Kendrick Lamar is gearing up to reunite with his former labelmates from Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) at the annual Christmas concert this week. The highly anticipated holiday event and toy drive will take place on Thursday, December 12, in Watts, California, featuring performances from a star-studded lineup.
As the most prominent name on the bill, Kendrick’s performance will mark his first public appearance since the surprise release of his latest album, GNX, last month. Initially not part of the lineup announced last month, Kendrick is now a late addition to the show.
Confirmed performers alongside Kendrick include SZA, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, Isaiah Rashad, Doechii, SiR, Ray Vaughn, and Zacari. The event poster hints at special guests yet to be announced, adding to the excitement surrounding the concert.
In the past, surprise guests at this charity concert have included notable artists like Rihanna, Big Sean, Chris Brown, and A$AP Ferg. The festivities will kick off at 1 p.m. with local artists, while TDE’s all-star lineup is scheduled to take the stage from 2:30 p.m.
Admission to the concert is free, with fans encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy or clothing items to donate to local children in need. This two-day event aims to give back to the residents of the Nickerson Gardens public housing projects, where TDE founder Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith and Jay Rock both grew up.
A press release stated, “Since its inception, TDE has stood as a pillar in the music community, but this success is only mirrored by the label’s prioritization to give back to some of the most marginalized and under-resourced communities in Los Angeles.”
Kendrick last performed with his Black Hippy colleagues—ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and Ab-Soul—at his historic Pop Out concert in Inglewood this past summer.
This Christmas concert may also be Kendrick’s final performance before he embarks on a co-headlining stadium tour with SZA next year. The Grand National Tour is set to launch in April and run through June, with stops in major cities, including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Chicago. The tour will even extend to Toronto, Canada, for two performances in June, promising to generate both excitement and controversy.
