HALFTIME SHOW

Rihanna Showed Her Support Of Kendrick Lamar’s Selection For The Super Bowl 2025 Halftime Show, Despite Online Backlash

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Usually this early into the NFL season, diehard football fanatics debate which team will go all the way. Well, this year things are a bit different. Instead of sports fans nearly coming to blows over their favorite franchise, it is the music fans popping off.

Today (September 8), Kendrick Lamar announced that he would perform at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show. While users online, including Lil Wayne’s longtime engineer Fabian Marasciullo, weren’t a fan of his selection, he did receive one notable co-sign. Over on Instagram, Rihanna showed her support of Kendrick Lamar by liking his reveal post (viewable here).

As the record-breaking headliner for Super Bowl 2023, Rihanna knows a thing or two about the football’s biggest stage. Still, users online are not buckling from their stance.

Many pointed about that the coveted show tapped Usher for Super Bowl 2024’s Halftime Show following his groundbreaking dominance in Las Vegas. Since, Super Bowl 2025 in New Orleans, Lil Wayne should’ve been selected for the slot. Back February, during an appearance on YG and Stevie’s 4HUNNID podcast, Lil Wayne made it crystal clear that he would be down if asked. He also expressed how sentimental the moment would be giving that NOLA is his hometown and where his career started by way of the Hot Boys.

Lil Wayne’s Longtime Engineer Is ‘Confused’ By Kendrick Lamar Being Selected As The Super Bowl 2025 Halftime Show’s Featured Performer

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The NFL is officially back. It is next to impossible to predict which franchise will play in the championship game. However, music fans already know what to look forward to for Super Bowl 2025’s Halftime Show in New Orleans.

Today (September 8), Kendrick Lamar announced that he would perform during the highly watched television performance. Initially, users online were excited to read the news. However, other quickly chimed in to express their frustration over hometown hero Lil Wayne being overlooked despite publically entering his bid.

Lil Wayne’s longtime engineer and friend, Fabian Marasciullo took to his Instagram Stories to voiced his displeasure. “Confused,” he wrote. “Disappointed. Angry. But most of all, inspired.”

He went on to seemingly shade Kendrick Lamar, writing: “Will never again be in a position or have the GOAT [Lil Wayne] in a position where we are at the mercy of someone else’s decision. We will make the decisions.”

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Rumors about Super Bowl 2025’s Halftime Show performers have been floating around online for months. At one point, pop stars Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift were supposedly in talks with the NFL to secure the spot. The public now knows that to be seemingly false.

Although Kendrick Lamar is set to take the stage, maybe he will bring Lil Wayne out. They do have a collaborative track (“Mona Lisa”) together, but given Lil Wayne’s close affiliation with Drake users doubt that would happen due to their heated beef on wax this summer alone.

Jay-Z Speaks On Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

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Kendrick Lamar finally popped out again after his Drake battle to announce that he’s hitting up an even bigger stage next year. The hip-hop world is very excited to see what he does for his Super Bowl LIX halftime show in New Orleans on February 9, and if not, they’re morbidly curious. Moreover, Jay-Z issued a statement as the NFL’s entertainment curator, contributing to the many Drizzy fans angry at him for allowing this to happen. Jokes aside, let’s not forget the reason why the sports league brought Hov into the fold in the first place, and how many issues of social justice and the treatment of the Black community in the league are still prevalent and unaddressed.

“Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer,” Jay-Z said of the battle victor who wants “no Round 2s” with Drake. “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.” Here’s Kendrick’s own brief statement on the matter: “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.”

Read More: Wack 100 Thinks Kendrick Lamar Lost Momentum & Interest By Not Dropping An Album Yet

Jay-Z’s Statement On Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

While this is all incredibly exciting, even the biggest Kendrick Lamar Stans on the planet have their reservations about this. As mentioned before, the shadow of the NFL looms large, especially considering that Kendrick omitted his line about police when he performed “Alright” at the 2022 halftime show. Also, many fans think that Lil Wayne was more deserving of this spot since he’s actually from New Orleans. Even his longtime engineer and producer seemed to speak out against the NFL’s decision.

Regardless, we’ll have to wait and see what happens with Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show. It’s going to be a massive moment and will surely be an impressive and compelling affair despite these qualms and debates. Elsewhere, other fans are hoping that his good friend is correct in previewing a possible collaboration with Playboi Carti. But like always, when it comes to Kendrick, we can’t do much more other than be patient and rest assured that it’ll hopefully be something special.

Read More: Dame Dash Trolls Jay-Z Over His “Deep” Pockets Amid Roc-A-Fella Records Drama

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Lil Wayne Fans & Collaborators Express Outrage Over Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl Halftime Show

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So many hip-hop fans are excited for Kendrick Lamar’s recently announced Super Bowl LIX halftime show in New Orleans on February 9, 2025. However, even some of his strongest supporters admit that Jay-Z and the NFL missed out on a massive and more well-deserved opportunity to bring Lil Wayne to the massive stage. Whether it was Young Money goons or people who are typically Drake/Weezy haters, a lot of people discussed this move and made their case for the Cash Money icon. Not only that, but Tunechi’s engineer and producer Fabian Marasciullo took to his Instagram Story on Sunday (September 8) to seemingly react to Kendrick’s announcement.

“Confused. Disappointed. Angry. But most of all. Inspired,” he wrote on IG, which led many to assume that he was talking about the NFL picking Kendrick Lamar instead of Lil Wayne. “Will never again be in a position or have the [goat emoji] in a position where we are at the mercy of someone elses decision. We will make the decisions.” Of course, another element to consider is Wayne’s loyalty to Drake in regards to the Kendrick battle, plus the fact that the Compton lyricist mocked his Toronto rival’s teases toward a “Game 2.”

Read More: Jay Rock & Kendrick Lamar Praise Lil Wayne In “Road To Redemption” Episode 2

Lil Wayne’s Producer Seems To Address Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl

Another argument in Lil Wayne’s favor is that the next two Super Bowls will be in California, so Kendrick Lamar would’ve had his shot. Overall, though, it’s clear that the public’s reaction to all this – no matter where they lean – falls victim to the lack of public knowledge about the business background of all this. But maybe this conversation would all become moot if the pgLang creative brings Weezy out in February. It’s very unlikely when you consider Young Money’s family ties, but Kendrick sticking up for Wayne on “Not Like Us” indicates that he still has a lot of love for him. Check out more takes on this Super Bowl debate down below.

Fans Debate

Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar and Lil Wayne almost collaborated on a Jay Rock song years before Kendrick and the rest of TDE made it to the top of the rap game. Eventually, they linked up on “Mona Lisa” off Tha Carter V. We’ll see if anything else happens soon that will inform or reveal more about this situation. If nothing else, we’re very excited for whatever greatness occurs on February 9… Even if we know that someone else should be taking the headlining spot.

Read More: Lil Wayne Reveals The Real Reason He Doesn’t Perform “Mona Lisa” Featuring Kendrick Lamar

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Kendrick Lamar Responds To Drake In Super Bowl Announcement: “No Round 2s”

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For the umpteenth time in 2024, Kendrick Lamar has stopped the hip-hop world in its tracks. He just announced on Sunday (September 8) that he will be the headlining act at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show in New Orleans on February 9, 2025. In his announcement video, K.Dot even made a cheeky and downright dismissive reference to his victory in the Drake battle that raged on just a few months ago. “You know it’s only one opportunity to win a championship. No round two’s,” he says at one point in the video linked in the post below. This, of course, electrified a lot of fans, whether they are Kendrick fans or not.

Furthermore, this “Round 2” reference is about Drake’s recent IG burner post about “winning Game 2,” which many took as a direct reference to the Kendrick Lamar battle. We don’t know what he actually meant by this, though, as a “Game 2” can mean many different things. Does the 6ix God actually plan on lyrically battling the Compton rapper again or is this more of a symbolic flex about career longevity and commercial success? After all, anyone who truly thought that the OVO mogul’s career would be over after this beef is delusional.

Read More: Kendrick Lamar Scores Yet Another “Not Like Us” Milestone As Drake Tries To “Win Game 2”

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Announcement

With all this feud discourse in mind, you can already imagine the kind of criticisms and praises that Kendrick Lamar and Drake fans are throwing out in reaction to this. When one fan gets excited about Kendrick stomping on Drizzy for the millionth time, another fan thinks that “Not Like Us” is Mr. Syrup Sandwiches’ only big hit. Nevertheless, this adds to some other teases about the former TDE lyricist’s next moves, including a possible future collab with Playboi Carti. Don’t get your hopes up, though: that’s still purely speculative as of writing this article.

Meanwhile, we can’t wait to see what Kendrick Lamar brings to the Super Bowl halftime show next year, especially as this suggests that he might drop something to pair with it. But that wasn’t the case for Rihanna, so let’s not get our hopes up. In any case, this should definitely mitigate some of the lost momentum that some people attributed to his tardiness. Whether or not any of this actually relates back to the Drake battle remains a mystery, as this announcement suggests that The Boy will be yapping to a brick wall if he tries to re-engage.

Read More: Teezo Touchdown’s Response To Being Mentioned On Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Is A Masterclass In Pacifism

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Kendrick Lamar Will Headline 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show

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It goes without saying that it’s been a massive year for Kendrick Lamar. The hitmaker went head-to-head with Drake in what would become one of the most explosive battles hip-hop fans have seen in a while. Of course, this has his supporters more eager than ever to know what his next move will be. Luckily, fans have more of an idea now, thanks to an announcement he just made on Twitter/X.

“Super Bowl LIX. New Orleans,” he wrote simply alongside a YouTube link. The video shows Kendrick positioned in front of a huge American flag, announcing that he’ll be headlining the upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show, which is scheduled for February 9, 2025. “Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date,” he explained. “And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.”

Read More: Kendrick Lamar & Playboi Carti Affiliate Hints At Collaboration

Kendrick Lamar Delivers Exciting News

This won’t be Kendrick’s first Halftime Show, however, as he was a special guest during Dr. Dre’s showcase back in 2022. Either way, fans can’t wait and are sounding off about the exciting news online. The announcement arrives amid the tremendous success of the Compton-born performer’s track, “Not Like Us.” The song has sold over 5 million units in the United States alone, an impressive milestone for being just four months old. It was the second track to do so this year, per Chart Data.

The announcement also comes just as Drake has been teasing the idea of a second round of their viral rap beef. Late last month, the Toronto artist shared a clip of Rasheed Wallace saying “We will win Game 2” on his burner Instagram account, which many took as a hint at what’s to come. What do you think of Kendrick Lamar announcing that he’s heading Super Bowl LIX? Are you surprised or not? Are you looking forward to his performance? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Wack 100 Thinks Kendrick Lamar Lost Momentum & Interest By Not Dropping An Album Yet

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Tony Hale Joked That His Appearance In Beyoncé’s Super Bowl Commercial Earned Him Some ‘Cool Dad’ Points

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Tony Hale has had a mighty successful acting career. In fact, the actor stars in Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2, which is currently showing in theaters. However, none of this has quite impressed Hale’s daughter.

Yesterday (June 14), during an appearance on The Talk, Hale confessed that he found a way to earn some cool points with the help of Beyoncé.

To help kick off the Cowboy Carter rollout, the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer partnered with Verizon, for an internet-breaking Super Bowl LVIII commercial.

When asked by host Sheryl Underwood about keeping the secret from his certified Beyhive member daughter, Hale shared how hard it was. “So [when] I got this gig, I was like, ‘This is so cool,’” he said. “But I had to sign [some paperwork] so I couldn’t say anything. But my daughter had just been to Beyoncé’s [Renaissance] concert. Usually is super bored by what I do. She doesn’t care, and I had that [one thing] and I couldn’t say it. So she had to wait to see it on the Super Bowl.”

He then went on to reveal the exchange they had after the commercial aired. “I was out of town, unfortunately,” he said. “But she texted me and was like, ‘Dad?’ So I texted her an emoji of a bee. And I was like, ‘Yeah. I got it.’”

Watch the full clip below.

Usher Shares Behind The Scenes Documentary On Making Of Super Bowl Halftime Show

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Fans are still talking about Usher’s performance during the Super Bowl earlier this month. He stepped into one of the biggest stages in all of music and unpacked some of the biggest hits of his illustrious career. He also brought numerous high-profile guests along with him including Lil Jon and Ludacris for their hit “Yeah!” and Alicia Keys which resulted in a viral moment of intimacy. But for fans wanting a peak at how the elaborate spectacle came together, a new documentary hit YouTube showing of how the Halftime show was assembled.

The new 10-minute documentary comes from Apple, who sponsored the massive show. The footage is all shot on iPhone and gets fans up close and personal with both the show itself and some of the rehearsals that led up to it. The documentary dropped earlier this week and has already racked up more than 4 million views as fans try and relive the electric performance. Check out the impressive behind-the-scenes footage and watch this year’s Halftime show from a brand new angle below.

Read More: What Is Usher’s Best-Selling Album?

Usher And Apple Drop Super Bowl Documentary

Despite the halftime show crystalizing his image as one of the biggest superstars in all of music, Usher still lamented a decades old snub in a recent interview. He explained that he still feels slighted by his landmark album Confessions failing to win the Album of The Year Grammy. It was part of a stacked category that included Kanye West’s landmark debut The College Dropout, Green Day’s punk-rock epic American Idiot, and Alicia Keys’ The Diary Of Alicia Keys. All of those albums ended up losing to Genius Loves Company, the posthumously released final album from Ray Charles.

One person who wasn’t at the Super Bowl that fans were expecting was Justin Bieber. In another recent interview Usher explained how his appearance fell through but promised that the pair have something else coming soon. What do you think of Usher giving fans a peek at how his Super Bowl Halftime show came together? Where do you think his Halftime show ranks among the best of all time? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Usher’s “Coming Home” Features, Ranked

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Usher Developing TV Series Inspired By His Music

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Usher is developing a television series inspired by his music and is partnering with Universal Content Productions to do so. According to a new report from Variety, the series will focus on “Black love in Atlanta and individuals looking to find a place to call home.” Additionally, it will tackle “music, style, sex, romance, and secrets that threaten to tear relationships apart.”

“My 30-year catalog has resonated with so many people no matter where they were in their lives,” Usher said in a statement. “I’m happy to be working with UCP to bring the music to life. I hope the series resonates with you the way my music continues to.” Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, Katie Zucker, and Kenny Meiselas will serve as executive producers.

Read More: Usher Thanks Fans For Making His Super Bowl Performance The Most Watched Ever

Usher Speaks At Black Music & Entertainment Walk Of Fame

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 14: Usher speaks during the Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame ceremony honoring Usher at Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame on February 14, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Joi Stokes/WireImage)

News of the television show comes after his performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show on Sunday. It secured the second-highest TV audience in U.S. history behind the 1969 moon landing with 123 million viewers. The performance featured many of his biggest hits including “My Boo,” “Caught Up,” “U Don’t Have to Call,” “Superstar,” “Love in this Club,” and more. He also welcomed several guests such as Alicia Keys, H.E.R., and Ludacris, among others. 

In addition to his TV plans, Usher will be embarking on Past Present Future tour, later this year. He’ll be bringing his music to Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago as well as several more cities across the United States. Be on the lookout for further updates on Usher on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Usher Shares Wedding Photos From Marriage To Jennifer Goicoechea

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Usher Gets Huge Streaming Jump On Spotify After Super Bowl Halftime Show

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Usher’s music is getting a huge boost on streaming services following his performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, last Sunday. HipHopDX reports a 550 percent increase in his Spotify streams while four songs in particular moved up 1000 percent. “Caught Up” got the biggest boost with a 2000 percent jump in streams. His Super Bowl Halftime set was the second-highest TV audience in U.S. history behind the 1969 moon landing with 123 million viewers.

On stage he performed many of his biggest hits including “My Boo,” “Caught Up,” “U Don’t Have to Call,” “Superstar,” “Love in this Club,” and more. He also welcomed several guests such as Alicia Keys, H.E.R., and Ludacris, among others.

Read More: Usher Shares Wedding Photos From Marriage To Jennifer Goicoechea

Usher Performs At Super Bowl Halftime Show

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 11: Usher performs onstage during the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

One of the many headline-grabbing moments from the show came when Usher embraced Alicia Keys on stage. Many viewers felt it inappropriate, considering she’s married to Swizz Beatz. Swizz, however, didn’t seem to have an issue with the move and chalked it up to showmanship on Instagram afterward. “Y’all talking about the wrong damn thing !!! y’all don’t see that amazing dress covering the entire stadium,” Swizz wrote. “Tonight’s performance was nothing but amazing with 2 amazing Giants! Congrats @usher and my love @aliciakeys that song is a classic. We don’t do negative vibes on this side we make history. Go see GIANTS at @brooklynmuseum it’s open until July blessings.”

In addition to the Halftime Show, Usher dropped a new album titled Coming Home. Outside of music, Usher has also been winning in his personal life. After his performance at the Super Bowl, he and his partner, Jennifer Goicoechea, rushed off to get married. He shared pictures from the wedding ceremony on Instagram later in the week. Be on the lookout for further updates on Usher on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Swizz Beatz Reacts To Usher & Alicia Keys’ Viral Super Bowl Halftime Show Embrace

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