Kendrick Lamar said on his new album “GNX” that Nas congratulated him for being selected to perform at halftime of Super Bowl LIX in February.
Perhaps Nas will make a guest appearance on stage in New Orleans?
It’s hard to predict what Lamar will do with his upcoming performance — or with his music in general. He caught the music world by surprise in releasing his latest album on Friday, then releasing a video for the song “squabble up” on Monday.
The release of “GNX” gives fans a glimpse into additional songs that might be performed at Caesars Superdome in February. The Athletic in September rolled out early predictions and odds of the songs the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper would perform during the Super Bowl halftime show. Here are updated predictions, which include some of the tracks from the new album:
‘Not Like Us’
When this song, considered by many as the knockout punch in the Kendrick Lamar-Drake rap beef, was released in May, rapper-turned-podcaster Joe Budden said Drake should be thankful it wasn’t the HBCU band season because it would be played at games repeatedly. Well, college football season is here, and marching bands are performing their renditions of the song. Pro teams are playing the song. Youth bands are picking up the song. It even became a theme for the Los Angeles Dodgers during their run to the World Series. It’s the new sports theme for this decade: “They not like us. They not like us. They not like us.”
Chance it’s played: 100 percent
‘squabble up’
When the “Not Like Us” video was released on July 4, there was a snippet of a song at the start of the video. The snippet had no title. That song turned out to be “squabble up” from the new album. The up-tempo start and the sample of Debbie Deb’s “When I Hear Music” is an ideal choice.
Chance it’s played: 99 percent
‘Like That’
This song, featuring Future and Metro Boomin, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Lamar said in his verse there’s no “big three” in rap, declaring himself above Drake and J. Cole.
Chance it’s played: 95 percent
‘Humble’
The NBA used this track as its theme for the 2017 NBA Finals. It’s one of Lamar’s most recognizable songs. It’s hard to imagine it doesn’t make it into the show. If it doesn’t make the cut, “GNX” tracks might be the reason.
Chance it’s played: 90 percent
‘tv off’
Lefty Gunplay joins Lamar in this high-energy song off the “GNX” album. Lamar screaming “Mustarrrrrrd!” in reference to producer DJ Mustard quickly has become a meme-worthy expression. At the very least, Lamar has to yell “Mustarrrrrrd!” at least once during his performance.
Chance it’s played: 85 percent
‘Money Trees’
This song includes Jay Rock, as the two once were labelmates at Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). Listen to “heart pt. 6” from “GNX” and be reminded how much Jay Rock means to Lamar’s career. It would be a great moment on stage for a reunion.
Chance it’s played: 75 percent
Kendrick Lamar will perform at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Which songs will make up the set is still to be determined. (Briana Sanchez / Austin American-Statesman / USA Today)
‘DNA’
This is one of Lamar’s biggest songs. It’ll be hard to imagine it’s not part of the show.
Chance it’s played: 75 percent
‘All the Stars’
Lamar teamed up with SZA for this song on the “Black Panther” soundtrack. Lamar is no longer on TDE, but he remains close with those on the label. SZA would add soul as a guest performer.
Chance it’s played: 65 percent
‘Swimming Pools (Drank)’
It’s a slower tempo, but it’s a great song in a concert setting. It also was the song that introduced many fans to Lamar’s “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City” album in 2012.
Chance it’s played: 60 percent
‘King Kunta’
This is one of Lamar’s more danceable tracks from his “To Pimp a Butterfly” album from 2015. It’s a perfect concert song … but will it fit in his Super Bowl rotation?
Chance it’s played: 60 percent
‘Family Ties’
Lamar joined his cousin, Baby Keem, on this song off Keem’s “The Melodic Blue” album. Keem has toured with Lamar, so it wouldn’t be surprising for them to be on stage together in New Orleans.
Chance it’s played: 60 percent
‘Alright’
Lamar performed this at Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium when he was part of Dr. Dre’s halftime show. That’s the only thing that makes it dicey as to whether it’ll be part of the upcoming show.
Chance it’s played: 50 percent
‘Collard Greens’
This was a highlight of ScHoolboy Q’s “Oxymoron” album. It’s an up-tempo song and would be another opportunity for Lamar to bring one of his former TDE labelmates onto the biggest of stages with him.
Chance it’s played: 45 percent
‘Rich Spirit’
I’ve heard this song live, and it hits hard in front of a live audience. That doesn’t mean it translates to the Super Bowl. It’s not a dance song, but it’s also not a slow jam. Nice, mid-tempo game that could lighten the mood a little, if needed.
Chance it’s played: 40 percent
‘B—-, Don’t Kill My Vibe’
A popular song, but the NSFW first word of the title means Lamar would have to work around it. It’s not impossible, as any song on this stage will have to be cleaned of profanity. There are parts of the song that would work.
Chance it’s played: 40 percent
‘Euphoria’
This was the first solo diss track from Lamar at Drake. It’s unlikely Lamar will want to turn the halftime show into 14 minutes of clowning Drake … but you never know.
Chance it’s played: 30 percent
‘6:16 in LA’
This Drake diss was never released on streaming services. It was only made available on Lamar’s Instagram. The song was a hit with fans during Lamar’s concert on Juneteenth, but again, how much time is he likely to dedicate to diss songs?
Chance it’s played: 25 percent
‘Meet the Grahams’
The darkest song of the Lamar-Drake feud. It doesn’t fit in this setting.
Chance it’s played: 5 percent
‘Bad Blood’
Taylor Swift is too big of a star to be a featured performer, but this surprise would send social media into a frenzy. There’s a better chance of Swift sitting in a suite cheering for Travis Kelce than joining Lamar on stage. The more the Kansas City Chiefs win, the chances of this collaboration happening shrink.
Chance it’s played: 0 percent
‘Mona Lisa’
This collaboration with Lil Wayne would have been an awkward fit during the show, but it might have been a hit with hometown fans of Wayne. Given Wayne’s public disappointment over not being selected to perform at halftime, in addition to his ties to Drake, it’s hard to imagine him taking the stage at halftime.
Chance it’s played: 0 percent
‘Poetic Justice,’ feat. Drake
Remember when Lamar and Drake made music together? This track was released in 2013. A lot has changed since then. Drake plans to be on tour in Australia on Super Bowl Sunday. No one expected to see him in New Orleans in the first place.
Chance it’s played: minus-1,000 percent
(Top photo: Santiago Bluguermann / Getty Images)
