Kendrick Lamar just added another incredible record to his already impressive career, surpassing Eminem.
The 37-year-old rapper set a major record during the opening night of his Grand National Tour, which kicked off in Minneapolis on April 19. This isn’t just any tour, though, Kendrick’s show grossed a jaw-dropping $9.1 million, breaking the record for the highest-grossing hip-hop concert of all time. This feat surpasses Eminem’s previous record set in 2019 during his Melbourne show in Australia.
The Grand National Tour, which features Kendrick alongside SZA and Mustard, has already taken the music world by storm. Over 47,000 fans packed into the U.S. Bank Stadium, paying an average of $192.70 per ticket for the historic performance. The Minneapolis show set another milestone as the most attended concert in Kendrick’s career, with 47,354 tickets sold. Not only did Kendrick break records, but he also became the first rapper ever to perform at a concert grossing over $9 million, an achievement that puts him in a league of his own.
The tour is in support of Kendrick’s November 2024 album GNX, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 319,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. The album has already produced two Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits: “Squabble Up” and “Luther,” the latter of which features SZA and has remained at No. 1 for a staggering nine weeks.
Speaking of SZA, she also has some exciting new releases under her belt. Ahead of the tour, she dropped the deluxe edition of her 2022 album SOS, titled LANA. The deluxe version added 19 tracks, including hits like “Saturn” and “Joni,” featuring Don Toliver.
Kendrick and SZA also made headlines earlier this year when they graced the stage at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, performing “Luther” and “All The Stars.” It was a powerful performance that saw Kendrick weaving through his hits like “Not Like Us,” “Humble,” “DNA,” and “TV Off,” leaving fans wanting more. With 36 more shows left on the Grand National Tour, it’s safe to say that Kendrick and SZA are only getting started. Who knows what records they’ll break next?
