Abhay Singh
More than six days following the announcement of Kendrick Lamar as the featured performer at the Super Bowl Halftime show, Lil Wayne, who hails from New Orleans, shared his feelings of disappointment, acknowledging that not being selected for the prestigious role deeply impacted him emotionally and mentally.
“That hurt, it hurt a lot,”
In a statement on Instagram, Wayne said “That hurt, it hurt a lot, I thought there was nothing better that spot, on that stage, on that platform.”
“It broke me, but I’m just trying to put myself back together.” He added. Over the years, Wayne had made it clear that he wanted to play the concert. The match is set for February 9 at Caesars Stadium in New Orleans.
Lamar, a Los Angeles native, was confirmed as the headliner for the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show, generating internet debate regarding his decision over Wayne.
Nicki Minaj, Wayne’s protege, was among the first to express his worries. Wayne’s musical legacy began in the 1990s with the Hot Boyz, and despite migrating to Miami, he is still firmly attached to New Orleans.
Lamar’s dominance has only grown as a result of his recent spat with Drake, who was taught by Wayne in his early career. This is notably evident in the Drake-slamming song “Not Like Us,” which is one of the year’s biggest singles.
The NFL and the city of New Orleans were involved in the selection process, but Jay-Z’s Roc Nation firm is in charge of Super Bowl entertainment, which adds even more complexity to the scenario.
Rappers such as Fat Joe and Fabolous have defended Jay after he faced widespread criticism for his involvement in the decision.
“ I wanna say forgive me for the delay,”
Wayne states at the start of the video “First of all, I wanna say forgive me for the delay, I had to get strength enough to do this without breaking. I’ma say thank you to every voice, every opinion, all the care, all the love and support out there. Your words turned to arms and held me up when I tried to fall back.”
He added “[Not being picked] hurt — it hurt a lot, I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown. For just automatically mentally putting myself in that position like someone told me that was my position.”
Wayne and Jay-Z are hip-hop’s senior statesmen, while Lamar and Drake represent the next generation. They do not have a mentorship relationship like Wayne and Drake, but they are close.
Lamar has collaborated with Jay Z’s wife Beyonce, including on her song “Freedom,” which has become an anthem for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. Both rappers joined Beyonce on her 2016 “Lemonade” tour.
During Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime announcement, Jay mentioned Lamar. He said “Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer, His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come.”
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings