Kendrick Lamar Talks ‘Biggest Misconceptions’ About Him While Giving Timothée Chalamet a Ride in His GNX
The actor interviewed the rapper ahead of Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show performance.
Timothée Chalamet and Kendrick Lamar
Leading up to his performance in front of tens of millions this weekend, Kendrick Lamar took a relaxing drive — in his GNX, of course — with Timothée Chalamet for an introspective one-on-one conversation about making art.
In a video posted by the NFL and Apple Music Friday (Feb. 7), the rapper — who makes sure everyone’s seatbelts are on — gives the actor a ride in his signature car as the two bond over the similarities in their respective crafts, with both sharing how they push through mental blocks in the creative process. For Lamar, he says it’s all about continuing to write no matter what to keep the muscle strong — not that he has much of a choice, as the Compton musician says penning lyrics is vital “for my own sanity.”
“That’s probably one of the biggest misconceptions about me as an artist,” he told the A Complete Unknown star. “I’m always locked in, and I’m always trying new things — whether or not I like them is a whole ‘nother conversation. But I have to keep the pen warm.”
“It’s for my own sanity,” Dot continued. “[Writing] has also given me the opportunity to learn [about] myself, you know, find out who I am. When you’re writing, man, you’ve got to sit and go through the emotions and be vulnerable about it.”
Lamar’s pen has also gotten him to the mountaintop in 2025, with the hip-hop titan — who just days prior won both song and record of the year at the Grammys for Billboard Hot 100-topper “Not Like Us” — will take the stage Sunday (Feb. 9) in between halves at the ultimate Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles game in New Orleans. His conversation with Chalamet comes in celebration of the upcoming performance — not that he gave the Wonka actor any hints about song picks or special guests.
“I’ve been given no early access,” Chalamet said in a clip with Lamar when the interview was first announced Thursday (Feb. 6). “Top-shelf secrets.”
Toward the end of their drive, the Oscar nominee commended the musician on his success. “Just being a fan of your music forever and knowing like, look where you’re at now,” Chalamet gushed. “It’s just crazy, Super Bowl Halftime Show — you just keep climbing, bro. It’s amazing.”
“I appreciate it,” Lamar replied before revealing a fact about a song on his chart-topping November album GNX. “I mean that s–t, bro — ‘Man of the Garden,’ I mean every word on that motherf–ker, man. That’s probably the easiest record to write.”
Watch Lamar’s interview with Chalamet below.
