Music Stars Who've Been on Colbert

From his duet with Alicia Keys to Kendrick Lamar's return.

Kendrick to Unveil The Late Show With Stephen Colbert - Kendrick Lamar created history the last time he hooked up with comedian Stephen Colbert and closed out The Colbert Report's as the show's final musical guest in December — performing a new song he wrote the night before and which hasn't been available anywhere since.K Dot will now help the comedian usher in his new gig as host of CBS's The Late Show, which debuts on Sep. 8. The Compton MC will be the first musical guest as he pops Colbert's cherry along with Jeb Bush and George Clooney. While we wait to see what Kendrick and Colbert pull off for their next trick, take a look at music stars who have performed and kicked game on The Colbert Report in the past. — Michael Harris (@IceBlueVA)(Photo: Comedy Central)

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Kendrick to Unveil The Late Show With Stephen Colbert - Kendrick Lamar created history the last time he hooked up with comedian Stephen Colbert and closed out The Colbert Report's as the show's final musical guest in December — performing a new song he wrote the night before and which hasn't been available anywhere since.K Dot will now help the comedian usher in his new gig as host of CBS's The Late Show, which debuts on Sep. 8. The Compton MC will be the first musical guest as he pops Colbert's cherry along with Jeb Bush and George Clooney. While we wait to see what Kendrick and Colbert pull off for their next trick, take a look at music stars who have performed and kicked game on The Colbert Report in the past. — Michael Harris (@IceBlueVA)(Photo: Comedy Central)

M.I.A. - M.I.A. stopped by The Colbert Report in 2013 and discussed putting messages in dance music before performing "Y.A.L.A."(Photo: Comedy Central)

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M.I.A. - M.I.A. stopped by The Colbert Report in 2013 and discussed putting messages in dance music before performing "Y.A.L.A."(Photo: Comedy Central)

Robin Thicke - In August 2013, Colbert had been hyping his "StePhest Colbchella" Music Fest for weeks, which was set to end with a closing performance by Daft Punk. However, on the night of the show, the talk show comedian revealed that due to a contract the group had with MTV, the performance wasn't happening. Fortunately, Robin Thicke came through and rocked the song of that summer, "Blurred Lines."(Photo: Comedy Central)

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Robin Thicke - In August 2013, Colbert had been hyping his "StePhest Colbchella" Music Fest for weeks, which was set to end with a closing performance by Daft Punk. However, on the night of the show, the talk show comedian revealed that due to a contract the group had with MTV, the performance wasn't happening. Fortunately, Robin Thicke came through and rocked the song of that summer, "Blurred Lines."(Photo: Comedy Central)

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Macklemore and Ryan Lewis stopped by The Colbert Report in May 2013, performing their groundbreaking hit "Same Love" and speaking on homosexuality and same-sex marriages.(Photo: Comedy Central)

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Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Macklemore and Ryan Lewis stopped by The Colbert Report in May 2013, performing their groundbreaking hit "Same Love" and speaking on homosexuality and same-sex marriages.(Photo: Comedy Central)

Nas - Nasir stopped by and chopped it up with Stephen Colbert to promote his 2012 album, Life Is Good, and talked about his split from Kelis before performing "Daughters" and "The Don."(Photo: Comedy Central)

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Nas - Nasir stopped by and chopped it up with Stephen Colbert to promote his 2012 album, Life Is Good, and talked about his split from Kelis before performing "Daughters" and "The Don."(Photo: Comedy Central)

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Lupe Fiasco - The conscious Chicago emcee gave fans a taste of his Lasers LP when he came through in 2011 with Skylar Grey to perform "Words I Never Said." Colbert and Lupe also chopped it up about politics and taxes, with Fiasco showing he had comedic timing as well.(Photo: Comedy Central)

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Lupe Fiasco - The conscious Chicago emcee gave fans a taste of his Lasers LP when he came through in 2011 with Skylar Grey to perform "Words I Never Said." Colbert and Lupe also chopped it up about politics and taxes, with Fiasco showing he had comedic timing as well.(Photo: Comedy Central)

Talib Kweli - Talib slid through The Colbert Report on several occasions and in October 2011, he stopped by with his partner in rhyme Yasiin Bey. Colbert seemed to be up on his hip hop game while BlackStar proved to be comedic in their own right. (Photo: Comedy Central)

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Talib Kweli - Talib slid through The Colbert Report on several occasions and in October 2011, he stopped by with his partner in rhyme Yasiin Bey. Colbert seemed to be up on his hip hop game while BlackStar proved to be comedic in their own right. (Photo: Comedy Central)

Alicia Keys - Colbert filled in for Jay Z back in 2009 when Alicia Keys came through to perform "Empire State of Mind." Telling Jigga to fall back because he didn't need a ghostwriter, the comedian hoodied up and dropped a few bars about moving from NY to Connecticut:"I love New York, king of all the cities / Lived up by the Guggenheim ’til I got some kiddies / Moved to Connecticut, bye George Pataki / Drove to the dry cleaners, pickin’ up my khakis /... Still hit the city, Times Square keep it real / Hard Rock Cafe for the appetizer deal / M&M Store, Disney Store, I’m in heaven / I own this top 41st to 47th / Ticket to The Lion King, that show is fantastic / Leave a half an hour early so I can beat the traffic..."(Photo: Comedy Central)

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Alicia Keys - Colbert filled in for Jay Z back in 2009 when Alicia Keys came through to perform "Empire State of Mind." Telling Jigga to fall back because he didn't need a ghostwriter, the comedian hoodied up and dropped a few bars about moving from NY to Connecticut:"I love New York, king of all the cities / Lived up by the Guggenheim ’til I got some kiddies / Moved to Connecticut, bye George Pataki / Drove to the dry cleaners, pickin’ up my khakis /... Still hit the city, Times Square keep it real / Hard Rock Cafe for the appetizer deal / M&M Store, Disney Store, I’m in heaven / I own this top 41st to 47th / Ticket to The Lion King, that show is fantastic / Leave a half an hour early so I can beat the traffic..."(Photo: Comedy Central)

RZA - The RZA made a point to stop by The Colbert Report in 2009 and kick some of his teaching from his book, The Tao of Wu.(Photo: Comedy Central)

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RZA - The RZA made a point to stop by The Colbert Report in 2009 and kick some of his teaching from his book, The Tao of Wu.(Photo: Comedy Central)

John Legend - John Legend spoke a few real truths when he stopped by Colbert in 2010 to discuss his project with The Roots called Wake Up! The "Glory" singer spoke on the importance of making protest songs and how many of today's artists refuse to speak up because they are worried about losing sponsorships and money.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

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John Legend - John Legend spoke a few real truths when he stopped by Colbert in 2010 to discuss his project with The Roots called Wake Up! The "Glory" singer spoke on the importance of making protest songs and how many of today's artists refuse to speak up because they are worried about losing sponsorships and money.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

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Focused - Hancock was in the building during at the San Diego Convention Center this weekend for Comic-Con International 2015, promoting Will Smith's new movie, Suicide Squad.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Will Smith - Will Smith traded laughs when he came by the Comedy Central building in 2008 to promote his film Hancock.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Late Night Laughter - Ice T has a ball laughing it up with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show at Rockefeller Center in New York City.(Photo: Theo Wargo/NBC/Getty Images for "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon")

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Ice T - Ice T kicked game with the hilarious comedian in 2011 when he stopped by to discuss his book Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption From South Central to Hollywood. The jokes rolled during the interview as Colbert questioned Ice about his "thug life" and the hassles he's had trying to get out of a traffic ticket since he recorded "Cop Killer."(Photo: Theo Wargo/NBC/Getty Images for "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon")