Kendrick Lamar earned 4 Emmy nominations Tuesday (July 15) for his Apple Music Tremendous Bowl LIX Halftime Present, putting him within the operating for Selection Particular, Directing, Music Route and Choreography. The high-profile efficiency, broadcast by Fox, marked one other milestone within the Pulitzer Prize winner’s profession as he continues to mix business success with crucial acclaim.
Lamar’s halftime set was praised for its sharp visuals and tight execution, including one other layer to his already adorned resume. The Emmy recognition arrives as Lamar stays a central determine in rap’s most talked-about feud of the 12 months.
His lyrical warfare with Drake has dominated headlines since final spring, with each artists buying and selling pointed diss tracks. Lamar’s “Not Like Us” grew to become a cultural second, with its beat and bars dissected throughout social media and radio.
The observe, broadly seen as a direct hit at Drake, fueled a wave of response tracks and commentary. The back-and-forth has reignited curiosity in lyrical competitors in Hip-Hop, drawing comparisons to previous rivalries. It additionally sparked Drake’s lawsuit along with his label, Common Music Group, which he accused of defamation and negligence over the discharge and aggressive promotion of “Not Like Us.”
The lawsuit, submitted in January 2025, alleges that Common’s promotion of the tune—which options lyrics insinuating Drake is a pedophile—immediately endangered his life and profession by fueling public hostility and a number of safety threats, together with a capturing at his Toronto residence and the circulation of flyers labeling him a predator. The grievance additionally claims the observe’s cowl artwork displayed an aerial photograph of Drake’s house, additional encouraging harassment and probably inciting vigilante habits.
Drake’s authorized group asserts that Common Music Group leaned into the tune’s business potential at his expense, leveraging its viral success and cultural impression—bolstered by high-profile Grammy and Tremendous Bowl promotions—to achieve negotiating energy forward of contract renewals with each he and Lamar.
Regardless of “Not Like Us” changing into a chart-topping hit and cultural milestone, Drake’s lawsuit pointedly targets Common, not Kendrick Lamar himself, for allegedly prioritizing revenue over artist security and disseminating “false and malicious” narratives. Common has moved to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that Drake’s claims are merely an try and recuperate from what they describe as a self-provoked and publicly misplaced rap battle, whereas Drake’s counsel maintains that the label is answerable for amplifying harmful misinformation that has already led to real-world penalties
Whereas the Emmy nominations have fun Lamar’s inventive achievements on stage, the continuing rigidity with Drake retains his identify circulating far past award season chatter.
Beyoncé additionally landed 4 nods for her Netflix particular, Beyoncé Bowl, which showcased her 2023 Renaissance World Tour efficiency. The manufacturing is up for Selection Particular, Directing, Manufacturing Design and Choreography. Each specials at the moment are within the Emmy race alongside the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, which scored nominations for Manufacturing Design, Lighting Design/Route, Sound Mixing and Choreography.
Winners shall be introduced in the course of the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14.
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