Kendrick Lamar is expected to reclaim the top spot on the Billboard 200 following his Super Bowl LIX halftime show. Early projections from Hits Daily Double estimate that GNX will move 230,000 units this week, securing the No. 1 position. The release of physical copies on February 7 also contributed to the album’s surge in sales.
With total sales now exceeding one million, GNX will soon receive another platinum certification. Older projects also saw a boost, with Good Kid, M.A.A.D City projected at No. 11 with 34,000 units and DAMN. expected at No. 12 with just under 34,000 units sold.
Lamar’s halftime show set a new record as the most-watched Super Bowl performance in history, drawing 133.5 million viewers—surpassing Michael Jackson’s 1993 record of 133 million. The game itself also became the most-watched Super Bowl ever, averaging 126 million viewers and peaking at 135.7 million in the second quarter.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, pgLang co-founder Dave Free revealed that Kendrick’s performance was designed to be cinematic and theatrical. The set included appearances from SZA, Mustard, Samuel L. Jackson, and Serena Williams. Free noted that they studied past performances from Beyoncé, Prince, and Michael Jackson for inspiration, aiming to capture the essence of Black America.
The setlist primarily featured tracks from GNX and Lamar’s recent Drake diss tracks. Free confirmed that JAY-Z, who has organized the halftime show since 2020, initiated the conversation, making this Lamar’s second Super Bowl appearance following his 2022 performance with Dr. Dre.
