Kendrick Lamar's 2025 Takeover: Emmys, Charts, and Iconic Moments

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Kendrick Lamar is having a summer that could end up a defining chapter in his career. First and foremost, according to HipHopDX and Luminate, his single Luther with SZA is officially the biggest song of 2025 at the halfway point, holding the top Billboard Hot 100 spot for 13 straight weeks and racking up 3.9 million copies sold so far. That’s not his only chart storm: Not Like Us and TV Off are also among the year’s five biggest songs, continuing their momentum long after the dust-up with Drake. Lamar and SZA, who are currently sweeping across Europe with sold-out stadium dates—like the two-night blowout at Paris La Défense Arena on July 15 and 16—also boast the number two and three best selling albums of the year, with SZA’s SOS deluxe narrowly ahead of Lamar’s GNX. These stats not only keep Kendrick’s biographical legacy shining bright, they hint at an enduring mainstream grip few rappers have achieved.

The headlines got even bigger as Kendrick Lamar secured four Primetime Emmy nominations for his record-shattering Super Bowl LIX halftime performance, which drew a staggering 133.5 million viewers, a new high for halftime history. His show is up for Outstanding Variety Special Live, Directing for a Variety Special, Music Direction, and Choreography—a feat Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez called evidence of “elevating the halftime show to new heights.” The performance, which featured guest appearances from Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, Mustard, and SZA, was loaded with cultural and local symbolism and included a viral and much-discussed performance of Not Like Us. Social media lit up over the show, with clips spreading fast and fans and critics labeling it one of the best halftime performances ever. Lamar is now set for a face-off with Beyoncé at this year’s Emmys as her Beyoncé Bowl special is also up in the same top categories, setting up one of 2025’s biggest entertainment awards storylines.

It’s worth noting that Kendrick, despite not receiving a direct paycheck for the Super Bowl show as per NFL protocol, is profiting handsomely. Forbes and Celebrity Net Worth place his current fortune at roughly 140 million dollars, built from record-breaking tours—the Big Steppers Tour grossed over 110 million—and lucrative partnerships with brands like Nike and American Express. The Super Bowl exposure appears to be driving new surges in both sales and streaming, and industry watchers expect a further boost as he continues the Grand National Tour with SZA.

As of now, Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” performance at the Super Bowl and his continued dominance on the charts have become major talking points on social media and in mainstream media coverage. The ongoing world tour is drawing viral fan footage nightly, and his Grand National partnership with SZA is heightening his presence across every platform. Meanwhile, whispers about new projects and further business ventures abound, but no official announcements have landed, so treat any claims about new albums as pure speculation for now. What is certain: Kendrick Lamar is not just living a victory lap, he’s rewriting what that looks like for rap superstars in 2025.

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