Kendrick Lamar as a playable character in Mario Kart World has swept social media, creating both excitement and some scepticism among gaming fans and music fans alike. The rumor, circulating on X as well as other forums, shows Lamar appearing in a new game by Nintendo to launch with the purportedly upcoming Switch 2. There has been no official statement by Nintendo or any credible gaming media outlet to validate this rumor.
The speculation was fueled after a post on X shared an image of Kendrick Lamar with what looked to be key art for Mario Kart World. The notion of a rap star like Kendrick appearing in a Mario Kart game became trending material, as fans were discussing if it was a true leak or a clever prank. Importantly, it was posted on April 2, 2025, exactly a day after April Fools’ Day, so many believed it was possibly a long-planned prank.
All the fuss notwithstanding, there has yet to be an official statement from Nintendo about Lamar’s addition to Mario Kart World—a title, incidentally, not officially sanctioned by anyone. The latest additions to the franchise are Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo’s hybrid console and mobile game Mario Kart Tour. If a new title were under development, Nintendo would reveal it well ahead of character-related rumors breaking out.
“that would be wild! Kendrick Lamar in Mario Kart sounds like a fun crossover. imagine racing through tracks with his iconic beats blasting in the background”
Although having a rapper in a kid’s game like Mario Kart sounds far-fetched, celebrity crossovers are far from new in games. Fortnite and NBA 2K have both had high-profile celebrities as playable characters in them. But Mario Kart has always remained in Nintendo’s universe, so this rumor seems especially doubtful.
One such reason why this rumor picked up steam was due to its overlap with the recent rap feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. The fans soon equated the alleged game rivalry to their real-world feud, using gaming memes like “Blue Shelling Kendrick” to imply that including Kendrick may just be a joking insult against Drake. Fans also noted the 2023 song Kendrick Lamariokart, adding to speculation.
