“Here’s why: You know, I grew up loving, emulating hip-hop.
Breakdancing, DJing, graffiti, rapping.
Rock indicated that he admired Lamar’s attitude more than his music.
Kid Rock; Kendrick Lamar performs in the Super Bowl 2025 halftime show.Credit:Daniel Boczarski/Getty; Emily Curiel/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty
“That’s pretty much how I built my career.
I gotta respect it.”
The singer also speculated about the motivations behind the NFL booking Lamar for the coveted slot.
Kendrick Lamar performs at the Super Bowl 2025 halftime show.Focus on Sport/Getty
“How did he get there?”
“How did he get that gig?Jay-Z.
What happened there?”
He continued, “This was the epitome of DEI.
This was the epitome of DEI blowing up.
Because the NFL was on this DEI, ‘end racism,’ all this stuff.
They’re bookin' this.
Kendrick Lamar goes out there and basically turns DEI into an IED.”
I’m laughing my ass off.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Rock bragged about the diversity of his band.
“Half my band’s liberal, or gay, or Black,” he said.
