Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Tremendous Bowl halftime present efficiency is getting blended opinions and most of the folks praising the rapper’s Large Sport set are giving him props for not utilizing a backing observe.
Kendrick Lamar Praised for Really Performing Stay
It was all eyes on Okay-Dot for his large live performance on the soccer recreation on Sunday evening (Feb. 9). The Compton, Calif. rapper got here by way of with a high-energy symbolic set filled with Easter eggs that left many rap followers captivated. Lots of these viewers gave Dot additional kudos on social media for truly performing reside.
“‘The revolution ‘bout to be televised, you picked the proper time however the WRONG man!’ — Kendrick Lamar as a result of WHO ELSE!? No different rapper performs on THAT stage. Story-telling, no backing observe, vitality + charisma!” one individual wrote on X.
“This was dope, particularly in the direction of the tip. Kendrick no again observe Lamar,” another person tweeted.
Even Jermaine Dupri heaped reward on Dot for doing an precise reside set.
“Dope efficiency, no again observe, breath management, choreography, skits, straight rap s**t,” JD tweeted.
Jermaine Dupri weighs in on Kendrick Lamar’s Tremendous Bowl efficiency.
Learn Extra: Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present Setlist
So What Is a Backing Observe?
When most artists carry out “reside,” particularly at occasions as large because the Tremendous Bowl, they’re sometimes rapping or singing, whereas the precise audio of the music (or backing observe) performs within the background. This enables the performer to have backup and a listener not miss any phrases because the performer strikes concerning the stage and will get winded at factors. Although Kendrick’s SB set concerned lots of motion, he by no means missed a beat, regardless of not having backup vocals.
When the performer is completely utilizing the backing observe, that is also called lip-syncing. One of the crucial well-known and excessive instances of lip-synching concerned Eighties pop group Milli Vanilli. The duo, who gained fame with the tracks “Lady You Know It is True,” “Child Do not Neglect My Quantity” and “Blame It on the Rain,” was outed for not performing any of their songs, even studio cuts. They have been uncovered on MTV in 1989 when their backing observe malfunctioned throughout what was imagined to be a reside set.
Whereas the observe of utilizing a backing observe is extra acceptable throughout large reside performances, solely a choose few artists select to go uncooked like Kendrick did.
Learn Extra: The Funniest Fan Reactions to Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present
Try Kendrick Lamar’s efficiency on the 2025 Tremendous Bowl under.
Watch Kendrick Lamar’s Tremendous Bowl LIX Halftime Present
Click on “Watch on YouTube” to observe the official video of the efficiency on the NFL’s YouTube channel.
