On Monday, the NFL, Apple Music, and Jay-Z's Roc Nation announced that Kendrick Lamar will be headlining the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome.
It goes without saying that Kendrick — who was the first hip-hop artist to be awarded a Pulitzer for his album DAMN. — is one of the greatest and most influential rappers of our time.
Jay-Z, who is the co-producer of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, purportedly said in a statement, “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.”
Kendrick hasn’t released a studio album since 2022’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, although he’s dropped several diss tracks this year amid his public feud with Drake. Most recently (and most memorably), Kendrick released “Not Like Us,” which was widely dubbed the song of the summer.
However, the news that Kendrick, who is Californian, is headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show has sparked some controversy online, with several fans and fellow artists suggesting that hip-hop legend Lil Wayne — who is from New Orleans — should’ve been chosen instead.
For what it’s worth, the Super Bowl has rarely featured artists from the city it's held in to perform at the Halftime Show.
Many have blamed Jay-Z* for the decision, accusing him of purposefully snubbing Wayne due to their past beef.
*While Jay-Z certainly influences the decision, it’s reportedly down to the Super Bowl’s hosting city to decide who headlines the Halftime Show.
Wayne and Jay-Z have hit out at each other over the years, although they seemingly squashed their beef in 2015.
However, things got particularly messy when Nicki Minaj seemingly suggested that Jay-Z’s longtime “hatred” for rapper Birdman — who signed Wayne to his label in 1998, a decade before stating that Wayne was a better rapper than Jay-Z — influenced his decision to choose Kendrick as the halftime headliner.
As you're probably aware, Nicki and Wayne have been close for decades. They were both YMCMB artists, along with Drake and others, and have collaborated numerous times over the years.
“And btw, you don’t know the half of what lil Wayne has done for me & others. Wayne had drake & I on his tour w/no papers signed. He was on all of my mixtapes w/no papers signed,” she continued.
“God forbid if Wayne was to leave this earth right now, the culture would be in mourning. That’s why so many ppl keep saying to give our legends their flowers while they are still around to smell them. Sitting around all day playing games with ppl life & legacy,” Nicki wrote.
Nicki also appeared to reference Jay-Z’s controversial decision to partner with the NFL shortly after the league was scrutinized for its treatment of former 49ers player Colin Kaepernick, who famously began taking a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality and injustice. Roc Nation’s decision to partner with the NFL so soon afterwards was deemed a betrayal of Colin by some. However, according to the Washington Post, Jay-Z said the partnership would help the NFL build on its social justice initiatives.
Several other artists — like Master P and Boosie Badazz — also publicly condemned the NFL’s decision to have Kendrick perform at the Halftime Show.
