Fresh off an incredible 2012, Kendrick Lamar continues the successful run into the New Year by bringing his first two singles off good kid, m.A.A.d. city to the stage of Saturday Night Live this weekend. It feels like a win for the home team any time a hip-hop artist makes it to a platform as large as the stage of SNL but Lamar's appearance comes as no surprise considering the impressiveness of good kid and what seems like the entirety of internet hailing it as one of last year's bests. Backed by a live band, Kendrick rang in the newly-platinum status of his lead single "Swimming Pools (Drank)" and a sans-Drake version of "Poetic Justice." It's definitely refreshing to see Lamar choose to go the live band route instead of relying on the rapper-plus-DJ onstage formula, his performances showing off his depth as an artist without ever throwing off his calm and collected demeanor. The episode also caught Lamar dropping sound investment advice (peace to Wu Tang Financial) in a new digital short with The Lonely Island crew, which you can watch along with his musical performances below:
