The show started with DJ Mustard, who did his best to warm the crowd up with rap standards before Kendrick and SZA hit the stage. The stage design somewhat resembled the diamond design of Kendrick’s Super Bowl halftime set,

It's been more than a year since Kendrick Lamar upended the rap game and significantly altered the course of popular culture with "Not Like Us," the five-time Grammy-winning, Billboard Hot 100-topping knockout punch in his monthslong battle against Drake.

The rapper and R&B star are taking victory laps for smash hits and albums. But their co-headlining tour is still threaded with angst and reflection.