Kendrick Lamar's Global Takeover: Grammys, Rivalries, and Sold-Out Paris Shows

Kendrick Lamar BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

Kendrick Lamar is commanding global headlines this week as his massive Grand National Tour with SZA roars through Europe, with two sold-out nights at Paris La Défense Arena on July 15 and 16. French media and fans are calling this the must-see concert of the summer, and the enormous demand even required an additional Paris date. This European run comes hot on the heels of Kendrick’s award-winning year; just days before kicking off these shows, he collected five Grammys at the 67th Annual ceremony, including Best Recording and Best Song of the Year, according to Sortir à Paris. Kendrick and SZA’s tour, which started in Minneapolis in April and wraps up in Sydney this December, is being presented by Live Nation and pgLang and traversing some of the continent’s most iconic stadiums.

Kendrick’s influence isn’t limited to music. Euronews and Temple University have both announced the creation of a new course, "Kendrick Lamar and the Morale of M.A.A.D City," starting Fall 2025, a testament to his towering critical and cultural impact. Social buzz about his legacy is peaking, with a now-viral clip showing European crowds going wild as he performed his Grammy-winning diss track "Not Like Us." His 2017 single "HUMBLE." has resurfaced in cultural commentary, with Collider reporting it recently surpassed one billion YouTube views, further proof of his continued mainstream dominance and enduring message on materialism, authenticity, and social justice.

Musically, Kendrick dropped a verse on Clipse’s new song "Chains & Whips" from the just-released "Let God Sort Em Out" album. His shoutout to rap legend Rakim landed warmly, with Rakim publicly praising Kendrick on Instagram. However, the verse apparently cost Clipse their Def Jam deal, according to Billboard via Sportskeeda, because they insisted on keeping Kendrick’s feature—highlighting Lamar’s industry leverage.

The ongoing rivalry with Drake remains a front-page saga. People.com and major social feeds are brimming with reports from London’s Wireless Festival, where Drake, facing a crowd loudly chanting anti-Kendrick slogans, nodded along and toasted the moment. While Drake’s new song "What Did I Miss?" hints at betrayal in his circle, legal battles also simmer over "Not Like Us," with Drake suing Universal Music Group for alleged defamation related to Kendrick’s diss.

In short, Kendrick Lamar continues to be both the most respected and the most talked-about rapper alive, bridging culture, scholarship, social media and stadiums with every calculated move.

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