Kota the Friend to Be Halftime Performer for Brooklyn Nets’ Opening Night: ‘This Feels Like Coming Home’

Kota the Friend has announced that he will be the halftime performer for the Brooklyn Nets opening hometown game at Barclays Center.

In an exclusive with Billboard, Kota revealed on Thursday (Oct. 16) that he will serve as the halftime performer during the Nets opening game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 24.

“Performing at the Brooklyn Nets home opener feels like a full-circle moment,” Kota tells Billboard in a statement. “It’s crazy because I went to high school literally just a few blocks away in one direction, and I grew up just blocks away in the other direction, at a time when I was dreaming big and making music in my room. Being on the Barclays Center court right here in my hometown — that’s what Brooklyn energy is all about.”

While the Nets have always taken pride in elevating local talent and spotlighting artists with direct ties to the borough, Kota’s performance will come as part of a broad strategy this season to celebrate Brooklyn in a massive way. The Nets announced they’re collaborating with the estate of The Notorious B.I.G. on a series of Biggie Nights for this season. The campaign will kick off on Nov. 11 at Barclays Center, with special musical performances handpicked by the estate.

“Being in Brooklyn, Biggie’s influence was everywhere — he made you believe you could make it from right here in Brooklyn,” Kota continues. “I wrote ‘Go Brooklyn’ as an ode to the city that shaped me, and we shot parts of the video around the neighborhood, including outside Barclays. So this feels like coming home in every way.”

Past hometown halftime performers have included other New York hip-hop powerhouse’s such as Saint JHN, Joey Bada$$, Capella Grey, Young M.A., Busta Rhymes, Lil’ Kim, Dave East, Method Man, M.O.P. and Maino.

The halftime performance caps off a stellar year for Kota the Friend, who dropped off his latest album, No Rap On Sunday, back in June, and will wrap up his tour with a hometown Brooklyn performance at Williamsburg Music Hall on Thursday.

Check out the official flyer for his performance below: