Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl 59 halftime show is one of the most anticipated performances in quite some time. Not only does he have a long list of easily recognizable hits, but he is an excellent performer and a true master of ceremonies.

In addition, his public rap beef with Drake spawned the greatest diss track in history that has now gone on to win Grammys.

Super Bowl 59 may be the largest number of eyeballs on Kendrick Lamar ever and everyone wants to know not only how many songs he can cram into the 13-minute performance, but also what songs he will choose and who will perform with him?

We thought it would be fun to look at key moments in the performance, provide some potential options, and even create some odds to show our confidence in the picks while answering some burning questions about the upcoming performance.

What Song Will Kendrick Lamar Open With For The Super Bowl 59 Halftime Show?

Alright (-120) 

Starting the show with "Alright" would be a nod to all of the turmoil going on in our country and a reminder that we are going to be just fine. As soon as the words “All my life I had to fight” come on, everybody is going to lose their minds.

DNA (-110)

A great opening number because of the sound and aggressiveness of the song. This could be a piece with heavy coordination and movements from the very beginning of the song and as soon as the “I got, I got, I got, I got” drops.

HUMBLE. (-105)

Because Kendrick is all about messaging, beginning the show with a message seems like a great way to start. It was a great opener because it starts really aggressive then it quickly falls back into a rhythmic pocket before crescendoing back to aggressive. “Nobody pray for me” will receive a ridiculous ovation.

N95 (+250)

Kendrick’s most streamed song on "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers" has everything you’d want in an opener—a quiet, yet interesting hook with a fun drop early in the track. Kendrick also said that we can expect “storytelling” in his Super Bowl setlist. What better way than to open up with, “Hello new world, all the boys and girls, I got some true stories to tell.” 

tv off (+350)

This is longer odds due it to being on his latest release. However, the hype that this song brings is perfect for an opening song. But him opening his halftime show with “give ‘em what they asked for,” would make loads of sense. (Another angle—what if the first words we hear come out of Kendrick’s mouth is, “MUSTAAAARRRDDD”?)

What Guests Will Kendrick Lamar Bring Out At Super Bowl 59?

SZA (VOID)

Until SZA was a confirmed guest, these odds would have been probably close to the -400 range due to multiple collabs on each other’s recent releases and the fact that they are touring together. However, now that SZA is confirmed, that can give us some insight into some other odds.

Tyler, The Creator (+5000)

Kendrick and Tyler, The Creator do not have any formal collaborations, however, Tyler did release a teaser for his song STICKY that is entirely football-themed, leaving a lot of people wondering if he will make an appearance. It feels unlikely, however, and even Tyler seemed to squash the rumors on Instagram, “On tour. I will not be at [a] football game yall better watch Kenny.”

Taylor Swift (+10000)

Okay, it's definitely a long shot. Kendrick would not bring out the biggest music star in the world on the day that her beau is trying to make history in this very game.

Kendrick would not perform Bad Blood, as an extra 25 Million Swifties turned their televisions to see the spectacle.

Kendrick would not then use that opportunity to transition from “Bad Blood” to “Not Like Us” as the stadium and the internet exploded simultaneously in the most chefs-kiss chess move of all time.

Kendrick would not do that, would he?

Drake +1000000

This is never happening, there is no way Drake or Kendrick would do something like this, but … Drake is an actor and Kendrick is a performer of the highest order. What if, this is where they have decided to kill the beef?

What if this is the ceasefire for fans of both artists and a sign to the music world that differences can be overcome?

If you think Taylor Swift coming out would break the internet, this would cause a Chernobyl-level meltdown of the entire social media structure.

Servers would explode, blackouts would ensure. To watch the hate go as far as it did it is utterly unthinkable that these two would ever grace the same stage on the biggest platform ever. That would be Poetic Justice.

How Long Will Kendrick Lamar Play “Not Like Us” At Super Bowl 59?

Over 1:20 (+150)

This is the song that everyone is waiting for, it is the song that has been debated ad nauseam about whether it would play. Many believe that the biggest reason for Drake’s lawsuits has been to suppress this song.

There's no way you are getting a snippet. Yes, almost 90 seconds is a long time for one song but when you consider how epic the entire first verse is, how would he chop it up and lead to the epic “A minor”? “Psst, I see dead people” is definitely playing. That's why the OVER is so delicious.

Under 1:20 (-180)

The argument for the under is simple; spending almost 90 seconds on one song seems almost wasteful in what is only a 13-minute performance. There are so many songs that an artist of Kendrick’s caliber may want to perform on this stage so spending that much time on one song would likely mean one less song he performs.

Artists use the Super Bowl as a way to reintroduce songs to the masses. The UNDER would be the logical choice.

What Will Be Kendrick Lamar's Closing Song At Super Bowl 59?

All The Stars (-120)

We already know SZA will be there and may already be on the stage by the time Kendrick hits the closing number but I would love for her appearance to be during this song as a finale. Imagine SZA descending from the rafters wearing something so dazzling that it lights up the entire stadium. Fans in the stands holding up lights so that the stadium looks like stars shining.

He'll want to end the performance in a positive light, and thinking about his upcoming stadium tour with SZA, what better way to light it up than with her doing such an iconic song from an iconic movie.

Alright (-120)

Yep, I get it but this song could easily be the opener or closer. It is an opportunity to leave the audience with a positive message. Hey, we are not perfect and we may need to endure some difficulties but we are all going to be OK.

The messaging resonates the same regardless of where it falls in the song rundown but it would clearly make the opening and closing explode.

Predicting Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl 59 Halftime Set List

Final Set List Prediction (in order):

  1. N95
  2. Swimming Pools
  3. HUMBLE.
  4. 30-for-30/Luther (Mashup)
  5. All the Stars
  6. DNA.
  7. Not Like Us
  8. Alright

(Editor's note—excluding “Wacced Out Murals” and the lyric where Kendrick Lamar mentions that he got the Super Bowl? C'mon!)