Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna are reportedly teaming up for a new single. The collaboration comes at a time when both artists are at the peak of their careers, having established themselves as leading voices in contemporary music.
The ‘Not Like Us’ hitmaker previously worked with the ‘Diamonds’ singer – who hasn’t released an album since 2016’s ‘Anti’ – on 2017’s ‘LOYALTY‘ and after he headlines the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday (09.02.25), the pair will be finding the time to get into the studio together, with the collaboration having been on the cards “for a while”. Their previous collaboration ‘LOYALTY’ earned them a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance.
“The track is sonically ambitious and lyrically powerful, reflecting their growth as artists and as cultural icons. It’s Rihanna’s first big step back into the music industry,” a source told the Sunday Mirror newspaper. The announcement has generated significant buzz across social media platforms, with fans eagerly anticipating the musical reunion.
While Kendrick will make history as the first solo rap star to headline the flagship NFL game, he is likely to be joined by special guests, but only SZA has been confirmed so far. The Super Bowl halftime show is traditionally one of the most-watched musical performances of the year.
The 37-year-old rapper announced the news in a promotional video posted on Instagram last month, in which he is seen walking across a football field talking on his cell phone, saying: “I’ve been thinking about a guest performer,” when SZA walks up behind him and throws a bucket of blue liquid all over him. The creative announcement quickly became a trending topic across social platforms.
The clip was captioned: “Catch @kendricklamar with guest @sza. #AppleMusicHalftime #SBLIX.”
The show comes shortly before Kendrick and SZA are due to hit the road together for their 2025 ‘Grand National Tour’, which kicks off in Minnesota on April 19 and make stops in cities including Atlanta, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Detroit and Los Angeles. The highly anticipated tour marks a significant milestone in both artists’ careers.
The trek concludes in Washington, D.C. on June 18.
The pair have previously collaborated on projects including 2017’s ‘Doves in the Wind’ and 2018’s ‘All the Stars’ to December’s ’30 For 30′ from SZA’s reissue of ‘SOS’ (‘LANA’), as well ‘Luther’ and ‘Gloria’ on Lamar’s latest LP ‘GNX’. Their musical partnership has consistently received critical acclaim and commercial success.
“I would love that. I think that would be amazing. He’s such a genius. And a part of his genius is like him being so elusive and so mysterious and I love it,” SZA – whose real name is Solána Rowe – previously revealed learns a lot whenever she works with the “genius” rapper and would jump at the chance to create a full record with the ‘HUMBLE’ hitmaker, speaking on ‘Sherri’ on Wednesday (08.01.25).
When it came to ‘GNX’, SZA had no idea what tracks her vocals would end up on, but she did approve of her takes. The album has made a significant impact on the Billboard 200 chart since its release.
“I don’t know what’s going on as much as you don’t know what’s going on,” she explained. “When ‘Luther’ came out, I said, ‘OK, that’s the vocals we’re using, period.’ Same with ‘Gloria.’ I said, ‘OK.'”
The anticipated collaboration between Kendrick and Rihanna represents a momentous reunion of two influential artists who have shaped modern music. Music industry experts are particularly intrigued by this partnership, as both artists are known for pushing creative boundaries and delivering groundbreaking performances. Their combined artistic vision and distinctive styles promise to create something unique in the current musical landscape.
