Kendrick Lamar Makes History With Highest-Grossing Concert by a Black Male Artist
Kendrick Lamar has officially shattered yet another music industry milestone—this time by earning the highest-grossing concert by a Black male artist as a headliner or co-headliner in history.
The historic moment took place on April 26 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where Lamar’s Grand National Tour—co-headlined with fellow TDE artist SZA—raked in a staggering $11.822 million in one night. The performance now stands as the most lucrative live show ever for a Black male performer, eclipsing the previous record set by The Weeknd, who grossed $9.8 million during his 2022 stop at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
The Grand National Tour has already proven to be a landmark event in Hip Hop history. On opening night in Minneapolis, Kendrick Lamar surpassed Eminem’s previous record for the highest-grossing rap concert, bringing in over $9.1 million from more than 47,000 fans—a first for the genre to cross the $9 million threshold in a single night.
According to Touring Data, average ticket prices hovered around $192.70, underlining both the massive demand and cultural value Kendrick brings to the stage.
But Lamar’s record-breaking year doesn’t end there. His chart-topping collaboration with SZA, “Luther”, continues to dominate the Billboard Hot 100, claiming the No. 1 spot for an 11th consecutive week. The duet now ties a 27-year-old record previously held by Diddy and Faith Evans’ “I’ll Be Missing You”, for the most weeks at No. 1 among co-billed solo male and female artists.
“Luther” also marks the longest-running No. 1 single for both Kendrick Lamar and SZA, reflecting their unmatched chemistry and staying power in an era of rapid musical turnover.
Looking ahead, Kendrick’s global reach is set to expand even further. The Grand National Tour will headline Australia’s Spilt Milk Festival this December. The summer festival will touch down across Ballarat, Perth, Canberra, and Gold Coast, with fellow TDE members Doechii and ScHoolboy Q joining the lineup.
Other high-profile names set to appear include Euphoria actor and singer Dominic Fike, viral sensation Nessa Barrett, and rising artist d4vd.
Between record-setting ticket sales, chart-topping hits, and global festival headlines, Kendrick Lamar is not only redefining success in Hip Hop—he’s rewriting the record books. As his Grand National campaign rolls forward, one thing is clear: this is a moment of dominance that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
