In the Nineties, it was East vs West. Now, hip-hop’s juiciest beef has migrated to the streets of north London. Two weekends ago, Drake oversaw a chorus of “f*** Kendrick” at his Wireless headline slot in Finsbury Park. Last night, it was Kendrick Lamar’s turn. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium erupted in a word-perfect rendition of “Not Like Us,” still the triumphant knockout blow in the now-infamous feud between the Compton rapper and the Canadian chart-topper.
Lamar has been riding high since releasing the scathing diss track earlier this year – sweeping up seven Grammys, headlining the Super Bowl, and dropping a critically acclaimed sixth album, GNX. The Grand National Tour, the rapper’s first all-stadium tour which kicked off in the US in April, is the latest iteration of this.
It’s a two-hander, co-headlined with R&B star SZA — the frequently-collaborating pair are affectionately dubbed “work husband and wife”. It has also been a mega couple of years for SZA, headlining Glastonbury last year and releasing Lana at the end of 2024.
It’s an ambitious endeavour, and on paper a recipe for success, with both artists at the top of their commercial powers. But while Kendrick delivered a typically assured performance, SZA’s set struggled to reach the same heights.
Fittingly, Lamar opened the night by emerging on a black Buick Grand National Experimental – a nod to the tour’s title. Launching into the braggadocious Wacced Out Murals, he set the tone early: minimalist staging, maximal bars. He raced through a few more hits, including a teasingly truncated version of King Kunta, before SZA appeared, in a off-on dynamic which would last the night.
As fans have come to expect from Kendrick, his flow was razor-sharp and effortless, cruising through fan favourites like DNA, Money Trees, and HUMBLE, as well as newer material from GNX like TV Off. When Not Like Us finally arrived, it landed with ferocious joy from the crowd – a song that already feels like a generational anthem.
The night’s structure – Lamar and SZA trading off stage time, occasionally reuniting for duets – didn’t always work in the latter’s favour. Where Kendrick’s stripped-back set kept the focus on his words, SZA’s staging – including moments riding a giant ant and rising into the sky with butterfly wings – felt grander but less effective. At times she seemed adrift within it, her energy lagging behind the climax of her hits. Deeper cuts caused slight lulls, and some of the crowd around us took advantage for conveniently-timed toilet breaks.
It was hard to escape the feeling that some were really there for Kendrick, especially the crowd moshing on the pitch. Even during their joint numbers, including LOVE, the pair lacked natural chemistry — a duo of shy, slightly awkward, laconic performers doesn’t gel well. It felt more like two solo sets stitched together.
SZA did have moments of brilliance — her vocals were strong on Kill Bill and Saturn, and All of the Stars, and she had the crowd bouncing during Rich Baby Daddy. When her energy was up — doing the splits on stage and interacting with the crowd — she was a riot. And there was a strong contingent of super fans in the stadium too, screaming along to every word of heartfelt crooning hits like The Weekend and Drew Barrymore, though the sound would have been elevated by a live band.
Still, almost three hours of music from two of the biggest names in hip-hop and R&B is nothing to scoff at. Fans got value for money – just not necessarily a cohesive experience. A shorter, tighter solo show from either artist might have left a sharper impression.
As far as the Kendrick-Drake saga goes, though? The Compton king remains undefeated.
