Janet Jackson kicked off the latest leg of her ‘Together Again’ Tour with a bang, adding a fresh twist to her iconic performances. The 35-show trek began in Palm Springs, California, on Tuesday night (June 4) at the Acrisure Arena, with Nelly opening the show.
One of the standout moments of the night was Jackson’s integration of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” into her classic hit “Nasty.” A viral clip from the concert showcases Jackson, clad in a plaid dress and surrounded by her backup dancers, as the instrumental of Lamar’s Drake diss plays during her “Nasty” breakdown. The innovative blend of Mustard’s West Coast beat with her 1986 Billboard Hot 100 No. 3 hit left fans buzzing.
“Who’s that in that nasty car? Nasty boys/ Who’s that eatin’ that nasty fruit? Nasty boys/ Who’s jammin’ to my nasty groove? Nasty boys,” Jackson sang, seamlessly merging her timeless lyrics with the contemporary beat.
The unexpected mashup sparked a flurry of reactions on social media. One fan on X commented, “It’s gon be a long year for Aubrey. HBCU season still coming,” while another added, “Kendrick introduced a whole new generation to Janet. Of course she gon ride for him!”
Despite never collaborating directly, Lamar and Jackson have crossed musical paths before. Lamar sampled Jackson’s “Any Time, Any Place” on his track “Poetic Justice,” which reached No. 26 on the Hot 100 in 2013.
Lamar’s “Not Like Us” has continued to make waves in pop culture since its release a month ago, even making its way into a Houston meteorologist’s weather report earlier this week.
With this innovative tour, Janet Jackson proves once again that she’s not only a timeless icon but also a dynamic artist who continues to push the boundaries of her performances. Fans can expect more surprises as the ‘Together Again’ Tour progresses.
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Photo Credit: Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock.com