Super Bowl 59 has the sporting landscape focused on the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, but plenty of people will be tuning in to see Kendrick Lamar and the halftime show.
So far, the enormously famous rapper — fresh off a huge night at the Grammys — has largely kept his plans for Sunday under wraps. Lamar has talked about a focus on ‘storytelling’ during his performance, but as far as a guest list, the only performer confirmed to be joining him is SZA, another Grammy winner who has worked with the Los Angeles native on multiple occasions.
That has opened the door to plenty of speculation. Lamar has a history of incorporating surprise guests, most notoriously bringing scores of big names on stage at last year’s ‘The Pop Out’ concert. With a long list of hits involving verses from other hip-hop superstars and a creativity that opens the door to include artists from other genres, the possibilities for the halftime show at Caesars Superdome feel endless.
Who could take the stage with Kendrick Lamar at Super Bowl 59? Here’s some predictions:
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SZA
This one’s not a prediction but something we already know. In January, Apple Music confirmed that SZA, who has since won her fifth Grammy, will join Lamar as part of the halftime show at Super Bowl 59.
The duo have made multiple songs together, including the Grammy-nominated ‘All the Stars’ in 2018, and are going on tour together beginning in April. Given the frequency of their collaborations, it would have been a shock if SZA wasn’t involved in the halftime show.
Black Hippy
Super Bowl performances often see artists combine with like-minded performers, balancing the desire to surprise fans with the need to make sure the performance goes off without a hitch.
For Kendrick Lamar, that probably means turning to Black Hippy, the supergroup he was a part of for years alongside ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and Ab-Soul. The four Los Angeles rappers teamed up for 14 years starting in 2008, though they never put out an album. Instead, they dropped numerous hits on one another’s solo projects.
The group broke up in 2022, but reunited for Kendrick’s ‘The Pop Out’ mega-concert at the Kia Forum last summer. Given the cultural impact of that concert, Black Hippy banding together once again feels like a solid bet at Super Bowl 59.
Doechii
Super Bowl halftime shows don’t all have to feature longtime collaborators. We could see a new breakout star like Doechii take the stage, especially in the aftermath of her Best Rap Album win at the Grammys.
However, just because there’s not a Kendrick/Doechii song tearing up the charts yet, it doesn’t mean the Florida native should be ruled out of Sunday’s halftime show. Last year, Kendrick called her ‘the hardest out’ in a post on Instagram, offering significant praise for Doechii’s ‘Alligator Bites Never Heal’ mixtape.
Part of the art of assembling a Super Bowl halftime show is mixing the old with the new, playing some long-standing hits while incorporating newer songs in an unexpected way. If Doechii emerges from some part of the stage during a medley on Sunday, it will be a surprise … but not a total stunner.
Dr. Dre
It’s no stretch to think that West Coast legend Dr. Dre could perform with Kendrick Lamar at Super Bowl 59. The latter considers the former a mentor, and Dr. Dre had Kendrick as one of his guests on stage at Super Bowl 56.
Earlier this month, Dr. Dre was obviously delighted to see Kendrick win five Grammy Awards, and the aforementioned halftime performance three years ago in Los Angeles was well-regarded. It stands to reason that Kendrick will return the favor, possibly with a rendition of ‘The Recipe’ off his 2012 breakthrough ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city.’
What about Taylor Swift?
Taylor Swift is by now a well-established regular figure at Kansas City Chiefs games, so of course it will come as no surprise that she is expected to attend Super Bowl 59. The pop icon is famous enough that NFL broadcasts regularly cut to shots of her, generally enjoying the game like anyone else (albeit from slightly nicer seats) and rooting for boyfriend Travis Kelce.
Here’s the thing, though: she and Kendrick Lamar have a song together, a remix of her 2014 hit ‘Bad Blood.’ Over the years, the two have remained friendly, with Swift raising a glass at the Grammys to yet another Kendrick award. On top of that, Kendrick worked extensively with Jack Antonoff — a prolific collaborator of Swift’s over the years — on his most recent album, ‘GNX.’
Super Bowl halftime shows are supposed to feature great music, but they’ve also relied on surprises in recent years. Could we see a Kendrick/Swift collab? It might boil down to whether Swift views the game as a work occasion, or if she just wants to enjoy some chicken tenders and watch Kelce push for his fourth Super Bowl ring.
Who won’t be performing with Kendrick Lamar?
Other than the obvious answer — that’d be Drake — we know of at least one rumored guest at Super Bowl 59 who won’t be performing with Kendrick Lamar.
New Orleans native Lil Wayne has confirmed he won’t even be in the city for the Super Bowl. Despite one of Kendrick’s early mixtapes, ‘C4,’ featuring numerous freestyles over beats from Lil Wayne’s highly successful album ‘Tha Carter III.’
However, both rappers have publicly discussed how they won’t be working together at Super Bowl 59, much to Lil Wayne’s apparent chagrin.
How to watch Super Bowl 59: Time, TV channel, streaming
Super Bowl 59 will be broadcast nationwide on Fox. Streaming options include Fubo, which is offering a free trial for new subscribers, or Tubi.
Date: Sunday, Feb. 9
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Streaming: Fubo, Tubi
Location: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
Watch Super Bowl 59 on Fubo
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