Kendrick Lamar earned four Emmy nominations Tuesday (July 15) for his Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, placing him in the running for Variety Special, Directing, Music Direction and Choreography. The high-profile performance, broadcast by Fox, marked another milestone in the Pulitzer Prize winner’s career as he continues to blend commercial success with critical acclaim.
Lamar’s halftime set was praised for its sharp visuals and tight execution, adding another layer to his already decorated resume. The Emmy recognition arrives as Lamar remains a central figure in rap’s most talked-about feud of the year.
His lyrical war with Drake has dominated headlines since last spring, with both artists trading pointed diss tracks. Lamar’s “Not Like Us” became a cultural moment, with its beat and bars dissected across social media and radio.
The track, widely seen as a direct hit at Drake, fueled a wave of response tracks and commentary. The back-and-forth has reignited interest in lyrical competition in Hip-Hop, drawing comparisons to past rivalries. It also sparked Drake’s lawsuit with his label, Universal Music Group, which he accused of defamation and negligence over the release and aggressive promotion of “Not Like Us.”
The lawsuit, submitted in January 2025, alleges that Universal’s promotion of the song—which features lyrics insinuating Drake is a pedophile—directly endangered his life and career by fueling public hostility and multiple security threats, including a shooting at his Toronto residence and the circulation of flyers labeling him a predator. The complaint also claims the track’s cover art displayed an aerial photo of Drake’s home, further encouraging harassment and potentially inciting vigilante behavior.
Drake’s legal team asserts that Universal Music Group leaned into the song’s commercial potential at his expense, leveraging its viral success and cultural impact—bolstered by high-profile Grammy and Super Bowl promotions—to gain negotiating power ahead of contract renewals with both he and Lamar.
Despite “Not Like Us” becoming a chart-topping hit and cultural milestone, Drake’s lawsuit pointedly targets Universal, not Kendrick Lamar himself, for allegedly prioritizing profit over artist safety and disseminating “false and malicious” narratives. Universal has moved to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that Drake’s claims are merely an attempt to recover from what they describe as a self-provoked and publicly lost rap battle, while Drake’s counsel maintains that the label is responsible for amplifying dangerous misinformation that has already led to real-world consequences
While the Emmy nominations celebrate Lamar’s artistic achievements on stage, the ongoing tension with Drake keeps his name circulating far beyond award season chatter.
Beyoncé also landed four nods for her Netflix special, Beyoncé Bowl, which showcased her 2023 Renaissance World Tour performance. The production is up for Variety Special, Directing, Production Design and Choreography. Both specials are now in the Emmy race alongside the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, which scored nominations for Production Design, Lighting Design/Direction, Sound Mixing and Choreography.
Winners will be announced during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14.
