Over the weekend, the Grand National Tour kicked off in Minneapolis, where Kendrick Lamar and SZA delivered a gripping performance. Kendrick, ever the razor-edged provocateur, seized the moment to take a pointed jab at Drake—his timing made all the more biting by the shadow of Drake’s current legal entanglements. On opening night, K.Dot took a sharp jab at Drake’s legal entanglement with Universal Music Group, weaving a sly nod to the defamation claims over “Not Like Us” into a satirical skit. Before launching into his set, he aired a mock deposition—an irreverent send-up of Drake’s latest courtroom drama.
The skit featured an attorney asking the rapper about a specific date—February 9—an occasion on which Kendrick performed at the Super Bowl and which Drake recently cited in his legal documents. With trademark nonchalance, Kendrick replied, “I don’t keep up with dates,” setting a lighthearted tone for the evening.
Kendrick stokes the feud as SZA brings the hits
In another moment of playful rivalry, the attorney quotes a notable line from Drake’s diss track “Family Matters,” which resulted in Kendrick flashing a grin before diving into his diss anthem, “Not Like Us.” The playful banter continued throughout the performance, with speculation that Lamar’s skit drew inspiration from Lil Wayne’s notorious deposition video from 2012.
Kendrick also took the opportunity to debut a fresh verse during his rendition of “Family Ties,” performing it solo, without collaborator Baby Keem. Additionally, he made a noteworthy alteration to “m.A.A.d. City,” incorporating a reference to Anita Baker’s classic “Sweet Love,” which earned a heartfelt response from Baker herself, who expressed her delight on social media.
Kendrick’s setlist was a testament to his illustrious career, featuring fan favorites like “Squabble Up,” “Alright,” “HUMBLE.,” “Swimming Pools,” and “Money Trees.” He also delivered another track aimed at Drake, titled “Euphoria,” reinforcing the ongoing rivalry. SZA, serving as co-headliner, showcased her own impressive catalog with hits such as “Kill Bill,” “Snooze,” and “Love Galore.” In a refreshing format, the duo intertwined their performances, treating the audience to collaborative tracks like “30 For 30,” “Doves in the Wind,” and their chart-topping collaboration, “Luther.”
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