If Lamar was playing a tug of war with her, Sza was primarily telling one story. Most of her visuals were often about the cycle of life and death through the lens of insects, and she sylphs with her wings, for the song's run that best was to extract joy from the drama towards the end of the night she appeared on her wings. SZA songs generally benefited from sealed intimacy that allowed each word to hit like a punch in the intestine, sometimes lost in the vast air of the stadium.
Lamar started out with her outfit and worked to maintain ground. He was dressed in a utilitarian chic – camouflage jacket and long shorts, or patched denim, tormented work boots. (The only contrast was the large diamond “X” pendant hanging from his neck.) SZA's stage artwork emphasized the natural world, but Lamar was heading towards the hyperreal. The stage itself was simple. On the back was a huge screen, several steps for Lamar to sit and reflect, and a diamond-shaped runway to the crowd that occasionally served as a platform for the stars and their dancers.
Lamar's setlist sizes the role of Drake Beef in his career arc to the right size. There is a significant and a change in perspective, but it is not dominant. It also highlighted his subtle changes in the wake of beef, particularly following “not like us.” His moves towards anthemic songs are full of grit and victory. They were at the heart of “GNX” and in many ways were essential to the success of his Super Bowl halftime show in February.
But not all the allusions to Drake were hostile. Lamar has been performing “Poetic Justice” since 2012. This is a friendly era. This was a collaboration with the Canadian star in its first release. And SZA performed a touch of “Rich Baby Dad,” a 2023 Drake song that appeared alongside Sexy Red.
For artists like Lamar and SZA, their careers have been long, and yesterday's collaborators could become today's antagonists. However, looking at the weaving of the two throughout the night, it made clear that the competing vision of vengeance – Stern vs. anxiety – landing neatly side by side or even the same.
Grand National Tour
It will continue on Friday at MetLife Stadium and run in Stockholm until August 6th. grandnationaltour.com.
