Kendrick Lamar Brings Out Sampha For ‘Father Time’ Performance In ‘SNL’ Season Opener

Kendrick Lamar Officially Live from New York – again! The rapper, 35, rocked the stage on October 1 as the official musical guest for Season 48 Saturday night live open tool, backup server Miles Teller of the Top gun: Maverick. Kendrick wore a blue LA Dodgers hat to represent his hometown as he performed the song “Father Time” with Sampha during a time honoring the tradition of musical guests for sketch shows. The two performed the song in a setting that looked like a small apartment, completely masking all recognizable elements of Studio 8H.

“I have a problem with my dad, it’s my fault / Look for, ‘I love you,’ rarely empathize ‘to give me some relief / A kid used to jumping up when I scratched my knee / Because if I cried about it, he’d definitely tell me not to be weak,” Kendrick rapped during the emotional performance.

During his first performance of the evening, Kendrick kicked off the show with the songs “Rich Spirit” and “N95.” A dancing shadow of Kendrick appeared against the wall behind the LA native, facing towards DJ Dahi production beat. With just a fan and changing lights, the “Humble” rapper needed no other bells and whistles for his incredible performance – carrying the whole show with just his rich melodies and lyrics. that.

The “HUMBLE” rapper is a veteran artist on NBC’s legendary sketch comedy show. He previously performed on the show in February 2014, November 2014, January 2013 and in 2018 he performed “Tints” with Anderson Paak. Once called “The Greatest Rapper Alive” by Rolling StoneKendrick clearly has a flair for everything. And spending time on the set of a comedy show may not be entirely a coincidence. He told the magazine in 2017 that “everything” made him laugh.

“Sh**, everything makes me laugh,” he said when RS asked the question. “Everything. This guy right here [pointing to videographer]? He has something under his hat that makes me laugh every time he takes it off. I didn’t even know God invented such hairs,” he continued laughing. “Sh** that was horrible! I always say that the best entertainers have to have the cruelest sense of humor, to be able to take pain and turn it into laughter. “

Grief is also something Kendrick has incorporated into his life and music, and he admits to dealing with depression in the past. “Um, so far, I’m great,” he told the magazine. “I won’t say that I agree. I don’t want that word. I’m still not satisfied. But if there’s a personal sense of tension to that extent, don’t. It’s a good space because now I can listen to my listeners’ struggles and help them.”

Yet, ironically, it was Kendrick’s optimism that seemed to keep him going. “I am certainly optimistic,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here without it! Hold on, man, this doesn’t happen to everyone. Almost all of my best friends are in prison. More than forty years. Every show, they want to see the picture. They told me, ‘You have to be as optimistic as if you were where you were. We don’t have that. The cup is always half empty. ‘ And it’s not just optimism. It’s really about responsibility. You can talk about dreams all day and ‘what I want’, but you have to act behind it. “

A steady gig on one of the longest-running and most popular TV shows would be a good reason to be optimistic. And apparently, Kendrick’s star continues to rise – even on late-night TV.