Kendrick Lamar and SZA ended the North American leg of their Grand National tour on Wednesday night (June 18) with a memorable show at Northwest Stadium in Maryland. Despite some early rain, the weather cleared just in time for fans to enjoy the music.
Before the main performances, DJ Mustard warmed up the crowd with hip-hop hits from the past 25 years. While his set was fun, the real excitement began when Kendrick and SZA took the stage.
Their show focused on simplicity and powerful visuals. SZA used images of nature and love, while Kendrick showed scenes of daily life, including a dinner table, a lamppost, and L.A. culture.
SZA even “transformed” into a butterfly during her emotional song Nobody Gets Me. Kendrick’s fierce energy came through strongest during performances of his Drake diss tracks, especially euphoria.
The two artists took turns on stage, trading performances in a balanced flow. Highlights included their joint performances of All The Stars and LOVE., showing off their chemistry. SZA surprised the crowd with a special live version of 20 Something, while Kendrick delivered fast, powerful verses with barely any mistakes.
Though there were some technical sound issues at times, fans still cheered loudly throughout. The show ended with SZA holding both a U.S. flag and a Mexican flag, closing on a powerful and inclusive note.
Now, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Mustard are preparing to take Grand National to Europe later this summer. Their final U.S. show proved exactly why they are two of the biggest stars in music right now.
