Off the back of an incredible 2024, Kendrick Lamar is redefining the meaning of victory lap with his Grand National tour. Returning to Australia for the first time in three years, Kendrick is now at a whole new level.

Elevating songwriting, storytelling and poetry over a series of diverse creative releases since 2009’s Section 80, Kendrick Lamar has built a repertoire of modern classics within his singles, albums and collaborations. From hardcore hip-hop and trap to jazz and G-funk, K. Dot is a chameleon of rap.

After possibly the most definitive win in rap beef history, one of the best Super Bowl halftime shows in decades, and yet another classic album under his belt with last year’s GNX, Lamar has reached levels of success not known to many artists outside of the greatest of all time. With an arguably flawless discography, including what is widely considered to be the best hip-hop album of the 2010s in To Pimp A Butterfly, Lamar stands alone in the hip-hop game.

Delivering a set of fan favourites, deep cuts and hits in a multi-act stadium show, the Compton native owned AAMI Park for the night, with a high-energy support set from fellow Californian rapper ScHoolboy Q to kick off the evening.

Giving fans the hits, ScHoolboy Q ripped through classics like Man of the Year and That Part, along with more recent hits like Numb Numb Juice and Funny Guy. Opening a hip-hop stadium show is a challenge, but Q managed to tide the audience over with bravado and hype, just as the doctor ordered.

Opening the show with the first track on his latest record, Kendrick Lamar set the tone for his Grand National tour with Wacced Out Murals. An extended intro into his verse built a seriously powerful vibe as the instrumental slowly built, until his vocals and, eventually, the beat took over. Jumping straight into the next song on the album, Squabble Up, Lamar blew the roof off entirely with a massive stadium-level hip-hop banger. Pyrotechnics joined the first few songs, and regularly continued throughout the evening – an unexpected level of production for any artist, especially outside of classic rock.

Moving back in his career, Kenny took us to N95 off his 2022 LP, Mr Morale and the Big Steppers, before taking us even further back with the iconic King Kunta from 2015’s generation-defining masterpiece To Pimp A Butterfly. The first of several medley opportunities, Lamar cut off halfway into King Kunta to transition into deep cut ELEMENT - the first of many similar moments of discography remixing.

Moving into the second act of the show, Lamar jumped into the first of several tracks written as part of last year’s beef with Canadian superstar rapper Drake, Euphoria. The shadow of Aubrey Graham does not hang over the Grand National tour, however - it is very apparent that Lamar is, in fact, haunting and taunting Drake. GNX tracks Hey Now, and Reincarnated followed, before billion-streamed smash-hit HUMBLE shot crowds into the stratosphere with another pyro-fuelled showstopper.

2012’s classic sophomore release good kid, m.A.A.d. City finally got some love with Backseat Freestyle, Swimming Pools (Drank) and a freshly arranged version of m.A.A.d. City - along with Lamar’s cousin connection track Family Ties featuring Baby Keem thrown in the middle - before a powerful rendition of the classic Pharrell produced anthem Alright and album cut man at the garden.

Jumping into act 3 with further GNX cuts, dodger blue and peekaboo, Kenny continued to build a tone and colour to the evening - a theme of reflection. On the other hand, Drake’s head is back on the chopping block on Metro Boomin and Future collaboration Like That - a song that has never sounded bigger than over a stadium PA.

Another few medleys come in the form of DNA and GOOD CREDIT, and later Count Me Out and Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe, but the true highlight of the third act was Money Trees. Beginning with all the backup dancers whispering a rumour to each other one by one, eventually reaching Lamar, the sense of camaraderie was deeply infectious.

In the final stretch, Kendrick Lamar gave fans the fresh hits: the sensual SZA collab Luther, the hype machine TV off, and the infamous beef winner Not Like Us. Hearing a crowd of twenty-plus thousand fans screaming the “certified loverboy” line satisfies like nothing else.

In a rewarding yet brief encore, Kenny returned to the stage to give us a closer in Gloria - a reflective piece on a complicated love the artist shares with art itself. Ain’t no b**** like my b****, cause that b**** been my pen.

Reaching an era of his career that inspires contemplation and mindfulness, Kendrick Lamar has managed to remain strong and bold whilst maintaining humour and honesty - a truly once-in-a-lifetime artist. If this is where Lamar is after a decade and a half, one can only imagine how much more he’s still got in store for fans of great art.