By Cameron Lee
May 4, 2025
Photo: Greg Noire
Kendrick Lamar’s journey from his early days as part of the hip-hop collective Black Hippy to becoming one of the most influential artists of his generation has been nothing short of extraordinary. When he performed in Charlotte for the first time in 2012, it was just a year after the release of his debut studio album Section.80, which barely made a dent on the charts at the time. At just 25 years old, Lamar’s distinct cadence and politically charged storytelling were evident with tracks like “HiiiPower,” which referenced figures like Marcus Garvey and Huey Newton, and his innovative jazz-infused “Rigamortus.”
Today, at 37 years old, Lamar’s legacy has grown into one of unparalleled success, with 22 Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018. On a drizzly Saturday night, his monumental career was on full display at a sold-out Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte — a performance that almost seemed impossible, as thunderstorms drenched the city in the late afternoon.
The Grand National Tour features SZA as a co-headliner, who is also on a remarkable run following the release of her 2022 album SOS and its subsequent deluxe edition reissue, Lana. The evening showcased two artists at the peak of their careers, trading off a rotating set of their greatest hits and collaborations. Despite the forecast, their musical presence seemed to ward off the rain just enough to transform the stadium into a mystical portal of sound.
Long lines for Kendrick and SZA on both sides of Bank of America Stadium as the weather has let up and people are allowed to take their seats. pic.twitter.com/2Jc4etxRHD
— CLTure® ( culture ) (@CLTure) May 3, 2025
The night began with DJ Mustard taking the stage just after 7:00 p.m., energizing the late-entering audience with Southern trap classics like 2 Chainz’s “I’m Different,” along with crowd-pleasers such as “Mo Bamba” and “Swag Surfin’.
Mustard on stage getting the slow-entering crowd hype. Show looks like it will start on time. pic.twitter.com/0ZTtRfQWY9
— CLTure® ( culture ) (@CLTure) May 3, 2025
At 8:05 p.m., the stadium was near full capacity, though dark clouds still loomed overhead. On the large three-panel screen, sleek images of Lamar and SZA were paired with a projection of a black 1987 Buick GNX — a car that plays a central role in Lamar’s latest album and the tour. The GNX, a rare supercar, holds personal significance for Lamar: he was born in 1987 and, according to a 2012 interview with Complex, was driven home from the hospital in a Buick Regal, the GNX’s predecessor. As Lamar rapped the opening lines of “Wacced Out Murals” from inside the car, with lyrics projected in elegant cursive on the big screen, he emerged from a haze of smoke to respectful applause. The fireworks, however, were yet to come.
Lamar continued his interview-style interludes from The Big Steppers Tour, featuring an off-screen voice that posed questions to both him and SZA in the videos between sets. After the first song and interlude, the stage erupted with fireworks for “Squabble Up.” Lamar’s dancers — one of the highlights of his recent tours — amplified the energy as he quickly transitioned into “King Kunta” from To Pimp a Butterfly, with a backdrop that mimicked the album’s cover. The crowd fully settled in, now ready for the spectacle ahead.
SZA’s sets were a stark contrast to Lamar’s. She emerged on top of the bright green, moss-covered GNX to an eruption of applause. Her presence brought a calming, almost cosmic energy to the evening. After performing her collaboration with Lamar, “30 for 30,” she transitioned into tracks from her debut album Ctrl, including “Love Galore,” “Broken Clocks,” and the sultry “The Weekend,” transforming the atmosphere into a serene R&B concert.
As the night progressed, the rain remained intermittent but never overwhelming. Lamar returned with a dramatic visual: large red letters reading, “Lies about me, truth about you.” The black LED screens parted to reveal him atop a staircase, with flames shooting up from the stage during “Euphoria,” another biting track in his ongoing rap feud with Drake. He followed with “Hey Now,” making his way to the circular stage at the center of the floor for the first time of the evening.
SZA’s sets were vibrant, featuring radiant backdrops that reflected her artistic evolution. Her energy shifted with each song — from the playful pop-rock of “F2F” to the sensual performance of “Kitchen,” where she rode a large ant, fitting the album imagery of Lana. She also delivered a fiery performance of “Low,” complete with hip-swiveling dance moves and pyrotechnics.
Lamar’s performance of “HUMBLE.” was electrifying, seamlessly transitioning into “Backseat Freestyle” and then “Family Ties” — which typically features his cousin Baby Keem — sending the crowd into a frenzy. While many Good Kid, M.A.A.D City fans may have been disappointed by the mostly a cappella version of the album’s title track, Lamar more than made up for it with an intense performance of “Alright.”
The most goosebump-inducing moment of the night came during “All The Stars,” as the stadium plunged into darkness and thousands of phone lights flickered, illuminating the night like a galaxy. The song’s deep emotional connection to Black Panther was palpable, with many perhaps thinking of the late South Carolina native Chadwick Boseman. The sentimental vibes continued with “LOVE.” from DAMN., as SZA stepped in for Zacari’s parts, creating a heartfelt and intimate moment that definitely resonated.
SZA returned with a final act full of theatrics. Dressed as a fairy, she flew on cables during “Crybaby” and “Nobody Gets Me,” before offering an upbeat performance of “Rich Baby Daddy,” her recent collaboration with Drake and Sexyy Red, which is oddly a mainstay on the setlist. The final moments of her set were a vibrant whirlwind of pyrotechnics and dance moves, capping off the night with tracks like “BMF” and “Kiss Me More.”
Lamar’s final act included “N95” in the rain, followed by a triumphant performance of “TV Off” with DJ Mustard and his dancers parading around the diamond-shaped stage, feeling like a victory lap. As he closed with “Not Like Us,” the Drake diss track anthem and one of the most streamed songs of 2024, Lamar and SZA reunited for an encore of their two major collaborations from GNX — “Luther” and “Gloria” –before retreating into the Buick GNX they arrived in.
This concert wasn’t just a major hip-hop event in Charlotte — it was the first of its kind at Bank of America Stadium, featuring a hip-hop headliner. Both Lamar and SZA showcased their artistry, blending their contrasting styles seamlessly. While the rain may have initially threatened the show, it ultimately added to the dreamlike atmosphere — a career-spanning collision of musical powerhouses at the top of their game.
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Setlist:
Act I: Kendrick Lamar
“wacced out murals”
“squabble up”
“King Kunta”
“ELEMENT.”
“tv off”
Act II: SZA
“30 for 30”
“Love Galore”
“Broken Clocks”
“What Do I Do”
“The Weekend”
Act III: Kendrick Lamar
“euphoria”
“hey now”
“reincarnated”
“HUMBLE.”
“Backseat Freestyle”
“family ties”
“Play Video”
“Swimming Pools (Drank)”
“m.A.A.d city”
“Alright”
“man at the garden”
Act IV: SZA
“Scorsese Baby Daddy”
“F2F”
“Garden (Say It Like Dat)”
“Kitchen”
“Blind”
“Low”
Act V: Kendrick & SZA
“Doves in the Wind”
“All the Stars”
“LOVE.”
Act VI: Kendrick Lamar
“dodger blue”
“peekaboo”
“Like That”
“DNA.”
“GOOD CREDIT”
“Count Me Out”
“Money Trees”
“Poetic Justice”
Act VII: SZA
“Diamond Boy (DTM)”
“Kill Bill”
“Snooze”
“Crybaby”
“Nobody Gets Me”
“Good Days”
“Rich Baby Daddy”
“BMF”
“Kiss Me More”
Act VIII: Kendrick Lamar
“N95”
“tv off”
“Not Like Us”
Encore:
“luther”
“gloria”
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