There are few bigger names in music at the moment than Kendrick Lamar. The rapper has been a mainstay in pop culture for well over a decade, and yet2024 saw him catapult his way to the forefront of hip-hop, never looking back. Now, set to take the stage at the Super Bowl in New Orleans on June 01, 2025, Kendrick Lamar will have more eyes on him than ever before. Unexpectedly though, with only days remaining before the performance, it’s been revealed the star is a fan ofDragon Ball.
In an interview conducted for the GRAMMYs, famed producer and DJ, Mustard, touched on his career, the music industry, and working with Kendrick Lamar. His production is most notably featured on one of 2024’s biggest hits, “Not Like Us”, as well as all overthe rapper’s follow-up album,GNX. When questioned about the more recent smash hit, “tv off”, Mustard mentioned that Lamar claimed to havefelt like anime’s most iconic hero while recording.
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Anime’s Most Iconic Hero Inspired One of 2024’s Biggest Hits
Kendrick Lamar and anime aren’t often muttered in the same sentence, though according to DJ Mustard,“tv off” was somewhat inspired byDragon Ball’s protagonist, the instantly recognizable Goku. In particular, the moment when Kendrick Lamar triumphantly screams Mustard’s name was inspired by the Saiyan’s many roars throughout the series. Countless fans made edits of the rapper’s scream toDragon Ballclips when the song was first released, not knowingthe two were directly connected all along.
Mustard mentioned to the GRAMMYs that Kendrick Lamar had said, “When I heard the beat,I just felt like Goku or something.” The song impressively rose to the top of the charts following its release, and is a stand-out track onGNXalong with others like “luther” and “hey now”. It’s extremely likely “tv off” will be included in the upcoming Super Bowl set, and fans will have the opportunity to hear Kendrick Lamar’s Goku-inspired scream on stage with millions watching in-person and at home.
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Many Musicians Have Referenced Dragon Ball in the Past
Kendrick Lamar’s nod to Goku isn’t the first timeDragon Ballhas found its way into hip-hop,and it certainly won’t be the last. Several musicians have referenced anime in their music, with the most recent prominent artist to do so consistentlybeing Megan Thee Stallion. However, this will be the closest the series has ever come to being featured in the Super Bowl. Fans have Goku to thank for all the entertainment he has provided over the course of four decades, and now for inspiring one of 2024’s biggest songs as well.
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Dragon Ballis likely the last subject fans expected to pop up alongside Kendrick Lamar in the days leading up to the Super Bowl, but it seems the artist is making sure everyone knows who inspired “tv off” before he takes the big stage. Only days remain until the performance, andfans won’t want to miss Kendrick Lamar’s Saiyan roarduring football’s most anticipated match-up of the year.
Source:GRAMMYs
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
