Africa as a headliner at a music festival there over the weekend.

Lamar told the crowd at the Hey Neighbor festival that his 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly was inspired by his first visit to South Africa.

“It was 2014 when I first came to South Africa, right, and that inspired a particular album, one of my most favorite albums,” he said.

Lamar also performed in the Rwandan capital of Kigali last week.

“It is not just music, it is poetry,” festival attendee Tshepo Sedikwe said of the rapper.

The festival also saw performances from Grammy-winning artist H.E.R. and Grammy-nominated Khalid .

Organizers have said they hope to make the festival one of the biggest on the African continent and one where international acts perform alongside talented local musicians.

The festival provided a platform for artists who have flourished with the popularity of amapiano and Afrobeats.

South African amapiano artists Musa Keys and Tyla, who have both been nominated in the Best African Music Performance category at the 2024 Grammys, also performed at the festival.

This version corrects to say Khalid is Grammy-nominated, not a Grammy winner.

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US Rapper Kendrick Lamar Dazzles as He Shares South Africa Stage With Local Artists

Grammy Award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar has drawn raves in South Africa as a headliner at a music festival there over the weekend

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Grammy Award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar has drawn raves in South Africa as a headliner at a music festival there over the weekend.

Lamar told the crowd at the Hey Neighbor festival that his 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly was inspired by his first visit to South Africa.

“It was 2014 when I first came to South Africa, right, and that inspired a particular album, one of my most favorite albums,” he said.

Lamar also performed in the Rwandan capital of Kigali last week.

“It is not just music, it is poetry,” festival attendee Tshepo Sedikwe said of the rapper.

The festival also saw performances from Grammy-winning artists H.E.R. and Khalid.

Organizers have said they hope to make the festival one of the biggest on the African continent and one where international acts perform alongside talented local musicians.

The festival provided a platform for artists who have flourished with the popularity of amapiano and Afrobeats.

South African amapiano artists Musa Keys and Tyla, who have both been nominated in the Best African Music Performance category at the 2024 Grammys, also performed at the festival.

Copyright 2023 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Kendrick Lamar is Heading to South Africa’s Purple City

A multi-Grammy and Pulitzer Prize legend is heading to perform in South Africa for a long-awaited comeback appearance. Kendrick Lamar doesn’t stop by often, but when he does, SA’s excitement turns to full volume.

Global (29 June, 2023)— Kendrick Lamar and other globally loved artists almost broke the South African internet recently after it was announced that the multi-Grammy and Pulitzer Prized artist along with other music icons would be making their way to our stretch of the world.

Better yet, Lamar’s appearance won’t be for a vacation, but a full-on headlining act where he’ll perform in South Africa for the first time since 2014.

The artist known and loved for his thought-provoking lines and melodies that declutter complicated experiences from freedom to pride and authenticity, has largely been seated with the legends of lyricism.

So, when Hey Neighbour Fest announced that Lamar would be part of an already impressive line-up (The Chainsmokers, Khalid, Swedish House Mafia, H.E.R) South Africans were more than eager to find out where the fest would be uniting music-lovers.

Forget the usual suspects like Cape Town and Johannesburg, it’s all going down in SA’s Purple City—Pretoria at Legends Adventure Farm from 8-10 December.

However, the ticket prizes are not for the faint of wallet. Naturally, many South African’s responded with our top commodity—humour.

As one user commented:

“And kids that’s how I met your mother at a Kendrick Lamar concert after selling everything I have.”

Other fans still swooned for the news despite the prices, with one user sharing that their life savings would come in handy.

Related Story

Still, it’s a proud moment for South Africa’s entertainment industry to have so many big names under one proverbial Jacaranda tree, especially after a very tough few years thanks to the pandemic.

You can find everything you need to know about the global celebration of music on South African soil, including ticket prices and times through the festival’s website.

Sources:  Hey Neighbour

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Kendrick Lamar performs during the 2023 Governors Ball Music Festival at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on June 11, 2023 in New York City.

Kendrick Lamar to Headline Hey Neighbour Festival in South Africa, Alongside Star-Studded Lineup

Kendrick lamar along other special guests will be headlining a south african festival this summer., trending stories.

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Kendrick Lamar Hits South Africa

Cape Town, South Africa's Bellville Velodrome set the scene on Sunday, Feb. 9 for Kendrick Lamar's Miller Boomtown South African tour, marking the L.A. rapper's first foray into the country. He had performed in both Durban and Johannesburg respectively, but he saved the best for last. There were no special surprises or gimmicks and the crowd didn't need any; they had all they wanted draped in camouflaged attire rocking a pair of Nike sneakers rapping his ass off for them.

The hype leading up to the show was consuming, yet it did no justice to the physical phenomenon that graced the Mother City with his presence. From the moment he stepped out on stage, chants could be heard flowing through the velodrome. Hip-hop was in the building.

As Kendrick moved from performing his verses off of other rappers hit tracks to performing hits of his very own from Section.80 and good kid, m.A.A.d city , he might as well have put the entire velodrome onstage as the crowd echoed his every word. It was fascinating and completely enthralling to be caught up in that kind of energy, and as expected, there were the believers and the non-believers. But Kendrick Lamar changed perceptions and rapped like his life depended on it. The crowd couldn't help but get lost in the moment.

“Sing About Me” was canvassed by camera phones and lighters in the air. Kendrick stopped rapping for “Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe” and let the crowd serenade him. He delivered his “Fuckin' Problems” verse with the smoothest a cappella and when he dropped “A.D.H.D” fans lost their minds. There were times where he needn't even have rapped—he had everyone in the palm of his hand as he flexed his word play game without missing a beat. Towards the end of the show he selected three fans from the masses and performed a freestyle with them by his side onstage.

There was a feeling in the air that this night was about hip-hop; grown hip-hop. Outside in the smoking section, one could hear debates going on between fans of the genre and fans of Kendrick. And in the spirit of turnin' up, Miller had the drinks flowing. If anything, in a city called Cape Town in South Africa, Kendrick Lamar came and instilled a new-found sense of energy into hip-hop on his first visit to the continent. As a fan, to see him live was pretty spectacular. Something a little like magic. — Myrna Burgess

More From XXL

Kendrick Lamar and other international musician will be in South Africa in December. Image via Instagram @kendicklamarzz

American rapper Kendrick Lamar set to come to SA in December!

Global sensation Kendrick Lamar is coming to South Africa in December. He will be sharing the stage with a few other international musicians.

American award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar will be coming to South Africa in December for the Hey Neighbour Festival . He will headline the festival and a few other international musicians have also been confirmed to have been booked to perform at the festival.

‘HEY NEIGHBOUR FESTIVAL’: KENDRICK LAMAR COMING TO SOUTH AFRICA

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth will take the stage on the second day of the festival. Other famous international musicians including Swedish House Mafia, H.E.R., Khalid, and The Chainsmokers are set to perform on the first and third days of the festival.

The festival will be held between 8 and 10 December at the Legends Adventure Farm in Pretoria from 12:00 to 00:00. And, phase one tickets are available and cost R3 899 for general access and R4 999 for VIP access. The local artist’s lineup for the festival has not been released yet, YMZ reported.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hey Neighbour (@heyneighbourfest)

ALSO READ: Kendrick Lamar, Lizzo to headline New York’s Gov Ball

ALSO READ: Dripping in diamonds: Kendrick Lamar’s Glastonbury crown has 50 thorns

MORE ABOUT THE RAPPER IN MZANSI

Lamar was said to have previously visited South Africa in 2014, Complex reported. He was said to have made a stop in Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town. He was also said to have become extremely inspired after visiting nearby Robben Island, where, Nelson Mandela was locked up for 18 years before he became the first black president of South Africa. The HUMBLE hitmaker reportedly opened up about how the trip had influenced him and was quoted as saying,

“I took that experience and looked within myself for my own experiences. Okay, I come from a background of a neighbourhood that wasn’t so much perceived to be great but I can’t let these four corners define who I am.”

ALSO READ: New Music Friday: Kendrick Lamar returns with 18-track album [listen]

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Kendrick Lamar SA tour dates announced

Johannesburg, South Africa – Tour promoters Airey Scott and Miller Genuine Draft today announced that the dates for the Miller Boomtown presents Kendrick Lamar SA Tour have been brought forward to early February. The International acclaimed artist Kendrick Lamar will perform his platinum selling good kid M.A.D.D. city album in Durban, Joburg, and Cape Town  three weeks earlier than scheduled on February 7th, 8th, & 9th. The Miller Boomtown presents Kendrick Lamar South African tour dates will be as follows:

Friday 7th February – The Wave House, Gateway Durban

Saturday 8th February – Johannesburg Stadium, Johannesburg

Sunday 9th February – Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town

Tickets that have already been purchased for either of the old dates will be valid, and fans do not need to exchange their tickets for the new confirmed concert dates.

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Kendrick Lamar Set To Perform Live In South Africa

Kendrick Lamar Set To Perform Live In South Africa. If you missed Kendrick Lamar’s last visit to South Ah in 2014, then you have yet another massive opportunity to witness Mr Morale and the Big Steppers hitmaker performing live this year.

The Multi-Grammy Award winner will grace South African hip-hop lovers for the first time in nine years at the Hey Neighbour Festival. Taking to Twitter, the event organisers announced that Kendrick Lamar will perform at the music festival that will take place from 8 to 10 December 2023.

“Multi-Grammy-winning artist, Pulitzer Prize recipient, cultural icon and a living legend. Neighbours! Join us in celebrating the unrivalled greatness of Kendrick Lamar as he takes the spotlight on Day 2 of our festival! 🎶 Tickets only through @ticketpro #HeyNeighbour,” read the tweet.

Multi-Grammy-winning artist, Pulitzer Prize recipient, cultural icon and living legend. Neighbours! Join us in celebrating the unrivaled greatness of Kendrick Lamar as he takes the spotlight on Day 2 of our festival! 🎶 🎟️Tickets only through @ticketpro 🎟️ 🌍 #HeyNeighbour pic.twitter.com/B3Ck6M3ucg — HeyNeighbourFest (@HeyNeighbourFes) June 27, 2023

Fans will be looking forward to an exceptional musical performance from Kendrick Lamar considering his phenomenal music catalogue. His set list will surely consist of songs such as; King Kunta, Worldwide Steppers, Element, Loyalty and many others. Not only will the event be graced by Kendrick Lamar, but the famed rapper is also part of an exciting lineup that includes; The Chainsmokers, Khalid, Swedish House Mafia and H.E.R.

The three-day music festival will be held at Legends Adventure Farm and MX Track in Rhino Park, Pretoria, and is being organized by Glen 21 Entertainment in collaboration with KFM and Radio 947. The tickets to the Hey Neighbour festival are ranging from a minimum of R3 899 up to R4 999.

Even though the event is coming with a hefty ticket price, fans have expressed their willingness to attend the event to watch one of the biggest rappers alive Kendrick performing live. It will surely be a December to remember!

🙆🏽‍♂️ ama instalment wangena — 🤴🏽 ɴ ᴛ ᴀ ᴛ ᴇ ᴍ ᴀ ꜱ ʜ ᴇ ɢ ᴏ 🤴🏽 (@Kgosi_LeKing) June 27, 2023

Let me go get tickets pic.twitter.com/I0OQGHCXjT — uSazi. (@Bhut_Sazii) June 27, 2023

Now the tickets are worth it!!! — Sanza☝️ (@sanzasurf) June 27, 2023

Damn I'm sold — YVES (@teewhoraps) June 27, 2023

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Kendrick Lamar to Return to South Africa After 10 Years

🎤 Hey Neighbours! Brace Yourself! Kendrick Lamar Takes Center Stage at Our Festival on Day 2! 🔥 Join the Neighbourhood from 8-10 December at Legends Adventure Farm for an unforgettable experience! 🎟️ Secure your tickets exclusively through @Ticketpro ! 🎟️ Advertisement if(!IsMobileDevice){ document.write(' '); document.write(' '); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('dfp-300x250-6'); }); document.write(' '); } 🌍 #HeyNeighbour pic.twitter.com/t7Fq2i8VsI — HeyNeighbourFest (@HeyNeighbourFes) June 27, 2023

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Kendrick Lamar is a rapper born on the 17th of June 1987 in Compton, California, USA. Since the release of his mixtape “Overly Dedicated”, and his second album “good kid, m.A.A.d city”, he has proved himself to be one of the most exciting, critically acclaimed rappers of his generation.

Kendrick Lamar founded the hip-hop supergroup, Black Hippy, in 2009, with the artists Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and ScHoolboy Q. That same year, he began using his first and middle names with the release of his self-titled debut EP. In 2010, he released his fourth solo mixtape, Overly Dedicated.

Following the release of Overly Dedicated, Lamar began working on his first studio album. Section.80 dropped in 2011, debuting at number 113 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album was met with many positive reviews, and Kendrick’s star began to rise.

In 2012, Kendrick Lamar signed a record deal with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment. That October, he released his first major-label album, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, a concept album telling the story of the rapper’s early life experiences with drugs and gangs in Compton. The album was a breakout success, producing five single which of which achieved success on the charts and earning Lamar four GRAMMY® Award nominations. In 2013, Kendrick Lamar set out on a world tour to promote the album with the other members of Black Hippy.

By the time Kendrick Lamar released his third studio album, he was already a household name. In 2015, To Pimp a Butterfly debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, Lamar’s first album to do so. It received mass critical acclaim and was nominated for seven GRAMMY® Awards. Kendrick Lamar took home two wins, including Best Rap Album and Album of the Year.

Kendrick Lamar also enjoyed his first number-one single in 2015. His hip-hop remix of Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

After the release of To Pimp a Butterfly, Lamar’s profile soared. His fourth studio album, DAMN., dropped in 2017, producing his second number-one single, “HUMBLE.” The song not only topped the charts, it won Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video at the 2018 Grammy Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Music.

Following the success of “DAMN.,” Lamar moved onto his first movie project: a curated soundtrack for Marvel’s Black Panther. Black Panther: The Album, released in 2018, included a wide range of Black artists including Future, SZA, Vince Staples, Travis Scott, and The Weeknd, with Lamar himself performing on five of the 14 tracks.

After launching a multimedia company in 2020, Kendrick Lamar returned to music with his fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. Released in 2022, the double album would be his final project with Top Dawg Entertainment. Debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, it became the rapper’s fourth number-one album. On Apple Music, the album garnered over 60 million streams in its first day. It also became the first hip-hop album in 2022 to reach one billion streams on Spotify.

To date, Kendrick Lamar has sold over 70 million records in the US, and every one of his studio albums has been certified platinum by the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA). The rapper also has 14 Grammy Awards, 11 MTV Video Music Awards, six Billboard Music Awards, and a Pulitzer Prize to his name. This phenomenal success solidifies his status as one of the most influential hip-hop artists of all time.

Live reviews

An all around great show. Dram and YG were impressive opening acts, even tho the crowd was a bit dead until Kendrick showed up. YG played "Fuck Donald Trump" which was preceded by a Trump impersonator and was genuinely really surprising and hilarious. Once Kendrick showed up, every seat was filled, it was chaotic, and there was a hell of a lot of screaming. Right before he ascended onto the stage from the little platform in the middle of the stage- which was exactly on time, I should add- there was a really cool showing of this ninja performance, as well as a story-like, cinematic, short where he battled someone, and funny title screens showed up from time to time saying phrases like "KENDRICK FUCKS SHIT UP". Similar clips were shown sporadically throughout the show so the crowd wouldn't get bored as they prepared for different parts of the act. It was cool when he got raised on this platform in the middle of the arena to perform "Money Tree", but the most beautiful part of the show was definitely when he played "LOVE." and just about every person had their phone's flashlights on, swaying side to side, chanting, "love me." It was stunning. Probably the wildest time, for me, was when he played "Alright," near the end. That song is really emotional for me, and seeing him play it live was magnificent. Not to mention how, just like with every other song, so many other people were shouting the lyrics, words for word. Afterwards, there was "HUMBLE." which Kendrick made the crowd sing the entirety of. It was then played a second time, where he sung along, and then descended back underneath the stage. Lots of people thought it was over, but some friends and I had checked the set-list and knew to stay put. Soon enough, he was right back on stage, and played the final song, "GOD." It wasn't quite as strong of a finish as 'HUMBLE." but was nonetheless an undoubtedly great song. If I could, I would experience it all over again, minus the ear ringing that lasted until the middle of the next day, a near loss of voice, and needing to skip the next day of school. Another highlight was seeing the uncomfortable white parents who brought their kids. It was amusing to watch them try to dance, shout-out to those guys. One dad brought this, like, eight year old kid who covered her ears when we screamed (understandable considering how ear-piercing it was, but still), and sat down except for when "HUMBLE." was playing. The dad was on his phone the entire time, though. It was amusing, the concert as a whole was unbelievably fun, I hope anyone who gets to see Kung Fu Kenny at some point has a hell of a good time. Heads up: they may not have the merch you want in your size or even at all, but they have other things that are just as good. Also, eat before you go, the lines are crazy long and the food way is too expensive. Anyway, have a blast, don't say the n-word if you're not black. Thank you.

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Amazing performance by Kendrick. His energy was great and he interacted with the sold out crowd making eye contact and listening to their screams and yells every chance he got.

Started off by teasing the crowd going back and forth to the mic and eventually starting with For Free, spitting bar after bar.

Best moment of the show was Alright / M.A.A.D City and definitely finishing with ADHD after he gauged the audiences reactions to him calling out all his albums he could see Section.80 was big for the crowd.

After he noticed a small group of people in the front row rapping a song from Untitled Unmastered we all started calling out songs to do from the album. Calling out “2” and “7” putting our fingers up as Kendrick looked at us contemplating whether he should do it for a good minute. A chant broke out for “We Gon’ Be Alright’ and then he played “Alright”. A part of me still thinks if they didn’t start chanting that he would’ve gone into one of the songs.

Only critique was the sound. From the front row the vocals were heavily drowning out by the live instrumentals so much so it took me 20-30 seconds before realising what song it was sometimes. Not all songs, ADHD was the most easily heard because they didn’t use as much heavy instrumentation. But the problem wasn’t throughout the whole stadium as I talked to those in seats they couldn’t relate to it sounding like that.

It was disappointing not to see there wasn’t an emphasis on visual display for his Australia tour like previous performances in the US, but it seemed like it was just about Kendrick, his band and straight music.

Also, never seen so many people have to be carried out by security guards over the barrier because they were hurt/passing out. Also saw one big guy walk being escorted through the barrier with half his face covered in blood from the corner of his eye. Kendrick fans don’t play.

He ended up finishing with ‘I Am’ off his Kendrick Lamar EP which is above.

I saw Kendrick Lamar on day two of Lollapalooza last summer. This was probably one of the craziest concerts I've been to, but I loved every minute of it! There was a special opportunity to meet the man himself before his concert, but my friends and I did not get there in time. The only other way to meet him was to each pay for a CD. We ended up deciding to wait for the concert that was going on before Kendrick to finish then try to get good spots. We thought the crowd would disperse after that concert, so it would be pretty easy to get close to the front. But, boy, were we wrong. Either everyone was thinking the same thing as us, or the crowd was staying for Kendrick - it was the most claustrophobic, sweaty, aggressive struggle to the front of the crowd I've ever experienced. My friends and I were forced to stand smushed against random people for forty minutes. I don't even know how we made it to a couple of rows from the front, but we eventually did.

After what seemed to be like the longest, stuffiest forty minutes of my life, Kendrick finally came on. He started out with "Fucking Problems," and the crowd went CRAZY! We were nonstop jostling the whole time. Kendrick is so on point live! Even though I was taken aback at first by how his voice did not sound the same as his audio tracks, he still was amazing. He challenged us to see if we all could keep up with him when he rapped. He knew how to keep the energy up the whole time. One of the most memorable moments in Kendrick's show was when he completely stopped in the middle of a song and pointed out to a spot in the crowd where a man in a wheelchair was crowd surfing. Kendrick commended the people that helped the man surf through the crowd while he was passed to the front over the crowd. It was a really cool moment to witness. Only places like Lolla would something like that happen, and I'm happy that I could see Kendrick how I did, all the craziness included.

I have always been an avid fan of Kendrick Lamar ever since his album "Section .80". He just has a way to capture your emotions because he raps the truth. As much as that sounds really corny, I think one would understand where I'm coming from if you saw him live. I had the privilege to see Kendrick Lamar front row at Fuji Rock Festival 2013 last summer. I'm not sure if this is the case for many of his shows but he came on a little later than expected. Despite that, he really pulled a great show and tried his best to make up for the time lost although he could've sung more if he came on earlier. Anyways, regardless I think what made Kendrick special was that other than lighting, some fog, and a few guys playing the beats for his songs with guitars and drums, it was really just him standing alone on stage rapping. I remember standing out and just really feeling the vibes while Kendrick stood in the spotlight surrounded by this dim purple lighting, melodically rapping and being slowly creeped on by some fog on a chilly summer night up in the mountains. It was actually quite mystical. Many Japanese fans seemed to love "Backseat Freestyle" and "Money Trees", as I felt more pushing from the crowd during those songs. Of course he also rapped "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe", "The Recipe", "Swimming Pools", and his best songs in "good kid, mad city". One surprise during this concert was he also rapped "Fucking Problems" which was a huge hit for everyone and that was lots of fun. The concert was overall so good and worth being pushed around while I clung onto my spot in the front because Kendrick blew a kiss at my direction after I yelled out his name!

Overall I left the show pretty happy and satisfied, thought there were a few problems. To get the negatives out of the way, Travis Scott, one of the openers set to perform, didn't. The entire concert was interrupted with an intermission over an hour long due to Travis's absence, which really halted the momentum of the event. Another negative was that they played SZA's latest album "Ctrl" around 3 times in full between the opening set up and various intermissions. Even if you love this album, hearing the same songs repeatedly can get old quick. I would have much preferred if they mixed it up a bit, and at least play music from other TDE artist in addition to SZA's album.

Besides that the show was great though. DRAM did a pretty nice job with his brief set. He sounded great live, very close to how he sounds in his recordings, and the images he had flashing behind him created a fun atmosphere.

And once Kendrick came out and performed, it was fantastic. He performed a variety of songs, mainly from DAMN. as well as a few off of GKMC, TPAB, and UU. He was energetic throughout the performance, constantly moving, and engaged the audience, encouraging a hype atmosphere. The best part was easily during humble, when the crowd finished out one of the verses and the chorus together; it was truly communal. Due to our excitement Kendrick performed an encore with the song YAH.

Overall I'd recommend going to the concert if you're a fan of Kendrick Lamar, or hip-hop shows in general. I had a great time, even with some gripes, and would gladly experience it again.

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I’ve been to see many big rap artists including Jay Z, Kanye West, ASAP Rocky and even Eminem.... But Kendrick stepped up the game. The set list set out a journey that had the whole place shaking from start to finish. The SSE arena managed capture all this energy and let it simmer around for everyone to feed off throughout the whole because every man/woman yout and old were bouncing like they were trying to bring the place down.

Kendrick Lamar is no doubt a rap genius and probably the biggest in the world right now. The DAMN tour took us through the Kung Fu Kenny journey with amazing video graphics during short intermissions between songs as intros and gave enough storyline to the attendees to be enraptured by this and gas the whole crowd up for each moment!

It’s hard to pin one moment down but when the whole crowd started singing Humble twice over without the help of Kendrick for then him to come out and say this has got to be the best show yet.... man, I had goosebumps and was ready to stomp.

12/10.... worth every penny and more. Thank you Kendrick!

Kenrick Lamar is considered to be one of the most exciting new artists on the US hip hop scene. He has amassed a cult following over the years and now with new support on both sides of the pond, Lamar is packing out venues and festival tents at a staggering rate.

Rapturous cheers go up as Kendrick confidently appears onstage and takes the whole scene within his stride as the bass pierces the crowd and he begins 'Money Trees'. His freestyle ability demonstrates just why he has so much critical acclaim, he is undoubtedly a talented rap artist.

Breakthrough single 'Swimming Pools' gets a deafening reaction as it has become a cult hit over a relatively short amount of time. Kendrick capitalises on this as he invites the audiences into a back and forth of 'Pass Out... Drank'. 'Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe' also goes down incredibly well, the audience seemingly knowing every rap and verse. He reappears for 'A.D.H.D' visibly happy with the set and the crowd, it will be interesting to see where he will take his sound and show next.

I was sitting in the front on a chiar and once travis scott came up, he called everyone next to the stage and the crowd went crazy and it was chaotic. Everyone from the back seats came all the way to the front and everyone climbed on the chairs and it was hard to see anything. The security tried to get people back to their seats but they did not suceed. I thought it was unfair because i paid a lot of money to stay in front and the ones who had their seats in the back got to pay less but still get to stay in the very front. Also, everyone was high and drunk. The guy in front of me fell off his chair and spilled a whole cup of beer all over me and the 3 people next to me. I do not recommend paying for a seat right in front of the stage because everyone from behind will come in front anyways. Overall, the concert was not well organized since the secrity could not get people to their seats, but, the actual performance by kendrick lamar was a good one and he was able to keep everyone entertained.

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Kendrick Lamar takes the West Coast off standby

When Kendrick Lamar released Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers in 2022, he was jittery with agitation. There were many reasons within the songs for him to be anxious, which spend hard-earned therapy hours working through trauma, but he seemed most perplexed by those outside of his process seeking his voice in their struggles. His perceived silence during the dog days of activism in the early pandemic was met with questions and criticism, and in the face of those broader discussions, he made clear he would not be goaded into action. On “ Savior ,” he responded: “The cat is out the bag, I am not your savior,” later adding, “I rubbed elbows with people that was for the people / They all greedy, I don’t care for no public speaking / And they like to wonder where I’ve been / Protecting my soul in the valley of silence.” He did not want the burden of speaking for the culture, and felt it wasn’t in his job description.

We as listeners are not entitled to any artist sounding off, especially when they are protecting their souls, and while it is fair to ask a socially aware rapper to use his platform as a megaphone for the issues bearing down on his community, I think often of the 2004 Dave Chappelle joke about Ja Rule and 9/11: We don’t need everyone to talk about everything; sometimes, they aren’t equipped. Everything is political, but music is not politics. Songs are just songs unless actively weaponized. Kendrick was right in the sense that his raps, while galvanizing, could not save the people moved by them. And yet, the sharpness of his rebuttal felt nearly antagonistic coming from the rapper who talked about a trip to South Africa giving him awareness and pride, who stared down Fox News commentator Geraldo Rivera and who made “ Alright .”

Tellingly, Kendrick did not perform a single song off of Mr. Morale at “The Pop Out,” his Juneteenth event last night at the Forum in Los Angeles, live-streamed by Amazon Music. The energy wouldn’t have fit the experience, which was not about avoiding the onus but sharing the platform. The significance of the occasion brought certain expectations: the Compton rapper embracing the moment in a way that he had not previously, speaking more directly to and for the “we” of “Alright” and “ Not Like Us .” But in a grander sense, he seemed to be after a different kind of community organizing. The show quickly began to feel like a cookout he was sponsoring, where names like Remble and G Perico were familiar and welcome. Several generations of LA rappers made guest appearances, and Kendrick repeatedly talked about cultivating the new generation, hoping to sustain West Coast hip-hop across the next two decades. In his time of ascension, the most fearsome rapper working made a coalition of his crusade.

The event was broken up into three “& Friends” sets that seemed to build upon one another. After a DJ Hed set that brought out a colorful cast of lesser-known LA fixtures (Remble, Westside Boogie , RJMrLA, BlueBucksClan, Ohgeesy), “Not Like Us” architect Mustard, a pivotal West Coast player in his own right, set the tone for the rest of the night, the crowd reacting gleefully as the producer escorted noted locals through a handful of hits apiece. Some of those guests came with personal history: Mustard pointed out that Ty Dolla $ign taught him how to make beats before they launched into a song built on one of the first beats Mustard ever made, “ Paranoid .” Later, before leaping through a mini-set with longtime partner in crime YG , he waxed nostalgic about living across from the Forum long before they got on, working on the album that would break things open for both of them, My Krazy Life . Blog-era staples (Dom Kennedy) rubbed shoulders with chart-topping anomalies ( Roddy Ricch ), and there were particularly grand receptions for two artists on the outer edges of the LA hip-hop scene: the guitarist turned surprise sensation Steve Lacy and the Odd Future auteur Tyler, the Creator .

The “friends” Kendrick had in mind for his own circling of the bases seemed to consider the team-building that made his run possible. Mid-set, he reunited the original TDE foursome Black Hippy — Jay Rock , Ab-Soul , ScHoolboy Q and himself — by bringing each rapper up individually to receive a well-earned salute from the crowd. The gesture was cathartic for a certain kind of rap fan. Kendrick cut ties with TDE in 2020 to start pgLang with former label co-president Dave Free; he hasn’t made a song with another Black Hippy member in years. But rounding up the gang and taking a little tour of a few songs from the glory days seemed to bring an almost childlike delight out of him — playing hype man for Jay Rock during “ Win ,” which is like stadium catnip, and the freaky Mike WiLL joint “ King’s Dead ,” and teaming up with Q for the hard-bopping “ Collard Greens .” (The reunion’s deep sense of camaraderie could have only been improved by an impromptu run-through of the “Black Lip Bastard” remix.) When Kendrick rocked “ King Kunta ,” the others danced around the stage like no one was watching, with the that’s my jam! enthusiasm of a favorite song suddenly spilling out of a boombox.

This symbolic act, gathering the pillars of one of rap’s most important indie movements of the last 25 years, was clearly a microcosm of the evening’s larger theme of cross-color solidarity: coming together in awe of what was built collectively, and looking to its foundations as evidence of a monument whose peaks could reach even higher. “This is unity at its finest,” Kendrick said at one point, having brought dozens of Los Angeles figures onto the stage for a group photo that called to mind 2005’s “ Great Day ” shoot in Atlanta and the 1958 Harlem jazz roundup that inspired it. “For all of us to be together onstage, that s*** is special. Everybody on this stage got fallen soldiers.” But it was hard to overlook the fact that the thing unifying the coast in this moment was not love but hate, and Kendrick, the self-proclaimed biggest Drake hater , was primarily operating in his capacity as speaker for the culture in his personal war with the Toronto high roller. If the matter wasn’t settled before, then it certainly is now.

In that light, it was striking how many lines from old Kendrick songs now read like disses, in the context of a show that often played like a block party interrupting a wake. As Kendrick paraded the audience through hallmarks of his career — his first hit (“ Swimming Pools ”), his first No. 1 (“ HUMBLE. ”), his blockbuster soundtrack (“King’s Dead”), his American anthem (“Alright”) — he was also taking them on a guided tour past a corpse, and so every time a lyric rang off that matched the tenor of his animosity, the words felt retroactively prescient. “Most of y’all throw rocks and try to hide your hand / Just say his name and I promise that you’ll see Candyman.” “I can dig rappin’, but a rapper with a ghostwriter, what the f*** happened?” “You ain’t really wild, you a tourist.” “I don’t do it for the ‘Gram, I do it for Compton." I kept seeing Drake’s face in so many of the verses. Of course, the targeted diss tracks were right there in the rotation, in conversation with Kendrick’s rise to top dawg. Choosing violence, he opened with “ Euphoria ” and performed every Drake diss except “Meet the Grahams.” Each one punctuated an otherwise raucous set full of crowd-pleasers that crescendoed into a performance of “California Love” with Dr. Dre . When Dre paused his exit from the stage to utter the words “I see dead people,” it felt like the spark setting off a powder keg that had been waiting to blow all night long. Kendrick, sensing the moment, did not let it slip past him.

“Not Like Us” commanded its own portion of the show, where it rang out like a clarion call. He played the song five times in a row, each rendition more jubilant than the last. When he ran it back the first time, after holding onto the “A minor” line for dear life, he let the crowd rap the verse word-for-word as he bobbed around the stage, encouraging them to shout “Certified Lover Boy, certified pedophile” and drag that vowel to the moon and back. By the fourth run, Mustard had led a convoy of people onto the stage. As they came streaming to Kendrick’s side, the camera caught several of their faces: many of the performers from across the day, the NBA stars DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook, the radio host Big Boy. The effect was the sensation that all of Los Angeles was on stage with him — “Bloods, Crips, Pirus,” as he put it. “Show the world this.” By the time they took that group photo, it seemed as if they had.

When “The Pop Out” was all over, “Win” felt like the most fitting summation of the night. The song’s battle cry — “You either with me or against me, ho!” — rang true for a rapper who had seemingly rallied the entire world, its ultimatum answered in the overwhelming support shown for his cause on this day. It was a resounding win for him, of course, but the night also felt like a win for regional music, its distinct style and sound and swagger, a win for an unscalable kind of hip-hop that is supposedly being blotted out by more centrist hip-pop, and a win for the culture, which Kendrick is so adamant about speaking for now. Sometimes, it just takes the right opportunity.

Copyright 2024 NPR

Kendrick Lamar takes the West Coast off standby

When Kendrick Lamar released Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers in 2022, he was jittery with agitation. There were many reasons within the songs for him to be anxious, which spend hard-earned therapy hours working through trauma, but he seemed most perplexed by those outside of his process seeking his voice in their struggles. His perceived silence during the dog days of activism in the early pandemic was met with questions and criticism, and in the face of those broader discussions, he made clear he would not be goaded into action. On “ Savior ,” he responded: “The cat is out the bag, I am not your savior,” later adding, “I rubbed elbows with people that was for the people / They all greedy, I don’t care for no public speaking / And they like to wonder where I’ve been / Protecting my soul in the valley of silence.” He did not want the burden of speaking for the culture, and felt it wasn’t in his job description.

We as listeners are not entitled to any artist sounding off, especially when they are protecting their souls, and while it is fair to ask a socially aware rapper to use his platform as a megaphone for the issues bearing down on his community, I think often of the 2004 Dave Chappelle joke about Ja Rule and 9/11: We don’t need everyone to talk about everything; sometimes, they aren’t equipped. Everything is political, but music is not politics. Songs are just songs unless actively weaponized. Kendrick was right in the sense that his raps, while galvanizing, could not save the people moved by them. And yet, the sharpness of his rebuttal felt nearly antagonistic coming from the rapper who talked about a trip to South Africa giving him awareness and pride, who stared down Fox News commentator Geraldo Rivera and who made “ Alright .”

Tellingly, Kendrick did not perform a single song off of Mr. Morale at “The Pop Out,” his Juneteenth event last night at the Forum in Los Angeles, live-streamed by Amazon Music. The energy wouldn’t have fit the experience, which was not about avoiding the onus but sharing the platform. The significance of the occasion brought certain expectations: the Compton rapper embracing the moment in a way that he had not previously, speaking more directly to and for the “we” of “Alright” and “ Not Like Us .” But in a grander sense, he seemed to be after a different kind of community organizing. The show quickly began to feel like a cookout he was sponsoring, where names like Remble and G Perico were familiar and welcome. Several generations of LA rappers made guest appearances, and Kendrick repeatedly talked about cultivating the new generation, hoping to sustain West Coast hip-hop across the next two decades. In his time of ascension, the most fearsome rapper working made a coalition of his crusade.

The event was broken up into three “& Friends” sets that seemed to build upon one another. After a DJ Hed set that brought out a colorful cast of lesser-known LA fixtures (Remble, Westside Boogie , RJMrLA, BlueBucksClan, Ohgeesy), “Not Like Us” architect Mustard, a pivotal West Coast player in his own right, set the tone for the rest of the night, the crowd reacting gleefully as the producer escorted noted locals through a handful of hits apiece. Some of those guests came with personal history: Mustard pointed out that Ty Dolla $ign taught him how to make beats before they launched into a song built on one of the first beats Mustard ever made, “ Paranoid .” Later, before leaping through a mini-set with longtime partner in crime YG , he waxed nostalgic about living across from the Forum long before they got on, working on the album that would break things open for both of them, My Krazy Life . Blog-era staples (Dom Kennedy) rubbed shoulders with chart-topping anomalies ( Roddy Ricch ), and there were particularly grand receptions for two artists on the outer edges of the LA hip-hop scene: the guitarist turned surprise sensation Steve Lacy and the Odd Future auteur Tyler, the Creator .

The “friends” Kendrick had in mind for his own circling of the bases seemed to consider the team-building that made his run possible. Mid-set, he reunited the original TDE foursome Black Hippy — Jay Rock , Ab-Soul , ScHoolboy Q and himself — by bringing each rapper up individually to receive a well-earned salute from the crowd. The gesture was cathartic for a certain kind of rap fan. Kendrick cut ties with TDE in 2020 to start pgLang with former label co-president Dave Free; he hasn’t made a song with another Black Hippy member in years. But rounding up the gang and taking a little tour of a few songs from the glory days seemed to bring an almost childlike delight out of him — playing hype man for Jay Rock during “ Win ,” which is like stadium catnip, and the freaky Mike WiLL joint “ King’s Dead ,” and teaming up with Q for the hard-bopping “ Collard Greens .” (The reunion’s deep sense of camaraderie could have only been improved by an impromptu run-through of the “Black Lip Bastard” remix.) When Kendrick rocked “ King Kunta ,” the others danced around the stage like no one was watching, with the that’s my jam! enthusiasm of a favorite song suddenly spilling out of a boombox.

This symbolic act, gathering the pillars of one of rap’s most important indie movements of the last 25 years, was clearly a microcosm of the evening’s larger theme of cross-color solidarity: coming together in awe of what was built collectively, and looking to its foundations as evidence of a monument whose peaks could reach even higher. “This is unity at its finest,” Kendrick said at one point, having brought dozens of Los Angeles figures onto the stage for a group photo that called to mind 2005’s “ Great Day ” shoot in Atlanta and the 1958 Harlem jazz roundup that inspired it. “For all of us to be together onstage, that s*** is special. Everybody on this stage got fallen soldiers.” But it was hard to overlook the fact that the thing unifying the coast in this moment was not love but hate, and Kendrick, the self-proclaimed biggest Drake hater , was primarily operating in his capacity as speaker for the culture in his personal war with the Toronto high roller. If the matter wasn’t settled before, then it certainly is now.

In that light, it was striking how many lines from old Kendrick songs now read like disses, in the context of a show that often played like a block party interrupting a wake. As Kendrick paraded the audience through hallmarks of his career — his first hit (“ Swimming Pools ”), his first No. 1 (“ HUMBLE. ”), his blockbuster soundtrack (“King’s Dead”), his American anthem (“Alright”) — he was also taking them on a guided tour past a corpse, and so every time a lyric rang off that matched the tenor of his animosity, the words felt retroactively prescient. “Most of y’all throw rocks and try to hide your hand / Just say his name and I promise that you’ll see Candyman.” “I can dig rappin’, but a rapper with a ghostwriter, what the f*** happened?” “You ain’t really wild, you a tourist.” “I don’t do it for the ‘Gram, I do it for Compton." I kept seeing Drake’s face in so many of the verses. Of course, the targeted diss tracks were right there in the rotation, in conversation with Kendrick’s rise to top dawg. Choosing violence, he opened with “ Euphoria ” and performed every Drake diss except “Meet the Grahams.” Each one punctuated an otherwise raucous set full of crowd-pleasers that crescendoed into a performance of “California Love” with Dr. Dre . When Dre paused his exit from the stage to utter the words “I see dead people,” it felt like the spark setting off a powder keg that had been waiting to blow all night long. Kendrick, sensing the moment, did not let it slip past him.

“Not Like Us” commanded its own portion of the show, where it rang out like a clarion call. He played the song five times in a row, each rendition more jubilant than the last. When he ran it back the first time, after holding onto the “A minor” line for dear life, he let the crowd rap the verse word-for-word as he bobbed around the stage, encouraging them to shout “Certified Lover Boy, certified pedophile” and drag that vowel to the moon and back. By the fourth run, Mustard had led a convoy of people onto the stage. As they came streaming to Kendrick’s side, the camera caught several of their faces: many of the performers from across the day, the NBA stars DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook, the radio host Big Boy. The effect was the sensation that all of Los Angeles was on stage with him — “Bloods, Crips, Pirus,” as he put it. “Show the world this.” By the time they took that group photo, it seemed as if they had.

When “The Pop Out” was all over, “Win” felt like the most fitting summation of the night. The song’s battle cry — “You either with me or against me, ho!” — rang true for a rapper who had seemingly rallied the entire world, its ultimatum answered in the overwhelming support shown for his cause on this day. It was a resounding win for him, of course, but the night also felt like a win for regional music, its distinct style and sound and swagger, a win for an unscalable kind of hip-hop that is supposedly being blotted out by more centrist hip-pop, and a win for the culture, which Kendrick is so adamant about speaking for now. Sometimes, it just takes the right opportunity.

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Kendrick lamar takes the west coast off standby, the rapper's blowout juneteenth concert planted a flag for regional music, and a fresh dagger in a certain rival's heart.

Sheldon Pearce

Kendrick Lamar performs during "The Pop Out — Ken & Friends," his June 19 concert event at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif. Timothy Norris/Getty Images for pgLang, Amazon/Getty Images North America hide caption

When Kendrick Lamar released Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers in 2022, he was jittery with agitation. There were many reasons within the songs for him to be anxious, which spend hard-earned therapy hours working through trauma, but he seemed most perplexed by those outside of his process seeking his voice in their struggles. His perceived silence during the dog days of activism in the early pandemic was met with questions and criticism, and in the face of those broader discussions, he made clear he would not be goaded into action. On “ Savior ,” he responded: “The cat is out the bag, I am not your savior,” later adding, “I rubbed elbows with people that was for the people / They all greedy, I don’t care for no public speaking / And they like to wonder where I’ve been / Protecting my soul in the valley of silence.” He did not want the burden of speaking for the culture, and felt it wasn’t in his job description.

We as listeners are not entitled to any artist sounding off, especially when they are protecting their souls, and while it is fair to ask a socially aware rapper to use his platform as a megaphone for the issues bearing down on his community, I think often of the 2004 Dave Chappelle joke about Ja Rule and 9/11: We don’t need everyone to talk about everything; sometimes, they aren’t equipped. Everything is political, but music is not politics. Songs are just songs unless actively weaponized. Kendrick was right in the sense that his raps, while galvanizing, could not save the people moved by them. And yet, the sharpness of his rebuttal felt nearly antagonistic coming from the rapper who talked about a trip to South Africa giving him awareness and pride, who stared down Fox News commentator Geraldo Rivera and who made “ Alright .”

Tellingly, Kendrick did not perform a single song off of Mr. Morale at “The Pop Out,” his Juneteenth event last night at the Forum in Los Angeles, live-streamed by Amazon Music. The energy wouldn’t have fit the experience, which was not about avoiding the onus but sharing the platform. The significance of the occasion brought certain expectations: the Compton rapper embracing the moment in a way that he had not previously, speaking more directly to and for the “we” of “Alright” and “ Not Like Us .” But in a grander sense, he seemed to be after a different kind of community organizing. The show quickly began to feel like a cookout he was sponsoring, where names like Remble and G Perico were familiar and welcome. Several generations of LA rappers made guest appearances, and Kendrick repeatedly talked about cultivating the new generation, hoping to sustain West Coast hip-hop across the next two decades. In his time of ascension, the most fearsome rapper working made a coalition of his crusade.

American Anthem

Both party and protest, 'alright' is the sound of black life's duality.

Whither the West Coast gangsta?

The event was broken up into three “& Friends” sets that seemed to build upon one another. After a DJ Hed set that brought out a colorful cast of lesser-known LA fixtures (Remble, Westside Boogie , RJMrLA, BlueBucksClan, Ohgeesy), “Not Like Us” architect Mustard, a pivotal West Coast player in his own right, set the tone for the rest of the night, the crowd reacting gleefully as the producer escorted noted locals through a handful of hits apiece. Some of those guests came with personal history: Mustard pointed out that Ty Dolla $ign taught him how to make beats before they launched into a song built on one of the first beats Mustard ever made, “ Paranoid .” Later, before leaping through a mini-set with longtime partner in crime YG , he waxed nostalgic about living across from the Forum long before they got on, working on the album that would break things open for both of them, My Krazy Life . Blog-era staples (Dom Kennedy) rubbed shoulders with chart-topping anomalies ( Roddy Ricch ), and there were particularly grand receptions for two artists on the outer edges of the LA hip-hop scene: the guitarist turned surprise sensation Steve Lacy and the Odd Future auteur Tyler, the Creator .

The “friends” Kendrick had in mind for his own circling of the bases seemed to consider the team-building that made his run possible. Mid-set, he reunited the original TDE foursome Black Hippy — Jay Rock , Ab-Soul , ScHoolboy Q and himself — by bringing each rapper up individually to receive a well-earned salute from the crowd. The gesture was cathartic for a certain kind of rap fan. Kendrick cut ties with TDE in 2020 to start pgLang with former label co-president Dave Free; he hasn’t made a song with another Black Hippy member in years. But rounding up the gang and taking a little tour of a few songs from the glory days seemed to bring an almost childlike delight out of him — playing hype man for Jay Rock during “ Win ,” which is like stadium catnip, and the freaky Mike WiLL joint “ King’s Dead ,” and teaming up with Q for the hard-bopping “ Collard Greens .” (The reunion’s deep sense of camaraderie could have only been improved by an impromptu run-through of the “Black Lip Bastard” remix.) When Kendrick rocked “ King Kunta ,” the others danced around the stage like no one was watching, with the that’s my jam! enthusiasm of a favorite song suddenly spilling out of a boombox.

This symbolic act, gathering the pillars of one of rap’s most important indie movements of the last 25 years, was clearly a microcosm of the evening’s larger theme of cross-color solidarity: coming together in awe of what was built collectively, and looking to its foundations as evidence of a monument whose peaks could reach even higher. “This is unity at its finest,” Kendrick said at one point, having brought dozens of Los Angeles figures onto the stage for a group photo that called to mind 2005’s “ Great Day ” shoot in Atlanta and the 1958 Harlem jazz roundup that inspired it. “For all of us to be together onstage, that s*** is special. Everybody on this stage got fallen soldiers.” But it was hard to overlook the fact that the thing unifying the coast in this moment was not love but hate, and Kendrick, the self-proclaimed biggest Drake hater , was primarily operating in his capacity as speaker for the culture in his personal war with the Toronto high roller. If the matter wasn’t settled before, then it certainly is now.

Taking the toll of Drake and Kendrick Lamar's vicious, gripping psychological warfare

Black Hippy, A New Hip-Hop Recipe With A Familiar Sound

In that light, it was striking how many lines from old Kendrick songs now read like disses, in the context of a show that often played like a block party interrupting a wake. As Kendrick paraded the audience through hallmarks of his career — his first hit (“ Swimming Pools ”), his first No. 1 (“ HUMBLE. ”), his blockbuster soundtrack (“King’s Dead”), his American anthem (“Alright”) — he was also taking them on a guided tour past a corpse, and so every time a lyric rang off that matched the tenor of his animosity, the words felt retroactively prescient. “Most of y’all throw rocks and try to hide your hand / Just say his name and I promise that you’ll see Candyman.” “I can dig rappin’, but a rapper with a ghostwriter, what the f*** happened?” “You ain’t really wild, you a tourist.” “I don’t do it for the ‘Gram, I do it for Compton." I kept seeing Drake’s face in so many of the verses. Of course, the targeted diss tracks were right there in the rotation, in conversation with Kendrick’s rise to top dawg. Choosing violence, he opened with “ Euphoria ” and performed every Drake diss except “Meet the Grahams.” Each one punctuated an otherwise raucous set full of crowd-pleasers that crescendoed into a performance of “California Love” with Dr. Dre . When Dre paused his exit from the stage to utter the words “I see dead people,” it felt like the spark setting off a powder keg that had been waiting to blow all night long. Kendrick, sensing the moment, did not let it slip past him.

“Not Like Us” commanded its own portion of the show, where it rang out like a clarion call. He played the song five times in a row, each rendition more jubilant than the last. When he ran it back the first time, after holding onto the “A minor” line for dear life, he let the crowd rap the verse word-for-word as he bobbed around the stage, encouraging them to shout “Certified Lover Boy, certified pedophile” and drag that vowel to the moon and back. By the fourth run, Mustard had led a convoy of people onto the stage. As they came streaming to Kendrick’s side, the camera caught several of their faces: many of the performers from across the day, the NBA stars DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook, the radio host Big Boy. The effect was the sensation that all of Los Angeles was on stage with him — “Bloods, Crips, Pirus,” as he put it. “Show the world this.” By the time they took that group photo, it seemed as if they had.

When “The Pop Out” was all over, “Win” felt like the most fitting summation of the night. The song’s battle cry — “You either with me or against me, ho!” — rang true for a rapper who had seemingly rallied the entire world, its ultimatum answered in the overwhelming support shown for his cause on this day. It was a resounding win for him, of course, but the night also felt like a win for regional music, its distinct style and sound and swagger, a win for an unscalable kind of hip-hop that is supposedly being blotted out by more centrist hip-pop, and a win for the culture, which Kendrick is so adamant about speaking for now. Sometimes, it just takes the right opportunity.

• Kendrick Lamar
• ScHoolboy Q

Here's Everything That Happened at Kendrick Lamar's Juneteenth Concert in L.A.

In his first live performance since his beef with Drake , Kendrick Lamar took the stage in Los Angeles on Juneteenth in a historic, electrifying evening filled with special guests, exhilarated fans, and continued jabs at his arch-rival. 

The one-off concert titled The Pop Out - Ken and Friends , presented by pgLang and Free Lunch was jam-packed with a long line-up of artists, mostly from L.A. and California, who performed in Lamar's hometown at the Kia Forum. From top to bottom, the entire event was a love letter to West Coast hip-hop culture, including a special appearance from Dr. Dre himself.

Before the doors even opened for the highly anticipated show, the crowd was stimulated and curious about what was to come for the rest of the evening. Lines started forming around the venue on Wednesday morning, with people dressed in their own personally designed merch.

The Pop Out , a nod to a lyric from Lamar's hit single and diss track "Not Like Us," sold out almost immediately when tickets went on sale, an indicator that fans were more than hyped to witness Lamar on stage following his heightened sparring match with Drake . For those who weren't lucky enough to snag tickets to the actual event, the concert also live-streamed on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.

After spending over $1,500 on a pair of tickets, a father and son duo Damien and Dominic Camarena who are both born and raised in Los Angeles stood in a line outside of The Forum starting at 10:30 in the morning to see Lamar perform. Standing in the mid-afternoon heat before the doors opened, Dominic gushed, "I was really young when I got put on to Kendrick. I was about 9 years old, so just being here with my dad is really special because I got put on by him."

It was already a party outside of The Forum prior to the concert; while people were waiting around, they were able to hip up several merch stands, photo ops, and food and beverage stations. There was even a voter registration station, courtesy of HeadCount, encouraging concertgoers to make sure they're all set to vote in November.

Once the lights went down close to 4:30 pm PT, DJ Hed kicked off the evening by introducing the crowd to a slew of West Coast artists who each graced the stage for about one or two songs each. From Remble, Ray Vaughn, and Cuzzos, to Westside Boogie, Zoe Osama, Bino Rideaux, Ohgeesy, and Jason Martin, The Pop Out commenced with nearly a dozen artists who all stem from California roots, setting the vibe for the rest of the night.

Hitmaker and L.A. native DJ Mustard, who produced the beat behind Lamar's "Not Like Us," delivered a set of his popular songs and also brought out iconic artists like Dom Kennedy, Tyler the Creator, YG, Ty Dolla $ign, Blxst, and Roddy Rich. Not to mention, Mustard played a trio of Nipsey Hussle tracks in honor of the late L.A. rapper and inspired everyone to raise their phones and turn their camera lights on.

In anticipation of Lamar's appearance, fans chanted "Kendrick" and "OV-ho" throughout the sold-out arena without being prompted. As the rapper rose from the bottom of the stage, the audience was exhilarated that his first song of choice was "Euphoria," setting off an energy that reverberated throughout the entire Forum. Lamar delivered a selection of his classic hits - including "Loyalty," "ELEMENT," "Alright," and "Swimming Pools" - and was also joined on stage by collaborators Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, and none other than Dr. Dre.

"This shit we have going on tonight is bigger than me," Lamar told the crowd.

To cap off the night, Lamar performed his viral hit "Not Like Us, " a total of five times. The crowd exploded with enthusiasm when the beat dropped and Dr. Dre whispered, "I see dead people," introducing Lamar's first live performance of what's arguably the song of the summer (if you talk to anyone who listens to hip hop). "Y'all ain't gonna let nobody disrespect the West Coast, huh?" Lamar asked his loyal listeners, with each performance of the song growing in fervor. Five times wasn't enough for the crowd who was entranced with Lamar's every word, having already memorized the lyrics to the number one charting diss track. 

Interrupting fans reciting the lyrics to "Not Like Us," Lamar brought out the dozens of artists who showed up to The Pop Out so they could all share the stage and celebrate together. Gathering for a final photo of the night, Lamar said, "Let them see this. We put this together with peace."

As if Lamar hadn't already solidified his place as winner of the rap beef, Wednesday night's show served as a victory lap.

More from Rolling Stone

• Dr. Dre, Tyler the Creator, YG and More 'Pop Out' At Kendrick Lamar's Juneteenth Concert
• Kendrick Lamar Performs 'Not Like Us' for the First Time at Juneteenth Concert
• Kendrick Lamar's 'The Pop Out: Ken and Friends' Concert: How to Watch the Livestream Online

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Kendrick Lamar reps L.A. unity at Forum, performs ‘Not Like Us’ marathon, brings out Dr. Dre

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For Kendrick Lamar, “The Pop Out — Ken & Friends” show on Juneteenth was less about Drake, less about putting the final nail in the coffin of a simmering rap feud and more about celebrating Los Angeles and its influence on rap culture as a whole — namely because “they not like us.”

As the Pulitzer Prize winner rapped those lyrics from his undeniable hit “Not Like Us,” a total of five times (his first time doing so), several of his peers hopped on the Kia Forum stage to rap along with him enthusiastically, C-walk to the beat and conclude the night with an epic group photo of L.A. luminaries. Some of the people on stage included DJ Mustard (who produced the record), Black Hippy (Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q), Compton rapper YG, L.A. Clipper Russell Westbrook, singer Steve Lacy, radio host Big Boy, Tommy the Clown (along with his talented crew of child krumpers), choreographer Charm La’Donna and allegedly members of every gang in L.A.

“This s— gets me emotional,” Lamar said. “We done lost a lot, a lot of homies to this music s—. A lot of homies to some street s— and for all of us to be on this stage together; unity from each side of motherf— L.A., Crips, Bloods, Pirus — this s— is special, man.”

He added, “We put this s— together just for y’all.”

Lamar announced his “The Pop Out — Ken & Friends” show, which was produced with his label/creative agency pgLang and Free Lunch on June 5, just days after organizers of the annual Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival in South L.A. — where thousands of Black Angelenos have been congregating on the special holiday for several years — announced that it was canceled due to costs and safety concerns. The historic performance also came roughly a month after Lamar’s vicious rap beef with Drake, in which he was deemed the winner by Internet scorekeepers.

Real 92.3’s DJ Hed was first to take the stage around 4:20 p.m., bringing out a number of guest performers including Kalan.FrFr, Westside Boogie and Cuzzos (an all girl rap group) and Tommy the Clown along with his group of krumping child dancers.

Next up was Grammy-winning producer DJ Mustard, who also welcomed several of his collaborators and friends to the stage including Blxst, Ty Dolla $ign, Dom Kennedy, Roddy Ricch, recent high school graduate 310Babii, and Tyler, the Creator . He also made a dedication to late rapper Nipsey Hussle during his DJ set.

Throughout the intermissions between sets, the crowd chanted the lyric “OVHOE,” one of the catchiest in a long line of memorable lines at the end of “Not Like Us.”

Kendrick Lamar’s bringing Juneteenth to the Forum: How to watch him pop out and show

Following a recorded introduction from rapper E-40, Lamar emerged onto the stage and opened his set with his Drake diss track, “Euphoria,” as a bright red light shined on him. His hawk-eyed fans wasted no time to post on social media that he’d added a new bar to the song: “Give me Tupac’s ring back, and I might give you a little respect.”

Lamar went on to perform some of his older tracks including “DNA,” “Element” and “Alright,” all of which carried a different weight following the Drake beef. But one of the best moments during the show was undoubtedly when Lamar reunited with Black Hippy.

After Lamar performed his verse from Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That,” he brought out Dr. Dre — his longtime mentor and collaborator — to perform his classic hits “Still D.R.E.” and “California Love.” Before he left the stage, Dre helped introduced Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” by saying the intro “I see dead people,” and the crowd exploded.

Lamar ran through “Not Like Us” a total of five times — not including a sixth time which was just the instrumental — and paused at the unforgettable lyric “A minorrrrrrrrrrr,” which he and the audience held for an extended period of time. (This moment felt like Lamar’s version of Kanye and Jay-Z’s “N— in Paris” or Beyoncé’s mute challenge.)

Of the more than a dozen performers, it was most surprising that Lamar’s cousin and label mate, Baby Keem, didn’t make a guest appearance at the show.

Although “The Pop Out — Ken & Friends” was undoubtedly a final victory lap for Lamar, he made it clear throughout that this event was much bigger than him or any rap beef. It’s always been about elevating the culture, unifying people and putting on for his city — and that will never change.

In the parking lot many audience members said they saw the show as a historic moment, not only for music but also for the celebration of hip-hop and Black L.A.

“It’s a cultural moment,” said Stacy Aneke, 25, of Ontario, adding that he wanted to celebrate with the “winning team,” referring to Lamar of course.

“There’s nobody honestly better than Lamar to bring out the community who actually know the history and purpose of Juneteenth and to get people more aware of Juneteenth and its importance,” fan Omarri Veck, 24, said.

More to Read

Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ victory lap: Compton fans pop out for music video shoot

June 24, 2024

Mustard on the beat: Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ was a surprise, even for the DJ

June 20, 2024

‘This is for the city!’ Kendrick Lamar fans sound off and show out in the Forum parking lot

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Kailyn Brown is a lifestyle reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Previously, she worked as a staff writer for Los Angeles Magazine and the Las Vegas Review-Journal. When she’s not penning an article, she’s DJing at events and parties around the city.

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