Who: Kendrick Lamar

What: “HUMBLE.” 

When (was it released): 2017

Where (was it featured): Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. album

Why (did the song happen): Riding high off the success of his To Pimp A Butterfly album and its smash singles “King Kunta” and “Alright,” Kendrick Lamar had evolved from an underground superstar to a critical darling, an artist whose legions of fans often appeared on social media to champion him as the best rapper of the moment – or of all time. It was lofty territory, a place many rappers aspire to, but few ever truly obtain. Although the TDE rapper had achieved phenomenal success, he still hadn’t enjoyed a massive radio hit. That was about to change. While crafting his next project, the Compton rapper worked with Mike Will Made It, the Atlanta-based hitmaker who had helped produce such hits as Kanye West’s “Mercy,” 2 Chainz’s “No Lie,” and Juicy J’s “Bandz A Make Her Dance.”  

How (it became iconic): Using a somber yet bouncy piano pattern, rigid drums and warped sound effects, Mike Will Made It created a mesmerizing beat for Kendrick Lamar to explore. Rather than craft a liner story, Kendrick Lamar jumps from topic to topic, from his disdain for the reliance on models using photoshop to his own lyrical supremacy. It’s an exciting mélange of ideas, vocabulary, and attitude skillfully blended into a decidedly catchy song that won Grammys for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance. As popular as “HUMBLE.” was and remains, its video was also extraordinary. Directed by veteran Dave Meyers and Kendrick Lamar’s The Little Homies company, the clip was a throw-back of sorts to the type of lavish, high concept videos of the mid-to-late 1990s and early 2000s, an era where record companies were flush with cash and a hit video could almost singlehandedly propel an album to platinum status. In the clip, Kendrick Lamar performed dressed like the Pope, golfing from the hood of a car in the Los Angeles river, and sitting at Jesus’ seat at the table at a modern reimagining of The Last Supper. It’s a stunning collection of images that accent Kendrick Lamar’s free-flowing lyrics and won the Grammy for Best Music Video. On stage next to a handful of music’s biggest acts, expect Kendrick Lamar to perform his biggest hit as part of the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show.