After jetting from Compton to Paris and back again in his “Backseat Freestyle” video, Kendrick Lamar lands finally in New York City as the musical guest on the January 26 episode of Saturday Night Live, NBC announced today. It’ll be K.Dot’s first visit to Studio 8H during the season that began with Frank Ocean turning his back to the audience for the denouement of “Pyramids.” Best guess, Kendrick will perform his latest, the aforementioned “Backseat,” and his old late-night standby “Swimming Pools (Drank),” but, as a newbie, most likely won’t be incorporated into any skits. (Because, really, a sketch about what happens when you literally jump into a pool of liquor wouldn’t be funny at all!)
Voice coach Adam Levine will step in to host for the first time that episode, though he’s made multiple appearances on the show as musical guest with Maroon 5 and in a couple shorts — the latest alongside host Jeremy Renner in November. There’s no questioning dude’s acting chops, though: Levine got his arm chopped off during a particularly torture-porny arc on American Horror Story this season, so rest assured he can deliver a line (and a scream).
Before we get to that, Grammy nominees Lumineers will perform on SNL‘s January 19 show, hosted by Hunger Games actress Jennifer Lawrence.
