“Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Surprise: The Shocking Reason He’s Performing for Free!”

As Super Bowl LIX approaches, all eyes are set not just on the thrilling matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, but also on an electrifying figure ready to take the stage: Kendrick Lamar. You might be wondering, is it the football game that has us so hyped, or is it the prospect of the “King” himself delivering a halftime show that could shatter expectations? Let’s be real here—while most are gearing up for what’s likely to be an epic clash of the titans on the field, the true spectacle lies in the genius of a rapper who has kept us on our toes all year long. With accolades aplenty and a recently crowned number one album, Kendrick is set to leave an indelible mark on this Super Bowl, even if he won’t be pocketing a paycheck for the performance. Curious about the details? Grab a seat, and let’s dive in! LEARN MORE

‘King’ Kendrick Lamar is expected to blow away the sold-out crowd at Super Bowl LIX.

Two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the National Football Conference champion Philadelphia Eagles will battle it out at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Sunday (9 February).

But let’s be honest, we’re not here for that.

The LA rapper, 37, has more than deserved to headline the legendary halftime show after the year he’s just had.

As a Drake stan, I have no problem in admitting that he completely destroyed my favourite artist after their back-and-forth diss tracks made it an incredible year for Hip Hop.

Out of his four solo diss songs, Not Like Us is what ultimately won him the battle, with the Canadian rapper, 38, now suing record label UMG for defamation.

Besides the monstrous track, in 2024 Kendrick managed to pick up eight BET Hip Hop Awards, including song of the year and artist of the year.

With the addition of his number one album GNX, it might seem a little odd how he won’t be paid for his halftime show performance.

Why Kendrick Lamar won’t be paid for the Super Bowl LIX halftime show

Kendrick Lamar had an incredible 2024 (Timothy Norris/Getty Images for pgLang, Amazon Music, & Free Lunch)

Kendrick is likely to get the same treatment as every musician before him, with the NFL refusing to pay the artist.

However, what they will do is cover expenses and production costs, to an extent, reports Forbes.

Some have gone that one step further and reportedly spent their own money on the performances.

In 2021, The Weeknd was said to have thrown a whopping $7 million (£5.7 million) at his set, while Dr Dre reportedly spent a similar amount a year later.

But this is far from a charity gig, after last year 129.3 million tuned in to Usher’s halftime performance, which boosted his Spotify streams by 550 percent.

And if Kendrick performs Not Like Us – he definitely will – then it’s likely to boost the song’s streaming numbers even more, given that it’s already passed a billion on Spotify alone.

Also, Apple Music confirmed earlier that SZA will be make an appearance in the show (we can’t wait).

Kendrick has performed at the Super Bowl before

An incredible moment (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Fans might remember when Dr Dre brought out the likes of Kendrick, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and even 50 Cent in 2022.

It was truly a legendary moment, with people calling it ‘the best halftime show ever’.

“The opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, and to do it in my own backyard, will be one of the biggest thrills of my career,” said Dre before the show.

“I’m grateful to Jay-Z, Roc Nation, the NFL, and Pepsi as well as Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar for joining me in what will be an unforgettable cultural moment.”

How do I watch Super Bowl LIX in the UK?

As mentioned, the Kansas City Chiefs will face Philadelphia Eagles at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Sunday (9 February).

Kick-off will be 11:30pm (UK time) and coverage will start from 10pm and will finish at around 3:30am on Monday morning (10 February).

Brits can tune in to the game for free on ITV1 or ITVX, while Sky customers can watch the match on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event.