Kendrick Lamar’s impact is going beyond the music charts — and now reaching both the NBA and the Olympic Games.
During a recent Atlanta Hawks game against the Golden State Warriors, the team’s mascot and dance crew recreated Kendrick’s iconic “Not Like Us” performance from the Super Bowl halftime show. The moment even included a Kendrick-style Uncle Sam figure, just like in the original (famously portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson during the big game).
The crowd was all in — especially when the beat dropped and fans shouted the viral “A minor” line in unison.
Kendrick Lamar & the 2028 LA Olympics
While fans continue to rave about his Super Bowl set, Kendrick Lamar might already be gearing up for his next historic stage: the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
According to Casey Wasserman, the chairman of the LA Olympics organizing committee (and Kendrick’s booking agent), it’s looking likely that the Compton rapper will be involved in some way.
Wasserman told the Associated Press:
“I represent Kendrick Lamar. He is truly an L.A. icon, so I think it would be a pretty fair bet that Kendrick will be involved in the Olympics in Los Angeles in some way.”
He hinted at a broader theme of rebuilding and reimagining Los Angeles, especially after the city was rocked by devastating wildfires earlier this year.
While no official role has been confirmed, Kendrick could potentially perform during the opening or closing ceremonies, which traditionally feature massive, star-studded musical acts.
Hip-Hop & the Olympics: A Growing Trend
Kendrick wouldn’t be the first hip-hop icon to represent the U.S. on the Olympic stage. At the 2024 Paris Games, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg headlined the closing ceremony with a special performance recorded in Long Beach, California — a symbolic handoff between the French and American hosts.
Snoop Dogg even served as an on-air correspondent for NBC during the Paris Olympics. Fun fact? According to venture capitalist Henry L. McNamara, Snoop reportedly earned $500K a day, plus expenses, for his Olympic appearance.
