Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show is now an award-winning production, thanks in part to a Chicago musician’s work behind the scenes.
In early September, Lamar and local bassist Tony “Chicago” Russell were awarded Creative Arts Emmy Awards for outstanding music direction at the ceremony, which will air Saturday at 8 p.m. on FXX and stream on Hulu through Oct. 7. The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards will be broadcast live on Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
“It still hasn’t hit me,” said Russell, a West Side native who has worked with Lamar for about 13 years. “It is still surreal.”
The honor is the latest milestone in Russell’s already impressive career as a musician, producer and arranger. Russell has also worked with Usher, Jamie Foxx and Jay-Z, and garnered several Grammy nominations. And the 45-year-old said he attributes all of his success to his musical training in Chicago, which began at First Corinthians M.B. Church, where his mother is the pastor.
“Without being from the city, I don’t become what I am,” he said. “Chicago prepares us to go anywhere.”
Russell helped arrange the music for Lamar’s performance, which drew in 133.5 million viewers and became the most-watched halftime show in the Super Bowl’s history.
The showcase also inspired debates about its format and speculation about its political commentary. Rather than rely on old hits like previous performers, Lamar played a lot of new material. The show also featured narration from actor Samuel L. Jackson, who performed as Uncle Sam, and dancers who dressed in red, white and blue and formed an American flag.
The finale included a rendition of “They Not Like Us,” Lamar’s diss against rapper Drake. Many viewers tuned in to see whether Lamar would dare to perform the track.
“We went against the grain,” Russell said. “It wasn’t about the old, it was about where we are going. So if you missed the train, you’ve got to catch up now.”
While Russell was coy about the show’s message, he said some people misinterpreted Lamar’s intentions. Others complained that the performance wasn’t entertaining.
“Art is subjective,” Russell said. “People I know personally had negative things to say.”
But Russell playfully pushed back against those who said they understood it once they watched it multiple times.
“Nah, it’s too late,” Russell said, laughing. “We won an Emmy for it, so now what do you have to say?”
Russell wasn’t the only Chicagoan who helped bring the halftime show to life. Production design and creative direction were handled by Mike Carson, who grew up in the Chicago suburbs and attended Columbia College Chicago.
But the road to creating the show was marked by a series of unfortunate events, Russell said.
First, their studio sessions were impacted by evacuations during the Los Angeles wildfires. Then, controversial hip-hop streamer DJ Akademiks leaked their rehearsal online. But instead of taking it all as a bad omen, Russell said the events signaled that they might be creating one of the best halftime shows of all time.
“There’s too many things trying to distract us and block us from what we’re supposed to be doing,” he said.
But Russell knows how to thrive in unpredictable situations; he said he learned how to be flexible as an up-and-coming musician in his hometown church.
“My mom is still one of the best choir directors, and she taught me discipline at 13,” he said. “And church can change at any minute. It prepares you for everything. And Chicago church is different from anywhere else, too. It teaches you how to deal with any other genre of music.”
Though Russell would go on to collaborate with a slew of notable names, he said Lamar is the best artist he has worked with.
“Kendrick is a genius,” he said. “Kendrick is very detailed. A lot of artists, they don’t do 10% of what Kendrick does.”
Russell has a bit of a breather before he and Lamar head to Mexico City for the next leg of the rapper’s Grand National Tour with R&B singer SZA.
By Sunday, the world will find out if any other Illinois natives will join him as a 2025 Emmy Award-winner. Actor Ike Barinholtz is nominated for his role on “The Studio,” while actresses Carrie Coon and Britt Lower are nominated for their roles on “White Lotus” and “Severance,” respectively. And the Chicago-based FX restaurant series “The Bear” received 13 nods.
“Chicago breeds so many great talents,” said Russell, who shouted out the city during his acceptance speech. “Once you say ‘Chicago,’ that’s a statement. Like, ‘Oh, you’re from Chicago?’ There’s nothing else to say.”