Kendrick Lamar kicked off the 48th season of Saturday Night Live. Host Miles Teller introduced the rap superstar, who would perform three tracks from his critically-acclaimed fifth album Mr. Morale And The Big Steppers on Saturday (October 1).

Kendrick opened with “Rich Spirit," with the show's set shifting midway through to K. Dot’s shadow, projected on the background wall, began to move on its own. He then launched into an animated performance of "N95."

“Lil L Got His Passport Yall,” “4 Peez Kee Riches,” “The Homie Jason Keaton Wrote Two Books In Prison The Edges [And] Envy In The Eyes” and “Yea We Still Playing Industry Politics" were among some of the messages scrawled on the set walls. And Kendrick paid homage to Kee Riches, a Los Angeles native and rapper, who was killed last week in Compton.

Jason Keaton is also a Compton native, the author who Kendrick has referenced often in his music in the past.