Kendrick Lamar has been announced as a headliner for BST Hyde Park, scheduled to appear at the London festival on Sunday, July 5. The announcement came yesterday, via BST’s social media, along with details of special guests: Kendrick collaborator James Blake and Brittany Howard.
Obviously, the huge event is news in itself, but it could also mean a chance to hear music from the rapper’s first album since 2017’s Pulitzer Prize-winning DAMN. (not counting the award-winning Black Panther soundtrack), which is rumoured to be forthcoming.
Earlier this month, former Billboard editorial director Bill Werde reported hearing that the new album – which is thought to feature the rapper “pulling in more rock sounds” – might finally be done.
If so, a show like BST seems like as good a place as any to debut it (or parts of it), although fans have also been speculating that the close proximity to Glastonbury could mean he’s headlining that as well, a rumour that organiser Emily Eavis has done nothing to dispel.
Lamar will headline a number of other festivals across Europe this year, in Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, and more.
Other headliners confirmed for this year’s BST Hyde Park include Taylor Swift (also headlining Glastonbury), Little Mix, and Pearl Jam.
View the announcement below.
