Kendrick Lamar lit up streaming charts after his unconventional Super Bowl halftime show.
The day after his Super Bowl performance, Kendrick Lamar saw his music streams jump a massive 154%, hitting 70.9 million. This spike caught attention across the music world. Lamar’s bold choice to highlight songs from his latest album, GNX, rather than his biggest hits, was a risky move that seems to have paid off handsomely.
Among the tracks that shot up were “Not Like Us,” which saw a 222% surge in streams. The opening song of the halftime show, “Squabble Up,” climbed 159%, while his collaboration with SZA, “Luther,” increased by 150%. Even tracks like “TV Off” and “Peekaboo” experienced notable rises, growing by 139% and 186% respectively. Meanwhile, the entire album GNX saw a 141% boost, cementing its status as a fan favorite.
The collaboration between Lamar and SZA on the Black Panther soundtrack’s “All the Stars” took the crown, surging by an incredible 295%. This reflected not only Lamar’s pull but also the growing influence of SZA, whose own catalog increased by 58% following the performance.
Despite the streaming success, reactions to the halftime show were mixed. Lamar avoided playing his most well-known hits, instead aiming to offer a performance that was more theatrical and cinematic, as explained by his pgLang co-founder, Dave Free. Free noted that the performance was crafted to reflect Black America’s narrative, challenging preconceived ideas about its representation.
As fans continue to discuss the halftime show, Lamar and SZA are preparing to hit the road together. Their Grand National tour will kick off in Minneapolis on April 19th, covering 23 cities across North America before heading to Europe. This tour is expected to further bolster the success of Lamar’s GNX album.
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance stirred up conversations and streaming numbers, setting the stage for upcoming tours.
