A sweaty Kendrick Lamar was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live last night, with Woody Harrelson of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 hosting. After a hilarious promo video with Harrelson and Lamar during the week, it was time to get on with the show. K.Dot performed his new single "i" and also brought out surprise guests Jay Rock and Chantal to perform their collaboration "Pay for It."
Lamar delivers a captivating performance with a backup band and backup singers. His on-stage persona is intense and captivating as you hang on to his every lyric, delivered with the poise and precision that Kendrick is known for. He wore black sclera contacts to show the haunting duality of "i," much like what we saw in the music video.
On such a big occasion, Kendrick wanted to make the most of it and came out for a second performance. He brought out fellow Los Angeles rapper Jay Rock and featured singer Chantal to perform their collaboration "Pay for It." Chantal opens things up on the keys and showing off her vocal prowess before turning things over to Jay Rock and Kendrick Lamar, who trade verses under a shining spotlight and occasional strobing white light.
This was Kendrick Lamar's third time on SNL and second as the featured musical guest. The last time Kendrick Lamar was on Saturday Night Live, he appeared on the show as a surprise guest with Imagine Dragons.
This performance comes as speculation mounts surrounding Lamar's highly anticipated follow-up to his debut artist album good kid m.A.A.d city. As Nas said to Complex in Kendrick's cover story two months ago, "Kendrick's an album guy and the album artist has a whole different kind of value. Kendrick is going to be one of the most important writers of our time; dude's a rhyming animal."
Lamar has gone on a whirlwind media tour in the past few weeks discussing his single "i" and the upcoming album, which he says is not finished yet, but may arrive before the end of the year.
What do you guys think of this performance? Let us know in the comments.
Watch the performances below via Stereogum.
