As headliner Arctic Monkeys prepared for their set in Minneapolis, the crowd was already abuzz, expecting an unforgettable night at U.S. Bank Stadium. But no one was exactly prepared for what Kendrick had in store. Just one beat away from his now-iconic diss track "Not Like Us," the Compton wordsmith threw a not-so-subtle shot at his longtime nemesis, Drake, clowning the Toronto rapper's "drop, drop, drop" line during a pre-recorded skit that sent the room into a frenzy.
If you blinked, you probably missed it unless, of course, you were online. The clip quickly circulated on social media, with Kendrick becoming a trending topic. Many fans were humming about the moment, saying it was the ultimate flex. Kendrick's delivery was chilly, measured, and exuded the swagger that only someone with multiple Grammy Awards and a Super Bowl halftime show could pull off.
Then came "Not Like Us." Loud, sharp, and unapologetic, Kendrick didn't even perform it until the end of the set, making the tension almost excruciating and the payoff all the more sweet. It was a performance that didn't just hit; it resonated.
SZA opened on the tour and is sprinkling tonight with her magic. They pressed through over 50 songs, drawing from hits and deep cuts. Fans heard everything from the supernatural lilt of "Love" and "Gloria" to the ground-thumping "All the Stars." There was an electric chemistry between the two, and all sense from this tour is that it celebrates Black greatness, susceptibility, energy, and blaze.
Kendrick and Drake's beef has been hot for about a year for anyone keeping score. What began as a few melodic digs has evolved into full-on legal territory. Drake recently filed a complaint against Universal Music Group, his label, for supposedly enabling Kendrick to promote "defamatory content." He has even pointed to Kendrick's Super Bowl performance of "Not Like Us" to "assassinate" his character.
If Kendrick's fall-off-the-map performance was any indication, he's not playing it safe or recycling old material.
The Grand National Tour moves on to Houston next (April 23) and then overseas in July. If Minneapolis was the warm-up, then the rest of the world had better be ready. Kendrick isn't simply performing but making a show of otherness. And if you're curious, will he take more shots at Drake in the meantime? Needless to say, don't blink.
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