Kendrick Lamar is set to reclaim the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 after his Super Bowl LIX halftime performance. His latest album, GNX, is projected to sell 230K more units this week, pushing total sales past one million and securing another platinum certification. Additionally, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, and DAMN. saw a surge in sales, landing at No. 11 and No. 12, respectively.
Lamar also made history with the most-watched Super Bowl Halftime Show ever, drawing 133.5 million viewers, surpassing Michael Jackson’s 1993 record. The game itself, where the Eagles defeated the Chiefs, was also the most-watched Super Bowl, averaging 126 million viewers and peaking at 135.7 million.
pgLang co-founder Dave Free revealed that Lamar and his team aimed for a cinematic and theatrical halftime show, featuring SZA, Mustard, Samuel L. Jackson, and Serena Williams. Inspired by past performances from Beyoncé, Prince, and Michael Jackson, they crafted a show reflecting Black America’s cultural narrative.
Lamar’s setlist notably included tracks from GNX and Drake diss songs, with Free emphasizing, “It wasn’t about playing the hits.” The performance was made possible after JAY-Z’s call, marking Lamar’s return to the Super Bowl stage three years after appearing in Dr. Dre’s legendary set.
Kendrick Lamar is on track to reclaim the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 following his historic Super Bowl LIX halftime performance. According to early projections, his latest album, GNX, is expected to sell an additional 230,000 units this week, securing its place at the top. This boost was further fueled by the release of physical copies of the album just days before the Super Bowl. With total sales now surpassing one million copies, GNX is set to earn another platinum certification, marking another milestone in Kendrick’s already legendary career.
Lamar’s impact extended beyond just his latest release. His older albums also saw a significant increase in sales, with Good Kid, M.A.A.D City projected to land at No. 11 with 34,000 units sold, while DAMN. is expected to follow closely behind at No. 12 with nearly 34,000 units. This resurgence highlights the lasting influence of his music and the power of his performance.
In addition to his commercial success, Lamar has now set a new Super Bowl Halftime Show viewership record. His performance at Super Bowl LIX brought in a staggering 133.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched halftime show in history. This surpasses the previous record held by Michael Jackson, whose 1993 performance drew 133 million viewers.
The game itself was also a record-breaker. FOX Sports confirmed that Super Bowl LIX was the most-watched Super Bowl ever, averaging 126 million viewers and peaking at 135.7 million viewers during the second quarter, as the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs.
pgLang co-founder Dave Free shared insights into the creative process behind Kendrick’s theatrical and cinematic halftime show. The performance featured special guest appearances from SZA, Mustard, Samuel L. Jackson, and Serena Williams, blending music, storytelling, and visual artistry in a way that stood out from past Super Bowl performances.
“We wanted this performance to have a cinematic and theatrical element to it,” Free explained. “There’s never been a Super Bowl performance quite like this one.”
To prepare, Free and Lamar studied every past Super Bowl halftime show, drawing particular inspiration from Beyoncé, Prince, and Michael Jackson. However, their goal was to make something unique—an artistic expression of Black America and its cultural identity.
“The feel of it is Black America,” Free said. “What does Black America look like, and how do we control that narrative versus how the world perceives it?”
One of the most talked-about elements of Lamar’s performance was his setlist. Rather than playing his biggest mainstream hits, he performed mostly tracks from GNX and several Drake diss songs—a move that sparked conversation across social media.
“It wasn’t about playing the hits,” Free stated, reinforcing the idea that Kendrick wanted the performance to be about his artistic message rather than mainstream appeal.
The opportunity for Lamar to headline the Super Bowl came directly from JAY-Z, who has played a major role in organizing halftime shows since 2020. Free admitted he wasn’t sure if Kendrick would be asked to perform, given that he had already made an appearance during Dr. Dre’s legendary halftime show in 2022. However, he said the timing felt right.
“It felt like the right time for us,” Free said, confirming that JAY-Z’s involvement helped make the moment possible.
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX performance was more than just a halftime show—it was a statement, a cultural moment, and a history-making event. With record-breaking viewership, a No. 1 album, and a performance that sparked conversation worldwide, Lamar has once again cemented himself as one of the most powerful voices in music today.
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