Prior to Kendrick Lamar’s electric performance at the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime show, reports swirled of a new single supposedly dropping before his set on Sunday (Feb. 13). However, it never came to fruition, as the Compton emcee is still eyeing to end his run with Top Dawg Entertainment on a high note.
The iconic West Coast rapper — whose last studio album DAMN. has been holding over fans for nearly five years — is preparing for his inevitable comeback much sooner than anticipated. In a new press release from the Milano Summer Festival in Milan, Italy, Kendrick is expected to perform an exclusive show on June 23 where he will play “pieces of the new album, long awaited by fans.”
“KENDRICK LAMAR returns to Italy with a super anticipated show that will see him perform — after 8 years from his first performance in Italy, in 2014 — at the Milano Summer Festival (lppodromo Snai) on Thursday 23 June 2022, where he will play the pieces of the new album, long awaited by fans.”
via Press Release
This is huge news considering that on Jan. 27, Billboard reported that K. Dot could be releasing a brand new single on Feb. 3 or before the Super Bowl Halftime show on Feb. 13.
Apple Music also confirmed Kendrick’s next track at the time, as Ebro and company detailed a press release in the latest episode of Rap Life Review — where Lamar was expected to unveil the new track “during his performance.” Additionally, per a report from OnSmash, an email from Apple Music was also sent out confirming the release “ahead of the performance.”
While a promotional single and worldwide Super Bowl performance back-to-back would have been a fitting bridge to start his rollout — signifying how great of a generational superstar the Compton rapper is — Lamar is fully in control of his next move, and a summer release seems to make all the more sense for a potential retirement classic.
On top of news regarding new music, K-Dot also made an appearance on “The Big Hit Show” podcast to discuss the impact of his legendary album To Pimp A Butterfly on Wednesday (Feb. 16).
It has now been over half a year since Kung Fu Kenny announced his next album was in the works, and that it would be his final project released through TDE. His “nu thoughts” message to fans was full of gratitude for those Lamar surrounds himself with, inspiring a great deal of hope for Kendrick’s next era.
In terms of music, he sparingly appeared in features for artists that he is fond of in 2021 like Baby Keem for three of his album’s songs, as well as providing a verse for frequent collaborator Terrace Martin’s recent album. The aforementioned article published by Billboard also alleged that a new SZA album is expected to release in the second quarter of 2022.
In November, Kendrick told his fans at Day N Vegas that he would be back “very soon,” and it looks like he’s been been telling us the truth since.
Check back at OGM for more updates about new Kendrick Lamar.
