Kendrick Lamar is undoubtedly considered one of the most engaging performers of his generation. The extravagant shows, exhilarating sounds, and the man’s animated presence on stage are truly unrivaled in many aspects.
With Amazon Music, Cash App, and Rotation as the show’s sponsors, Live Nation Entertainment presenting the famed rapper/songwriter’s ‘The Big Steppers Tour’ was a much-awaited treat for music-lovers in general and hip-hop lovers in particular.
Over the last decade, Live Nation Entertainment has been part of some of the biggest live shows that showcase star-studded musicians and other forms of performing art. With Kendrick Lamar’s return, the company has cemented its name as a recurring partner in some of the best comeback shows in modern music history.
King Kendrick’s Hiatus
One of the reasons why The Big Steppers Tour was so highly-anticipated was because the MC extraordinaire had been out of the performing scene for quite a while. Prior to this new release, his last album, titled, ‘DAMN,’ was released all the way back in 2017 and fans hadn’t seen subsequent releases since.
Of course, DAMN was certainly a show-stopper in line with Kendrick’s own charismatic persona. The album gathered five Grammy awards, and critics believed it to be one of the best efforts in hip-hop storytelling and delivery. Yes, he may have lost the ‘Album of the Year’ award to Bruno Mars that year, but he won a much more coveted recognition for the same album. The single ‘Humble’ became King Kendrick’s first ever Number-One Single on the most recognizable record chart, the US Billboard Hot 100. DAMN also won that year’s Pulitzer Prize for Music and it’s the only album outside of Classical and Jazz tracks to be given the prestigious award.
The following year, Kendrick curated and worked on the famed soundtrack album for the hit movie, Black Panther, in 2018. However, personal projects and albums were put on the backburner for the immediate future.
So, when the famed MC announced the fifth TDE and first PGLang album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, you couldn’t blame the fans for going crazy in anticipation and excitement.
A Critical Comeback
Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers served as the ultimate comeback album for Kendrick because of the hype it created even before the tracks hit the market. With two dynamic narrators and a dozen unique guest appearances, Lamar’s fifth album came pre-made for live show gold.
Also, this album was technically the first release for Lamar’s creative collective titled PGLang since all his prior albums came out under TDE’s banner. So, this fresh release added to the excitement for both dedicated followers as well as passing fans.
Dubbed as the ‘Big Steppers Tour,’ King Kendrick’s comeback is scheduled for a run that covers more than 60+ live shows over the course of six months. Kicking off with the first live concert at the Ippordromo, Milan, Spain, the tour will round up in mid-December at the Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. The 64-city mega tour will take the artist and his traveling entourage to over a dozen different countries worldwide. The United States alone has more than 30 cities and concerts scheduled as part of the tour.
With such a gigantic tour in the mix, any artist would bank on the most reliable show organizers in the industry. In this case, it’s the live show giant Live Nation Entertainment that’s delivering the goods for the MC’s ethereal comeback.
What It Means for Live Nation Entertainment Presenting an Artist
Live Nation Entertainment is globally renowned for being the biggest and most well-known entertainment agency. So, it’s no accident or stroke of luck that they’re presenting one of the most influential MC/Producer/Songwriters of this generation. But before we get into what it entails for both parties, let’s get a better grasp of what this company is all about.
Live Nation Entertainment is, essentially, a reputed entertainment company based in the United States and functioning since the early 2010s. Starting off as Live Nation, the company initially dealt with operating venues and promoting events on the entertainment grid. In 2014, the company agreed to a major merger with Ticketmaster, a giant in the selling and distribution of show tickets. The union came to be called Live Nation Entertainment, with the CEOs of both companies serving as the new CEO and new Executive Chairman of the group.
Today, Live Nation Entertainment is among the biggest names when it comes to promoting and operating live shows internationally, including ticket sales. So, it’s closer to a company that offers the full suite of entertainment services, unlike smaller companies that have to partner with ticketing companies or venue agencies.
For an artist (big or small) or group of artists to appear with the group, most of the logistical and organizational hassles are taken care of by the company. So, if you see Live Nation Entertainment presenting a performer or artist, you know that both parties are in for the big show.
Given these credentials and impressive track record, it’s no surprise that Live Nation Entertainment is part of Kendrick Lamar’s exciting new world tour. Promoting and operating so many live shows across so many countries is definitely no small feat by any standards. But to do it with skill, organization, and the best marketing strategies is an objective that not all companies can obtain.
Of course, one must remember that this tour isn’t exactly Live Nation Entertainment presenting Kendrick Lamar exclusively. While the company poses as the primary promoter for the tour and individual concerts, the sponsorship is also shared among Cash App, Amazon Music, and Rotation. So, the tour has a unique combination of star promoters and rising companies working together to make the comeback concerts a tour to remember.
Ending Note
The large part of shows for the Big Steppers Tour still remains, but if the shows so far are a sign for the coming delights, you can expect exhilarating experiences in Kendrick’s upcoming shows. And the next time you see Live Nation Entertainment presenting a new tour or show, you can bet that it’ll be hands-down one of the shows of the year!