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Kendrick Lamar Opens Grammy's With Politically Charged Performance

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NEW YORK (CBSMiami/AP) – A big performance kicked off the 60th Grammy Awards.

Kendrick Lamar opened the Grammy's with a performance of "XXX" from his album "DAMN."

60th Annual GRAMMY Awards - Show
Recording artist Kendrick Lamar (C) performs onstage during the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. (Source: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NARAS)

An image of an American flag flickered behind him and an army of dancers accompanied him onstage.

Host James Corden said on the red carpet before the show that viewers could expect "the most unique and bold opening you could ever imagine."

U2's Bono and The Edge joined Lamar on stage before the rapper transitioned into "DNA."

A dramatic sequence followed, with Lamar's dancers dressed in red, each figuratively shot down by the rapper.

Lamar also won three Grammy Awards before Sunday's ceremony began, bringing his lifetime total to 10.

Lamar has delivered stellar performances on the Grammy stage before.

He stunned in 2016 with a medley from his celebrated album "To Pimp a Butterfly." The rapper performed "The Blacker the Berry" as he led what looked like a chain gang, his band members performing from jail cells. He finished with the rallying "Alright," standing in front of a map of Africa emblazoned with the word "Compton."

Lamar also shared the Grammy stage with Imagine Dragons in 2014.

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