2025 Halftime Show Controversy
After it was announced that Kendrick Lamar would headline the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans on February 9, fans online immediately voiced strong opinions about the decision.[1]
Though Kendrick had a major year after his highly publicized beef with Drake, many still believed that New Orleans native Lil Wayne should have been the NFL’s top choice due to being credited with helping put the city on the cultural map.[2]
Read on to explore Wayne’s emotional reaction, Kendrick’s response, and the supporters advocating for Wayne’s recognition.
Lil Wayne Shares Emotional Reaction to Super Bowl Snub
On September 13, 2024, Lil Wayne posted a reaction video on his Instagram in response to not being chosen as the Super Bowl performer.[3] He admitted to his millions of followers that the decision “broke” him.
“First of all, I wanna say forgive me for the delay,” Wayne said. “I had to get strength enough to do this without breaking.”[4]
“That hurt, it hurt a lot,” he added. “I thought there was nothing better that spot, on that stage, on that platform.”[5]
The rapper criticized himself for his emotional reaction to the NFL’s decision.
“I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown and for automatically mentally putting myself in that position like somebody told me that was my position,” he said.[6]
“But my God, have you all helped me. Thanks to all of my peers, my friends, my family, my homies on the sports television and everybody repping me. I really appreciate that, I really do.”
Though he said he felt like he had let his fans “down by not getting that opportunity,” the rapper noted that he was now “working” on himself.[7] [8]
Lil Wayne’s Hometown Super Bowl Dream Goes Viral
Earlier in 2024, Weezy F Baby made it known that he hoped to take the Super Bowl stage in his hometown.
“We all praying. We keeping our fingers crossed. I’m working hard. I’m going to make sure this next album and everything I do is killer, so I’m going to make it very hard for them to… I want to just make it hard for them not to highlight the boy,” Wayne stated on YG’s 4HUNNID podcast.[9]
Following the NFL’s announcement that Kendrick Lamar would be taking the coveted headliner spot, clips of Lil Wayne expressing his desire to perform at the landmark event went viral.[10]
Kendrick Lamar’s Response to Wayne
After it was announced Kendrick would be hitting the Super Bowl stage as headliner, he issued a statement on September 8 in the NFL’s announcement.[11]
“Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one,” Lamar stated.[12]
On Nov. 22, 2024, the Compton rapper dropped a surprise album titled GNX and addressed the Wayne controversy on opener, “wacced out murals.”[13]
He delivers the lines: “Used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud / Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down / Whatever though, call me crazy, everybody questionable / Turn me to an esk—, I drew the line and decimals.”[14]
Kung Fu Kenny also expressed he got little support after the Super Bowl halftime show announcement.
“Won the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulated me / All these n—– agitated, I’m just glad they showin’ they faces,” he rapped.[15]
Nicki Minaj and Master P Rally for Lil Wayne’s Recognition
Though fans were divided on Kendrick headlining the Super Bowl, former Wayne protege Nicki Minaj and fellow New Orleans rapper Master P spoke out about Lil Wayne not being selected as the halftime performer in his hometown.[16]
“You can love & respect Kendrick and still love & respect Wayne,” Nicki wrote on X. “Even Kendrick loves & respects Wayne. Every real rapper loves & respects Wayne.”[17]
Master P acknowledged that K.Dot was “one of the hottest music artists in the world” via Instagram, but insisted that Lil’ Wayne “should be a part of this celebration as well.”[18]
“He’s one of the greatest Hop Hop artists alive, still relevant and he’s a New Orleans native,” he explained, adding, “We have to give our legends their flowers while they are here.”[19]
[3] https://www.instagram.com/p/C_2Q9TMx4S_/
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9]https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/841209-lil-wayne-voices-desire-play-super-bowl-halftime-show-resurfaced-clip-hip-hop-news
[10] https://x.com/KollegeKidd/status/1833147502025138512
[11] https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kendrick-lamar-super-bowl-halftime-show-2025-headliner-best-fan-reactions-1235769749/
[12] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/kendrick-lamar-headline-2025-apple-music-super-bowl-lix-halftime-show-1235995076/
[13]https://www.blackenterprise.com/kendrick-lamar-gnx-album/
[14] https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-wacced-out-murals-lyricshttps://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-wacced-out-murals-lyrics
[15]Ibid.
[16] https://www.today.com/popculture/music/super-bowl-halftime-show-2024-controversary-explained-rcna171049
[17] Ibid.
[18] Ibid.
[19] Ibid.
