This year keeps on getting better and better for hip hop artist Kendrick Lamar. Coming right off of his Grammy and SNL performances with Imagine Dragons, it’s just been announced that Kendrick Lamar has just scored a coveted new arena to perform in. Lamar is set to hit the NBA’s All-Star Weekend on February 16.
Lamar will be performing at the New Orleans Arena, and will join a few familiar friends, including Pharrell, who’s set to perform his Oscar nominated song “Happy.” Other performers include Earth, Wind & Fire, Janelle Monae, Dr. John, and Gary Clark Jr. While Pharrell will be heading up halftime with a few special guests, Kendrick Lamar is set to headline the event for the NBA All-Star weekend.
Kendrick Lamar has had a great start to 2014. Although he missed out on his Grammy nominations to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Lamar was the name on everyone’s lips when the awards ceremony was over after a rousing duet with pop rock group Imagine Dragons. It looks like this may just be the beginning for the 26-year-old California native.
Even though his 2012 album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City is experiencing a resurgence after the Grammys, according to Lamar he’s gearing up for a new album, and this one will be darker than his last if you can even imagine that.
In an interview with i-D Vice , Kendrick said:
“I love it. Y’all weather’s a bit gloomy right now, I like gloomy weather. I work best and do most of my album under gloomy weather, so you’ll hear a lot of dark tracks in there.”
As far as his process writing his raved about songs, Lamar said that it’s a spontaneous experience:
“It’s whatever I get my hands on. Whenever an idea approaches, I gotta write it down. I gotta keep a mental note. Whether it’s a napkin, my phone, a book or anything. Inspiration is everything. That’s my main focus, my art, knowing it wasn’t the hype, it wasn’t press, it wasn’t publicity stunts. It was the music from day one. I have to remember that.”
As far as who he’s looking to for help, we previously reported that his dream collaboration would be with soul singer Erykah Badu.
From the praise he has already received it looks like Kendrick Lamar won’t have to worry about cooking up collaborations on his own.
As for last year’s NBA All-Star event, performances were given by Alicia Keys, Fall Out Boy, Ne-Yo and Phillip Phillips.