Kendrick Lamar‘s BRIT Awards performance left some viewers confused after technical difficulties, extended muted periods and an intro where he laid on top of a box containing a car that eventually got smashed up.
Lamar won Best International Male Solo Artist earlier in the evening, beating the likes of Childish Gambino, Drake, Beck and DJ Khaled.
He returned to the stage to perform ‘FEEL.’ and his Rich The Kid collab ‘New Freezer’, but his performance left many social media users puzzled after the track appeared to restart three times.
https://twitter.com/DuckworthTDE/status/966440563800199169
Quick question: how does one apply to be Kendrick's personal car smasher?! @BRITs #BRITs2018 @kendricklamar pic.twitter.com/UngoZBkh07
— GIPHY (@GIPHY) February 21, 2018
Your #BRITs 2018 International Male winner @kendricklamar brought @RichTheKid to The #BRITs 2018 to SMASH IT ??? What a performance!
Watch The #BRITs LIVE here: https://t.co/YP6iG713ES pic.twitter.com/HCeqt3TgoH
— BRIT Awards (@BRITs) February 21, 2018
“Has Kendrick Lamar fallen asleep?”, one fan wrote, while another added: “Just lying on a car, it’s Kendrick Lamar!”.
One tweet read: “I’m not even mad about Kendrick Lamar chilling on a car because when you’re that much of an icon do as you please it’s art.”
Has Kendrick Lamar fallen asleep??? #BRITs
— Charlie Smith (@Charlie84x) February 21, 2018
Just lying on a car, it’s Kendrick Lamar!
— Samuel Gray (@samsbit) February 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/maddiemae_xo/status/966430217639211008
Is Kendrick Lamar dead there?
— 3PuttYips (@3PuttYips) February 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/theSITUASIAN_/status/966430221653114881
Me watching Kendrick Lamar's performance. #BRITs2018 pic.twitter.com/IypEoOhdxF
— Bradley Cates (@Bradley_Cates) February 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/Holliesmifffff/status/966431276713508864
I'm not even mad about Kendrick Lamar chilling on a car because when you're that much of an icon do as you please it's art
— Charlie Thomas (@CharlieThomas_2) February 21, 2018
Other viewers were disgruntled by much of the audio being muted on the televised broadcast.
“Kendrick set ruined by ITV,” wrote one fan.
https://twitter.com/Bekki_x/status/966431282107502592
Kendrick set ruined by ITV #BRITs
— Dave Orme (@DaveOrme) February 21, 2018
The 38th BRIT Awards were held at London’s O2 Arena this evening (February 21). Stormzy and Dua Lipa taking home big awards on the night.
Stormzy won British Male Solo Artist and Best British Album, as well as delivering a triumphant closing performance.
Dua Lipa, meanwhile, took home Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act. Presented her first award by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown and Kylie Minogue, Lipa said during her acceptance speech: “I want to thank every single female that has been on this stage before me and has given girls like me a place to be inspired by and [someone to] look up to and allow us to dream. Here’s to more women on these stages, winning these awards and taking over the world.”
Little Mix presented the British Male Solo Artist award to Stormzy, who said: “Thank God, that’s the reason why I’m here to do what I do”.
Foo Fighters picked up Best International Group, their fifth BRIT Award to date. Dave Grohl paid tribute to the UK in his acceptance speech.
Rag’n’Bone Man won Best British Single for ‘Human’. He thanked “everyone back in Brighton” and “everyone who has had my back over the years”.
International Male Solo Artist went to Kendrick Lamar, beating Drake and Beck.
Dua Lipa picked up her second award of the night in the form of British Breakthrough Act. She brought her younger brother and sister onto the stage with her and told fans to “believe in magic”.
Lorde won International Female Solo Artist and sent a video message. Gorillaz won Best British Group.
Harry Styles took home British Artist Video of The Year for his ‘Sign Of The Times’ clip.
Stormzy won the biggest accolade of the night, picking up British Album Of The Year for ‘Gang Signs And Prayer’. During his acceptance speech, he said he put “everything” into the record, adding: “I didn’t have anything after.”