Coachella Valley

Lore & Background

Lamar's connection to the Coachella Valley is defined by a distinct evolution in how he presented his music. While he later performed "XXX" with U2 and Dave Chappelle at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in January 2018, his appearance at Coachella on April 23, 2017, was characterized by the absence of Bono. This earlier performance established the song's live identity before the collaboration was fully integrated into his setlist. The event served as a proving ground where the lyrics regarding violence, revenge, and political systems were tested against a massive audience in the desert heat.

In Their Own Story

On April 23, 2017, Lamar took the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival to perform "XXX". Unlike his Grammy performance months later, this rendition did not feature U2. The set focused entirely on Lamar's delivery of the track, which addresses themes such as what he would do if anything happened to his family. He delivered lines referencing then-U.S. President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama, stating, "Donald Trump's in office; we lost Barack, and promised to never doubt him again." The performance highlighted the song's religious references, including the line about throwing a steak off the ark, without the additional vocal interludes from Bono that would appear on other stages.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking Lamar's live performances of "XXX", the Coachella appearance on April 23, 2017, is a key reference point. It represents the version of the song performed solo by Lamar, distinct from the Grammy performance where Dave Chappelle offered a brief interlude and U2 joined for a prominent refrain. When viewing archives or recordings, note that the Coachella set lacks the visual screen message "THIS IS A SATIRE BY KENDRICK LAMAR" which was utilized during his 60th Annual Grammy Awards performance.

Did You Know?

• Lamar performed "XXX" at Coachella on April 23, 2017, without the participation of U2.
• The song features samples from Bēkon's "America" and U2's "American Soul".
• During the performance, Lamar references Donald Trump and Barack Obama in the lyric: "Donald Trump's in office; we lost Barack, and promised to never doubt him again."
• At the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in January 2018, Lamar performed "XXX" with U2 and Dave Chappelle, who offered a brief interlude.
• The song charted for 3 weeks on the United States charts after its release in April 2017.