Kendrick Lamar just announced that he’ll be producing and curating the Black Pantheralbum soundtrack. He’s also performing for Donald Trump on Monday in Atlanta.
Kendrick Lamar is an outspoken critic of Donald Trump. And that’s an understatement. So why is he performing for the President on Monday?
Blame a scheduling oversight or last-minute change in itinerary. But on Monday, January 8th, Donald Trump will be attending the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Lamar is slated to perform the halftime festivities at the adjacent Centennial Olympic Park.
(Quick update: our earlier report suggested that Lamar would be playing on the Mercedes-Benz field itself. Instead, Lamar will be situated just outside the stadium, though the performance will be integrated into the Championship.)
Trump is scheduled to attend the game with agriculture secretary Sonny Perdue, vice presidential aide Nick Ayers, and first lady Melania Trump. On the field, Alabama and Georgia will be pitted against one another, though Trump is guaranteed to commandeer the spotlight.
Trump’s appearance was confirmed by the Atlanta Police Dept. this week. The game officially starts at 8 pm EST (here’s the complete game-day guide).
According to a press release sent to Digital Music News, Kendrick’s performance will be integrated into the halftime telecast. Viewers at home will be treated to a great game interspersed with the halftime performance. That arrangement probably means that attendees to the game inside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium will see the perform played on multiple game screens.
All of which means that Kendrick Lamar will technically be playing for the president, first lady, and top White House aides.
In comments this week, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the football rivals “two great teams from two great states, both in the heart of Trump countryâ€. She declined to discuss potential conflicts involving the national anthem or a performance by Lamar.
Source: Digital Music News
