Kendrick Lamar performs during Outside Lands Music Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on Aug. 11, 2023. Matt Pang/STAFF.

SAN FRANCISCO — Outside Lands rang in its 15th year with a bang, literally and figuratively, on opening night Friday. While the festival has sold out plenty of times in the past, this year felt bigger, with crowds filling all of the stages, foot paths and dining areas throughout the more than 1.5-square-mile festival grounds. The crowd skewed quite young, with teens and 20-something fans clamoring to catch the likes of Janelle Monáe, Willow and NBA star Shaquille O’Neal.

The bill was heavy on buzzworthy up-and-comers and seasoned performers at their creative peak. The night’s headliner was Kendrick Lamar, one of the most compelling rappers of the last decade. It was his second time topping the bill at Outside Lands, having headlined in 2015. The crowd spanned the entire length of the polo field.

Kendrick Lamar performs during Outside Lands Music Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on Aug. 11, 2023. Matt Pang/STAFF.

“We’re bringing Compton all the way to San Francisco,” the rapper declared midway through his hourlong performance.

Opening with the ferocious “N95” as fireworks shot to the sky, Lamar laid down razor-sharp verses. Few can match Lamar’s lyrical prowess. Donning a gray sweatsuit and blue baseball cap, he was backed by a band, which brought the songs to life even more. The set was vibrant, relying on lights and a screen that flipped between bursts of color and controversial images. On some tracks, Lamar was joined by additional performance artists to add to the visuals.

Lamar performed his biggest hits, with the most material coming from his latest, Mr. Morale & The Big Steepers. Songs like “King Kunta” got the loudest reaction from the packed crowd.

The set had a healthy dose of material from DAMN. and good kid, m.A.A.d city , as well as a pair of tracks from the acclaimed To Pimp a Butterfly.

Kendrick Lamar. Matt Pang/STAFF.

“Backseat Freestyle” was a natural for fans to chime in on and sing along, while “m.A.A.d City” remains one of his best live songs. Pyrotechnics exploded above the stage on the latter track, offering up a bright bang with each passing “gak, gak, gak.” Red orbs fell from the top of the stage on tracks like “Loyalty.”

His light-speed, wordy rhymes weren’t the easiest to sing along with, but fans enthusiastically joined in on the memorable lines of “Backseat Freestyle” and “Alright,” while a massive shout-along erupted during the one-two punch of “DNA.” and “HUMBLE.” Lamar concluded his set and the night with more fan favorites like “Money Trees,” “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” and “Savior.”