AZ Chike Joins Kendrick Lamar’s ‘GNX’ Tour After Persistent Efforts and Rehearsals

Kendrick Lamar recently brought rising L.A. rapper AZ Chike on stage during his ‘GNX’ tour at SoFi Stadium, marking a major milestone in AZ’s career. The collaboration stems from their joint track ‘Peekaboo,’ and the opportunity came after AZ persistently reached out to Kendrick, even joking in a voice memo that he was ready to ‘crash out’ if he wasn’t given a shot. Kendrick saved the message, which gave AZ hope, and after further coordination through mutual contacts including K. Dot’s assistant and their friend J Real, AZ was invited to rehearse and eventually perform.

AZ described the experience as deeply meaningful but noted the hard work it took to secure his spot, emphasizing that the journey was far from easy. His performance was a highlight for fans and was followed by additional exposure when their track ‘Peekaboo’ was featured in a Gatorade commercial, adding another layer of success.

However, not all featured artists on the ‘GNX’ album had the same experience. Lefty Gunplay, another collaborator, was reportedly denied stage access during the L.A. show, suggesting inconsistencies in how guest artists were handled during the tour. Despite this, the event was a major win for AZ Chike and showcased Kendrick’s role in spotlighting emerging talent from L.A.