Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Grand National’ Tour Already Breaking the Mold

Just four dates into their ‘Grand National’ tour, Kendrick Lamar and SZA have already raised the bar for live performances. 

On April 19, K-Dot and SZA kicked off their 39-stop stadium tour in Minneapolis, Minn., performing for a sold-out crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium. According to Touring Data, the first show grossed over $9.1 million, making the Compton, Calif. MC the first rapper to gross that much in a single concert. The amount broke a previous record established by Eminem in 2019. 

It is also the first rap concert to break the $9 million barrier.

Kendrick Brings Out Hometown Legend During Latest Stop 

Kenny and Lana’s latest stop had them take centerstage at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Tuesday night (April 29). Midway through the show, Lamar surprised fans by bringing out Playboi Carti for a live performance of their hit collaboration “GOOD CREDIT” from Carti’s acclaimed album MUSIC. Cash Carti’s unexpected performance was the first major surprise since the tour began earlier this month. 

Every seat in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium was filled while Kendrick and SZA performed. The star-studded audience included the likes of 2 Chainz and Summer Walker. 2 Chainz shared footage of his crew vibing to Kendrick’s performance of “B—h Don’t Kill My Vibe,” while Walker posted a clip of herself enjoying the duo’s performance of their chart-topping single “luther.” 

As if their live show success wasn’t enough, Kendrick and SZA continue to dominate the charts as well. Their joint single “luther” remains at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the 10th consecutive week—a rare milestone that places them in elite company alongside artists like Adele and BTS.