Rappers Slam Jay-Z For Choosing Kendrick Lamar Over Lil Wayne For Super Bowl Halftime Show

Nicki Minaj is among the rap stars who have expressed their displeasure after Kendrick Lamar was named as the headliner for the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show instead of Lil Wayne.

It was announced earlier this week that the CONDEMN The artist will perform at the event in New Orleans on February 9, 2024.

Jay-Z, whose Roc Nation company is working with the NFL to select the halftime show performer, said in a statement: “Kendrick Lamar is truly a one-of-a-kind artist and performer.

“His deep love for hip-hop and culture fuels his artistic vision. He has an unmatched ability to define and influence culture on a global scale. Kendrick’s work transcends music and his impact will be felt for years to come.”

However, some artists have apparently criticized Jay-Z for choosing Lamar over New Orleans native Lil Wayne, allegedly because of the mogul’s personal feelings toward the “A Milli” rapper and his associates.

“Denying a young black man what he rightfully invested in this game for no reason other than your ego,” Minaj wrote on X/Twitter on Monday (Sept. 9).

“Your hatred for BIRDMAN, Drake and Nicki made you punish Lil Wayne?!?!!! LIL WAYNE!!!!!!!!! THE GOAT?!!!!!!!!!! Nola what’s up?!!!!!! Eminem stood his ground on 50 Cent’s coming out.”

The “Barbie World” rapper added in a separate post: “And by the way, you don’t know the half of what Lil Wayne has done for me and others. Wayne invited Drake and I on his tour without any signed papers. He was on all my mixtapes without any signed papers.

“This man literally changed the FACE of hip-hop. The hair too. I tell you. He inspired so many people to get face tattoos and pamper themselves. He inspired your faves to want to be a great MC. He was never in it for the money. He was always in it for the love of the music.”

Jay-Z has had a long-running feud with rapper Birdman, who signed Lil Wayne to his record label in 1998.

For his part, Lil Wayne has regularly cited Jay-Z as his favorite rap artist of all time, and admitted he was tempted to sign with him after he completed his first deal with Cash Money Records.

Birdman himself appeared to respond to the controversy by posting “these n***** b****” and tagging Lil Wayne, Minaj and Drake. “I’ma make these n***** respect us (sic).”

“God forbid if Wayne left this earth now, the culture would be in mourning,” Minaj wrote. “That’s why so many people keep saying we need to give our legends flowers while they’re still here to smell them. They sit around all day playing with people’s lives and legacies. God doesn’t sleep.”

Defending herself against Lamar fans, she added: “You can love and respect Kendrick and still love and respect Wayne. Even Kendrick loves and respects Wayne. All real rappers love and respect Wayne.”

Elsewhere, rapper Cam’ron appeared to call out Jay-Z for snubbing Lil Wayne at the Super Bowl.

“Listen, I love Kendrick Lamar… he’s one of the best artists of this generation, period,” he said on Monday’s episode of his podcast with Mase.

“I hate the (Super Bowl) selection. It’s in New Orleans, you don’t have Lil Wayne? That’s what we do? You don’t have Lil Wayne in New Orleans for the Super Bowl?”

He continued: “There’s no reason why Lil Wayne shouldn’t perform at the Super Bowl. There’s one person who’s stopping that, you know, it’s not really a secret.

“Lil Wayne had a problem with someone who’s part of the organization that manages him. This is payback. Who’s Lil Wayne’s artist? Drake. This is crazy, man. This is ridiculous.”

He stressed: “The fact that Lil Wayne is not performing in New Orleans for the Super Bowl is outrageous and it has to stop.”

Lamar and Drake have been feuding since at least 2014, but that feud escalated this year and led to a series of diss tracks being exchanged between the two.

Many fans interpreted a remark Lamar made when announcing his performance as a subtle dig at Drake.

In a clip shared on his Instagram, he can be seen standing on a football field in front of an American flag as he shoots footballs with an automatic passing machine.

“My name is Kendrick Lamar and I’m going to perform at Super Bowl LIX,” he says in the video. “Are you coming? I hope so. You know this is only one shot at a championship. No runoffs.”

“I don’t want you to miss this. Meet me in New Orleans on February 9, 2025,” he adds. “Wear your best dress, too, even if you’re watching this from home.”

Some fans believe the “no second round” comment is a reference to their recent run of diss tracks, with Lamar emerging triumphant after his hit “Not Like Us.”

In a separate statement announcing the halftime show, Lamar added: “Rap music is still the most impactful genre of music to date,” he said. “And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They found the right one.”

The Independent has reached out to representatives for Jay-Z and the NFL for comment.