ST. LOUIS — Grammy-winning music stars Kendrick Lamar and SZA brought ceiling-high fireballs, mystical gardens and a rare American muscle car to The Dome at America’s Center during their Grand National Tour on Wednesday night.
Thousands of fans trekked through rain and flooded streets to attend the concert, with tornado sirens sounding around ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ less than four hours prior. They left their umbrellas in piles at the venue’s entrance, with clothing drenched from standing in long lines, as they anticipated one of the biggest shows of the year.
The wet journey was worth the wait as Grammy Award-winning producer DJ Mustard concluded his opening set and the stadium went dark. As a 1987 Buick GNX rose from the stage floor with Lamar inside, the Compton artist launched into his song “wacced out murals,†catapulting the audience into a 53-song setlist running through his and SZA’s award-winning catalog.
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The tour has been sold-out across much of the country following the duo’s groundbreaking Super Bowl halftime show in February.
That show was fueled by stoic, heartfelt bars from Lamar, entrancing and ethereal showmanship from ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ native SZA and clever symbolism embedded in the choreography, visuals and pyrotechnic queues. It was steeped in excellence; a moment of hometown glory for SZA and a proud declaration of championship for Lamar, who’d sparked worldwide mania during a lyrical quarrel with Canadian rap superstar Drake in 2024.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA perform during halftime of Super Bowl LIX.
However, SZA experienced persistent audio issues throughout the show in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½. She recovered gracefully when her earpiece stopped working during “F2F,†saying aloud that she couldn’t hear and even calling out for assistance from the audio team. The issues bled into her performance of “Kitchen,†yet the singer continued to deliver a solid performance, never disengaging from the crowd and working the sound problems without missing a beat.
The rounded, elongated stage also took up a massive footprint within the venue that felt under-utilized at times, with both acts and accompanying performers spending most of the show on the main stage platform.
The Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates shared the stage like two partners in crime. It was the first co-headlining stadium tour for both acts, and the setlist was a musical banter between the pair. SZA and Lamar alternated between short, individual sets, weaving their solo hits together with powerful duet performances featuring the slew of tracks they share, like “30 for 30†and “Doves in the Wind.â€
Cellphone flashlights made constellations around the stadium when they performed “All the Stars.†Lights rays shot from floor to the ceiling, encircling Lamar and SZA as the stage platform raised them into the air. SZA also joined Lamar on stage to sing Rihanna’s verse on his song “LOVE.,†creating a beautiful minimalist moment between the two artists who somehow were different, yet the same on stage.
The similarities and contrasts between Lamar and SZA set the tone for an evening of clarity and color. Lamar’s performance was black and white; he’s never been the type for over-the-top on-stage antics. He subbed out the stereotypical crowd-hyping presence of modern-day rap shows, replacing them with a high-energy stillness that demanded attention as he rapped clear, crisp bars and metaphors on songs like “reincarnated†and “Money Trees.â€
SZA brought vibrant colors to the Grand National Tour while flexing her vocal range. She decked out the black, old-school vehicle in lush greenery, bringing mystical creatures, giant praying mantises and fairy tale dreams to her hometown.
Yet somehow, despite representing different genres, Lamar and SZA were the perfect on-stage duo. Their stage sets looked different, but they communicated a like-minded message of self-awareness and creative boldness, performing like two old friends who’d been making music together for quite some time.
Kendrick Lamar performs at Oracle Park in San Francisco on May 30, 2025.
Lamar transitioned flawlessly between his collection of hits and fan favorites. A wave of sound rolled around the stadium as the audience belted out the lyrics to “Backseat Freestyle†a cappella. The fast, flashing spotlights mirrored the aggression of the song “euphoria,†one of many diss records released toward Drake in 2024. Lamar switched up the vibe for songs like “Swimming Pools (Drank),†performing the drinking anthem over Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love†instrumental.
While Lamar remained focused on his keen, lyrical performance, incredible pyrotechnics and mind-blowing choreography added flair to his sets. His background dancers moved with a fluid roboticism that was synchronized and militant yet somehow still smooth and effortless. They doubled as actors, playing a game of Telephone during “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe†and mimicking an army during “tv off.†They embodied dynamic movement, becoming Lamar’s cadre of on-stage, dancing cousins that kept the party going all night.
The show ran straight through with no stops, aside from a brief moment following “All the Stars†where SZA shouted out a few ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ high schools and acknowledged her 60 family members attending the show, garnering a playful smile from Lamar, who’d maintained his serious approach to showmanship throughout the show.
With Lamar representing hip-hop’s masculine aura, SZA made sure to bring the divine feminine to the stage. It was evident she’d evolved since she self-released the “See.SZA.Run†EP in 2012. She bloomed like the forest trees, plants and wildlife that grew from the Dome’s stage during her performance.
She called ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ “my city†when she changed the lyrics during “Love Galore†and delivered a tear-inducing performance of “Garden (Say It Like Dat),†as her on-stage garden blossomed before the audience and her vocals soared, dispelling online hearsay accusing her of lip-syncing during live shows.
Three songs before the show’s end, Lamar transitioned from “N95†to his viral, chant-based hit “Not Like Us.†He left room for the audience to join in, the crowd screaming out the rage-filled lyrics aimed at Lamar’s “certified lover boy†foe while the background dancers moved like smooth criminals across the stage.
Lamar and SZA concluded by performing “luther†and “gloria,†both songs from Lamar’s 2024 album “GNX.†However, with “luther†being a more upbeat track, ending with “gloria†felt like an anti-climatic ending to such an explosive show experience.
If there is any question about who’ll carry the baton of American music legacy, during a time where artificial intelligence and microwave fame are the norm, the Grand National Tour has two artists ready to run the race.
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ looks to recover from a tornado the week of May 25, 2025. Edited by Jenna Jones.
