SZA Features Kendrick Lamar with Gatorade in Super Bowl Halftime Trailer

Apple Music announced Kendrick Lamar’s upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show performance with a trailer revealing a guest performance from singer SZA.

The 30-second teaser, released Thursday, shows Lamar talking on the phone on a football field. A line of men walking in unison can be seen at the top of the screen, hinting at the creative direction of the rapper’s upcoming set.

Midway, SZA sneaks up behind Lamar and showers him with blue Gatorade.

“Hip-Hop MVP takes the big stage, with guest artist SZA,” reads the trailer’s description on YouTube. The two are also expected to tour together starting in April.

The teaser is one of Apple Music’s few marketing efforts surrounding the halftime show.

Lamar first announced his headlining gig in September. The Compton rapper posted a 75-second video of himself feeding footballs through a passing machine while shouting words of encouragement to someone off-camera.

“Rap music remains the most influential genre to this day. And I will be here to remind the world why,” Lamar said in a statement. “They got the right one.”

“Few artists have had as profound an impact on music and culture as Kendrick Lamar,” added NFL music executive Seth Dudowsky. “Time and time again, Kendrick has proven his unique ability to create moments that resonate, redefine, and ultimately shake the very foundations of hip-hop. »

Apple Music also has curated playlists on its app, hosted under a landing page called “Kendrick Lamar’s Path to Halftime.”

Lamar has been the center of attention since his feud with Drake began in early 2024. In November, he surprise-released an album called GNX, which received meme treatment due to the way he shouts humorously “MUSTARRRRDDDDDD!” on the song produced by Mustard “TV off.” Brands like McDonald’s and Heinz were quick to exploit the cultural buzz.

Super Bowl 59 will mark the second time Lamar has performed during the Big Game halftime show. In 2022, he performed alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary J. Blige at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Creative direction for Lamar’s performance will be handled by his creative company, pgLang.

Last year, Usher’s set became the the most watched halftime show of all timewith 123.4 million views.