$9 million from one night on stage

Key Points

• Kendrick Lamar earns $9.12 million from one show, breaking Eminem’s record for highest-grossing live performance by a rapper.
• Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” leads Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks, setting a record for longest-running No. 1 duet without features.
• Fresh off five Grammy wins, Lamar cements his cultural leadership with over 90 million Spotify listeners and billion-stream milestones for every album.

Kendrick Lamar, a titan in the music industry and widely considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, has made music history by becoming the first rapper to earn over $9 million from a single live performance. 

The Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning artist set the record at the Grand National Tour’s opening night in Minneapolis, where he co-headlined with fellow Top Dawg Entertainment star SZA. The sold-out show at U.S. Bank Stadium brought in $9.12 million in gross revenue, surpassing Eminem’s previous benchmark of $8.7 million in Melbourne in 2019.

Touring Data confirmed the concert hosted 47,354 attendees, each paying an average ticket price of $192.70. The tour, which launched with unprecedented fanfare, will continue across multiple continents, culminating in Stockholm on August 9.

Luther” by Lamar, SZA hits 10 weeks at No. 1

At the same time, Lamar and SZA are riding high with their collaboration “Luther,’ which has dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for ten weeks. It’s Lamar’s sixth No. 1 hit and SZA’s third.

Billboard reports that “Luther” is now the longest-running duet to stay at No. 1 without featuring other artists, breaking the long-held record set by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie’s classic “Endless Love.”

If “Luther” keeps its momentum, it could soon match or even surpass the 11-week run of Puff Daddy and Faith Evans’ “I’ll Be Missing You,” and maybe even challenge the all-time record of 16 weeks set by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day.”

Lamar’s social impact solidifies his cultural leadership

Beyond the charts and sold-out arenas, Lamar’s influence continues to grow. Fresh off winning five Grammys at the 2025 ceremony—including Song of the Year for “Not Like Us”—he has firmly cemented his place at the center of both music and culture. With over 90 million monthly listeners on Spotify and every album he’s released crossing the billion-stream mark, he’s become a global streaming powerhouse.

Beyond his commercial success, Lamar remains a cultural force. His socially conscious lyrics have positioned him as a voice of his generation. In 2019, Forbes named him one of the world’s highest-paid entertainers, earning $38.5 million that year alone. Lamar’s latest milestone underscores not only his financial clout but also the growing economic power of Black artists in global entertainment.