The biggest strength of Flau’jae Johnson’s game? Her vision, on the court and in the studio.
The 2023 NCAA Champion, LSU guard, and rising rap star saw how nurturing her two passions – music and hoops – could help her pave her own path to success from an early age. She was spitting lines as young as age seven, performing in clubs around Savannah, Georgia and entering massively popular TV competitions like America’s Got Talent while practicing in the paint, developing her skills to catch the attention of Coach Kim Mulkey at the beginning of her high school career. In everything she does, on the stage and in the arena, there’s a strategy, a playbook, a game plan to reach the next level.
Just ask Lil Wayne.
In a new episode of UPROXX’s Beyond The Game, host Jeremy Hecht sat down with Johnson to chat about her meteoric rise in the worlds of music and sports and the smart strategic moves she has made along the way.
After giving WNBA legend Sue Bird a shout-out for introducing the Young Money mogul to her music during an interview on her ESPN talk show, Johnson mapped out how she seized her moment, initially connecting with Wayne on social before showing off her lyricism to one of his beats on a Sway In The Morning freestyle. The viral posts, the song selection, her choice of fit (a Tha Carter IV tee) – it was a play Mulkey herself might’ve drawn up, and it scored her a collab with the hip-hop icon.
“I had it all planned out,” Johnson tells Hecht in the video above. “This is going to go viral, he’s going to see it, and that’s what happened. It was all strategy. I gotta inspire him to want to do it.”
That hustle mentality is something Johnson was born with. The daughter of the late Camouflage, a promising young rapper from Savannah who died before his daughter was born, Johnson has always been determined to make her mark. She gained a following at an early age thanks to her reality competition appearances, working with Jermaine Dupree on a talent series that got her industry attention, but when music seemed to stall and basketball courted her, Johnson’s circle never let her give up on her initial dream. She credits her family – her mom, grandmother, and siblings – for believing in her multihyphenate abilities, and herself for making the choice to be more. More than just a rapper. More than just a basketball player. But instead, a cross-cultural icon-in-the-making.
“The price of regret is worse than the pain of getting it done right now,” Johnson told Hecht of the mentality she’s adopted to juggle the demanding schedules of collegiate ball and on-the-rise artist, adding she’s often guided by a simple question, “Are you going to be great today or are you going to be mediocre?”
That word doesn’t seem to fit all the young star has accomplished so far, from SEC titles and NCAA trophies to collaborations with Wayne and Wyclef Jean who’s dubbed their partnership in the booth as, “like Shaq and Kobe.” It certainly doesn’t describe Johnson’s no-holds-barred chat with Hecht where she recounts her unlikely beginnings as a rapper and ball player, her reality TV run, her fearlessness and setbacks, the artists she admires, and the songs that get her hype.
Nothing is off the table, in the episode and in terms of Johnson’s potential.
Everyone is talking about the decision to select Kendrick Lamar over Lil Wayne for this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show. Overall, an overwhelming number of people are team Weezy in this ongoing debate, and we can see why. Obviously, Kendrick is a great pick, but the Hot Boys member has just as many if not more classics. While you can argue his performing chops aren’t what they used to be, seeing him rock one of the biggest stages in the world, especially in his home state of Louisiana, would be a sight to see. Just imagine Lil Wayne going setting the field ablaze with “A Milli”.
All of this back-and-forth online has us daydreaming about this very possibility. The cultural impact and the iconic performance from Wayne on this Carter III single would “feed families” as the kids say nowadays. However, we are still holding out hope that Kendrick will bring out one of his biggest influences for a special guest performance. Not only would that be a viral story, but it would be another W for the culture of hip-hop, much like the halftime performance back in Inglewood a few years ago. For now, just picture what it would be it like to her Lil Wayne’s “A Milli” and tell us how happy it would make you feel in the comments below.
Through the pencil, and leak on the sheet of the tablet in my mind ‘Cause I don’t write s***, ’cause I ain’t got time ‘Cause my seconds, minutes, hours go to the almighty dollar And the almighty power of that ch-cha-cha-cha-chopper Sister, brother, son, daughter, father; mother-f*** a copper Got the Maserati dancin’ on the bridge, p***y poppin’
Stephen A Smith and Nicki Minaj are world class trash talkers. They have build their personas on being combative, and speaking their mind when nobody else will. Or, sometimes, when nobody else asked. Such was the cast on September 9, when Nicki Minaj unleashed on JAY-Z and Roc Nation for what she felt was a slight against her Young Money mentor, Lil Wayne. Minaj felt like Weezy should have headlined the upcoming Halftime Show at the Super Bowl, but Roc Nation went with Kendrick Lamar. Stephen A Smith did not appreciate Minaj’s public tantrum.
Smith addressed Nicki Minaj directly during the September 11 episode of his podcast. He started out cordially, as one has come to expect from an SAS rant. He assured Minaj and the viewers that he had respect for her, and the things she’s managed to achieve. The analyst didn’t, however, respect Minaj’s decision to castigate JAY-Z. “Every time we turn around it’s something, Nicki,” he stated. “You disagree with the decision… but you have to talk to a brother like that?” Stephen A Smith is referring to the Nicki Minaj tweet in which she claimed that JAY-Z favors money over the culture that helped make him rich.
Stephen A Smith Felt Minaj’s Comments Were Selfish
Stephen a smith goes off on the queen Nicki Minaj after her tweets she called jay z a sell out after he snubbed lil Wayne for Kendrick Lamar for the Super Bowl pic.twitter.com/eeZw42Q3Id
Stephen A Smith also took time out from bashing Minaj to give JAY-Z his flowers. He pointed out that Hov has been instrumental in getting more R&B and hip hop artists on the Halftime Show stage since Roc Nation got involved with the NFL in 2019. “Do you know how hard it is,” Smith asked. “For a Black man to pull of what JAY-Z has pulled off?” He supported his case by mentioning the kinds of acts who played the Super Bowl prior to Roc Nation. The Who and Coldplay have probably never been said with more disdain.
Smith got a bit off topic, but he brought it back to his main point. He believes that Nicki Minaj is being unappreciative for what JAY-Z has accomplished for the culture as a whole. He also feels like Minaj is simply using the controversy as a means of drumming up free publicity for herself. In case the point wasn’t clear, Stephen A Smith ran down a list of the celebrities that Minaj has had beef with over the years. “It ain’t about you as an individual, it’s about us,” he asserted. “All of us, as Black people.”
Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar is embarking on yet another milestone as the first solo rapper to headline the Super Bowl LIX Halftime show for Apple Music. The announcement arrived last weekend in a commanding video showing Lamar in front of a large American flag. Of course, this isn’t the first time K.Dot has taken to the Halftime stage, as he previously joined the ranks of Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Snoop Dogg back in 2022. For fans, the powers that be made the perfect pick for the February 9, Black History Month performance. However, with the big game being hosted in New Orleans, the report of Lamar being chosen over hometown hero Lil Wayne ruffled a few feathers.
“Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date,” Lamar stated in a press release. “And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.” It’s a confident statement coming from an artist whose career only continues to rise. The rapper has had a monumental 2024 with the “Not Like Us” Drake diss takeover that rocked the boat of Drizzy’s career. The Pop-Out concert in Lamar’s L.A. stomping grounds broke records and became the talk of the internet for weeks. Additionally, with 17 Grammys under his belt and respect as a culturally conscious rapper who sold out his The Big Steppers Tour, one would think that choosing him for the Super Bowl would make sense. Yet, Young Money came out on social media swinging with allegations that Weezy F. Baby was snubbed.
Do Hometown Artists Deserve Priority?
A quick look at the list of Super Bowl Halftime performances will show you that, more often than not, the artist isn’t from the hosted city. Sure, Dr. Dre was able to coordinate a tribute to his career at Super Bowl LVI in L.A., but that isn’t consistent in its history. It is true that Lil Wayne helped put Lousiana Rap on the map, carving out one of the most successful Hip Hop careers to date. His Tha Carter series have been hailed as untouchable classics, with millions of units moved, and one can’t forget his 27 Grammy nominations and five wins. However, there didn’t seem to be the same uproar in 2019, when Maroon 5 headlined Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, leaving local Hip Hop artists in the dust.
Can we wrap this Jay-Z Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar Debate up by midnight.
It’s been 58 mf Super Bowl performances and like 2 of them were in their home towns.
“Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer,” said Jay-Z. Five years ago, Roc Nation and Hov partnered with the NFL to enhance their social justice efforts and live experiences. For many, this means that Jay-Z has been calling the Halftime shots. “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.” It may be a sentiment that New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell aggrees with, considering she was born and raised in Los Angeles, herself.
The Young Money Meltdown
Denying a young black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego. Your hatred for BIRDMAN, Drake & Nicki got you punishing Lil Wayne?!?!!! LIL WAYNE!!!!!!!!!! THE GOAT?!!!!!!!!!!! Nola what’s good?!!!!!! Eminem stood firm on having 50Cent come out.…
It didn’t take long after Kendrick Lamar’s news was shared that Hip Hop fans stormed social media with hot takes. Lil Wayne’s admirers swiftly defended the rapper and accused Jay-Z and Roc Nation of foiling his Nola Halftime opportunity. Then, Birdman chimed in with a message on X. “These n-ggaz Pussi @NICKIMINAJ @Drake @LilTunechi YMCMB. I’m make these n-ggaz respek us on Gladys.” He followed up with, “Hatin sh*t 4real.” It’s clear that he believes Wayne was pushed out of the running by nefarious higher-ups, and Nicki Minaj echoed those points of view in a lengthy rant of her own.
“Denying a young black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego,” The Pink Friday icon wrote. “Your hatred for BIRDMAN, Drake & Nicki got you punishing Lil Wayne?!?!!! LIL WAYNE!!!!!!!!!! THE GOAT?!!!!!!!!!!! Nola what’s good?!!!!!! Eminem stood firm on having 50Cent come out.” Amplifying her position, Minaj also referenced Colin Kaepernick, stating, “One n*gga took a knee The other n*gga took the bag. He gon get you ‘n*ggers’ in line every fkng time.” She also seemed to target Hov or Roc Nation by calling them “spiteful and evil.” It was a tirade that was shared near and far.
Amid fans pointing out Weezy’s Rap GOAT status, his peers surfaced with support, as well. Master P is an icon from The Big Easy, and while he gave Lamar a “salute,” he suggested that Lil Wayne be a part of the Halftime show, too. “Well deserved, he’s one of the hottest music artists in the world and has one of the biggest songs right now,” Percy Miller said of Kendrick. “As Ambassador of Entertainment in the City of New Orleans I have to agree with the fans that @liltunechi #LilWayne should be a part of this celebration as well.” He added, “He’s one of the greatest Hop Hop artists alive, still relevant and he’s a New Orleans native. Let’s not miss this cultural moment in the South. Life is too short! We have to give our legends their flowers while they are here.” Social media users have debated the concept of Wayne’s recent relevance as opposed to his overall status in Hip Hop. The arguments have become heated as Hip Hop heads go toe-to-toe.
P wasn’t the only Louisiana artist to speak up. Boosie Badazz worked his caps lock button overtime when expressing his disdain for Lamar’s choosing. He used the hashtag “#idontrespectit” and pointed out that the Los Angeles Super Bowl’s Halftime show featured prominent artists from the city. “ALL YALL ACTING LIKE YALL COOL WITH HOW THEY PLAYING IT FOR THE SUPERBOWL SMH THE MOST CULTURAL CITY N THE USA( NEW ORLÉANS)ITS A SMACK N THE FACE TO EVERY HIP HOP LEGEND FROM LOUISIANA @MasterPMiller @BIRDMAN5STAR.” Juvenile also has a thing or two to say, even calling out NFL executives for exploiting the city without including the artists.
“I don’t see how the f*ck y’all don’t have Lil Wayne doing the halftime show,” the “Back That Azz Up” hitmaker said in a video. “Somebody that has a whole bunch of f*cking hits and somebody that really deserves it and somebody that can bring out multiple artists of all genres. Think about it.” Others like Cam’ron and Hurricane Chris have also expressed the necessity of Wayne’s inclusion.
Kendrick Vs. Wayne’s Live Performances Questioned
It’s unclear at this stage what Kendrick Lamar and Co. have in store for what is shaping to be another epoch-making moment for Hip Hop. Lamar’s live performances have been artistic, cultural staples with symbolism that causes millions to dissect the historical significances. We watched this unfold for months as every lyric of “Not Like Us” was analyzed, from podcasts to tweets to TikToks and more mainstream media. When we received the accompanying music video, it further pushed those discussions.
This point is currently being debated as people share comparisons of Kendrick’s live shows to what Wayne has to offer. The latter is dynamic as he brings favorites to the stage, hyping the crowd from beginning to end with songs imprinted in our minds and Hip Hop culture. Still, some have argued that as a headliner at the Halftime show, it wouldn’t have the same impact. While the call for some sort of Young Money reunion at the next Super Bowl rages, attendees of this year’s Essence Festival pointed out that something of the kind has already taken place. Essence Fest was hosted in New Orleans and featured a Hot Boys reunion involving Wayne, Birdman, Juvenile, B.G., and Mannie Fresh. It went off with a bang, but Kendrick Lamar’s defenders contest that Dot would highlight more of a conscious, cultural space that is needed in today’s climate. Fans also surfaced online with allegations that Wayne forgets his lyrics while performing; some saw that as a risk.
Kendrick is definitely bringing out Wayne, but why do you think wayne could do a 15 min high energy performance ?!?!?!? He’s on heavy drugs and can barely remember his words to songs
For the most part, Lil Wayne keeps himself away from the hustle and bustle of internet shenanigans. It hasn’t kept his name off of trending topics lists, obviously, but there was a moment during a 2016 interview with ABC News’ Nightline, he made eyebrow-raising statements about the Black Lives Matter movement. He was asked his thoughts on the topic, and Weezy questioned what it even was. He said the concept of BLM “just sounds weird,” and became increasingly agitated as the line of questioning continued. Even T.I. came forward to speak out against Wayne’s remarks.
“I don’t know, that you put a name on such a — that’s what it was. It’s not a name; it’s not whatever, whatever,” Lil Wayne said. “It’s somebody got shot by a policeman for a f*cked up reason. I am a young, Black, rich n*gga. If that don’t let you know that America understand Black n*ggas matter these days, I don’t what it is.” He added, “I don’t know what you mean. Now, don’t come at me with that.” Elsewhere, “I don’t think I got to express this, but it’s who you are. You get treated accordingly. I don’t know nothing about that, what they’re talking about. I’m rich ass n*gga. Man, don’t get mad ’cause I’m rich and I don’t see none of that.” He then called himself a “gangbanger” as he continued to dismiss and distance himself from the movement.
This alone wouldn’t cut someone off from being a Halftime performer. However, with Roc Nation at the helm wanting to highlight social justice efforts in the NFL to recover from the league’s ongoing allegations of racism and lack of BLM support, one can only imagine if comments such as these may thwart those efforts. Further, Lil Wayne’s pardon from former President Donald Trump and his rumored support for the 2024 candidate has also made Wayne a target. Yet, being a Hip Hop MAGA supporter in and of itself also wouldn’t keep him from the Halftime stage. Who knows, we could get a Wayne or Young Money appearance in some way at next year’s Super Bowl. Whether or not that materializes remains to be seen, but Drake is probably somewhere bracing himself for the next “Not Like Us” season, this time, with an estimated 20 million people tuned in. It’ll be a doozy, no matter who Kendrick Lamar decides to share his spotlight with—but the BeyHive is hoping for a performance of “Freedom” with Beyoncé.
The “First Person Shooter” rapper showed his support for Lil Wayne by sharing five photos of his mentor to an Instagram Story on Tuesday night, a likely reference to the controversy over the Louisiana native not being selected for the New Orleans-set game. (Nicki Minaj has a lot of thoughts.) Instead, the honor went to Lamar, who will likely perform Drake diss track “Not Like Us” for an audience of 125 million people and countless owls.
Earlier this year, Lil Wayne expressed his desire to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. “I will not lie to you, I have not got a call,” he said on YG’s 4HUNNID podcast. “But 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 make it very hard for them to… I want to just make it hard for them not to highlight the boy.”
Considering how well the New Orleans Saints played during a week 1 win against Carolina, maybe the Derek Carr-led team will make it to the Super Bowl and invite Lil Wayne to perform the National Anthem. Dream big!
Drake has said plenty in 2024. The rapper fired back at basically every big rapper in the industry on his wave of diss tracks. Since then knockout punch that was Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” though, Drake has opted for a different approach. He’s become an Instagram guy. He resorted to posting photos and messages that suggest what he’s feeling without coming out and saying. This has been evident in the wake of the Kendrick Lamar battle. It’s also been evident since the whole Super Bowl Halftime Show fiasco hit the internet.
Roc Nation announced that Lamar would be headlining the Halftime Show in New Orleans in 2025. The hip hop community was mad. Dozens of industry insiders came out and claimed that Lil Wayne should have been given the opportunity to perform in front of his hometown. Drake seemingly agrees. The day the Lamar news hit, Drake posted a photo of the Young Money crew on his Instagram Story. A day later, the 6 God doubled down and dropped two additional photos of Lil Wayne. Neither photo had a caption, but they featured prime Weezy circa Tha Carter III.
The second photo, in particular, looks to be taken from the music video for Wayne’s iconic “A Milli.” Drake has always made it clear that Wayne changed his life and career for the better. It is worth noting, though, that the rapper has multiple reasons for wanting to champion a Weezy Halftime Show. For one, Lil Wayne leading a Halftime Show would likely mean guest appearances from the likes of Nicki Minaj and Drake. It would be a major moment for the trio, who have taken some pretty high profile L’s over the last few years.
Drake feeding into the Lil Wayne narrative also vilifies the man who is actually headlining the Halftime Show. Kendrick Lamar has been the golden boy of hip hop throughout 2024, because Drake is an easy person to hate. He’s been on top for too long. Pitting Lamar against Wayne is a different story, though. Weezy is respected across the board, and Lamar has even cited him as one of his main influences. It’ll be interesting to see how Drake interacts with this developing controversy as the Super Bowl gets closer.
It’s really Young Money versus the rest in 2024. Drake had to take on the whole industry by himself during the first half of the year. Now, the heat has shifted to Nicki Minaj. The rapper went absolutely ballistic on JAY-Z after it was revealed that Kendrick Lamar would be playing the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2005. Minaj felt like her label boss, Lil Wayne should have the chance to headline given that he’s from New Orleans. She had plenty to say on the matter, and it looks like Drake agrees.
Nicki Minaj went on a multi-tweet rant on September 9. She called out JAY-Z for prioritizing money over culture, and waxed poetic about Lil Wayne’s impact on the game. “You don’t know the half of what Lil Wayne has done for me and others,” she wrote. “Inspired your faves to wanna be a great MC. He never was in this for the money.” The last comment seemed like a pretty blatant dig at JAY-Z, who has always advertised himself as a business, man. DJ Akademiks reposted Nicki Minaj’s tweet on Instagram, and the 6 God himself liked it. We know Drake likes to frequent Ak’s content, but the fact that he liked the post, knowing that fans were going to see it, says a lot.
Drake’s silence on the matter, at least officially, has been interesting. He has spent months dissing every famous rapper who came at him on record. In the past few months, though, he’s taken a less direct and ambiguous approach. Drake has seemingly settled into posting cryptic messages on Instagram. Or, in the case of the Lil Wayne Halftime Show situation, purposely timed throwbacks. Shortly after the Super Bowl headliner was announced, and it wasn’t Wayne, Drake took to his IG Stories. He posted a photo of Weezy and the rest of the Young Money crew circa 2009. No caption, but it wasn’t needed. Fans knew what he was getting at.
Drake’s relationship with Nicki Minaj has been the subject of widespread speculation over the years. They have had their years on the outs, like 2015, but they seem to have reconciled. Drake popped out during Nicki Minaj’s Toronto concert earlier this year. He performed a couple songs with her, then told the crowd that he had to get back to his battle with Lamar (we know how that went). Minaj praised her Young Money brother before he got off stage, though. She dubbed Drake an “icon” and a “legend.”
Fasten your seatbelts and pop a Dramamine, Nicki Minaj has chimed in on the discourse of the day: Why Lil Wayne isn’t headlining Super Bowl LIX’s halftime show. And, in typical Nicki fashion, her rant on Twitter (which we are never going to call “X”) turned out to be a wild ride.
First things first: I think we are all well aware of why Ms. Minaj would take this so personally. Without Wayne, her rap career very probably would have stalled out long before a “Super Bass” or “Starships,” let alone a “Super Freaky Girl” or “Say So” remix. And then, there’s her intriguing, seemingly one-sided feud with Jay-Z, the founder of Roc Nation, which books the Super Bowl halftime show.
But normally, Nicki reserves this level of unhinged for her beefs with other female rappers, like Latto and Megan Thee Stallion, so it’s kind of fascinating to see her go off like this on someone else’s behalf for once. Here’s what she said:
Denying a young black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego. Your hatred for BIRDMAN, Drake & Nicki got you punishing Lil Wayne?!?!!! LIL WAYNE!!!!!!!!!! THE GOAT?!!!!!!!!!!! Nola what’s good?!!!!!! Eminem stood firm on having 50Cent come out. A white man. Sh*t sad. House N***ER TINGZ. but it’s GOOD FI DEM!!!!!!! No loyalty ? Welp. then n****z will keep son’ing you!!!!!
So… There’s a lot to unpack here. Jay-Z and Roc Nation did sign their deal with the NFL to be the official music partner for the Super Bowl after Colin Kaepernick’s controversial anthem protests. This was something that rightly rubbed a lot of hip-hop fans the wrong way, suggesting that Jay valued the money and platform much more than pursuing meaningful social change. Now, he did secure financial commitments from the NFL for social justice programs, but as with any incremental change, that’s never going to be quite enough for the “burn it all down” crowd.
But to suggest that Lil Wayne is somehow a revolutionary or that booking Kendrick Lamar is a sellout move made to appeal to white people is… WOW.
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. God ain’t sleep. Gee Roberson you will learn that, too.
For those who don’t know, Gee Roberson is the co-CEO of Blueprint Group, which has had a hand in managing the careers of several high profile artists, including Young Money’s roster with Drake, Wayne, and Nicki, although they parted ways with Nicki some time ago. However, he cut his teeth at Jay’s Roc-A-Fella Records a decade before; it seems Nicki is suggesting that he prioritized his relationship with Jay over those with his more recent charges. She, again, has a bit of a point about giving legends flowers while they’re still around, something hip-hop still struggles with. That’s not the same thing as booking him to perform the biggest corporate event of the year when he’s repeatedly proven that would be a bit of a bad bet this year alone.
When Nicki received pushback for her initial tweets and also she accused blogs covering the Super Bowl selection of being paid off (her go-to accusation, although I personally have never seen any of that money), she doubled down, railing in a follow-up tweet:
God will punish you. Mark my words.
The man that has not only pushed his pen the hardest, but gave the game more than 1 hip hop ICON as well on his watch? Represent the RAP game?!?!! The best RAPPER don’t represent the RAP GAME well enough 4u? Black ppl. Wow. If this don’t hurt your heart to read, it will one day. Look @ how our legends keep being treated. After they’ve given so much to us. Who are you?!!!! You GOD?!?!!!!! Judgmental swine DELETE!!!!!!! lol you will regret tweeting this. Life is funny that way. Don’t you dare turn your nose up @ Lil Wayne you dick munchin bozo.
She seemingly failed to notice all the tweets pointing out how the Super Bowl halftime show has only been headlined by a local act from the host city four times in the event’s 57-year history, but that’s Nicki for you. She’ll tell you a joke, but she won’t tell you a lie — just be real wrong, real loud, for most of a day.
Could you imagine that? If, instead of the thrilling performance we got in 2023, we got an aging pop-punk band whose peak of popularity came a decade and half before? According to some music and sports fans on social media, that’s exactly what should have happened.
In case you’ve missed the kerfuffle over the upcoming Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show in 2025, here’s a quick recap: Kendrick Lamar is headlining, but some folks are big mad it isn’t Lil Wayne, because the Super Bowl is being held in Wayne’s hometown, New Orleans.
That’s the general idea of the outcry of the past couple of days, but in fact, the discourse has gotten… shall we say, a little more salty than the subject warrants — and also, a bit unhinged. Cam’ron and Mase are sharing conspiracy theories on their show, Nicki Minaj is crashing out on Twitter, Boosie is involved… it’s kind of a lot.
Especially when you consider one simple fact that none of these people appear to be considering: The Super Bowl has only had a hometown act as the headliner a handful of times in the whole history of the Super Bowl Halftime Show. There is no tradition being stepped on here; hometown acts don’t headline the Super Bowl.
Hell, hometown teams rarely even play in the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl Halftime Show has never been the hometown celebration people are trying to make it out to be online. And if it was, there are artists from New Orleans that would be a far safer bet for the NFL.
Leaving aside Lil Wayne’s wild card status — he’s known for frequent show cancelations, sometimes right in the middle of a performance, while other times delivering some half-hearted renditions of fan faves and even admitting that he forgets his own lyrics — someone like Jon Batiste, a native of Metairie, Louisiana, would be a far more likely choice.
He’s got multigenerational appeal, his image and music are as non-threatening and party-ready as it gets, and he’s an Album Of The Year Grammy Award winner, who has composed for Disney, directed the music for late-night TV, and helps curate the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. He’s a showbiz superathlete.
Looking around the league, if hometown performers were actually a tradition, you’d have to go back and rewrite several of the most memorable performances of the last 30 years. Michael Jackson? Not from Los Angeles. Prince? Not from Miami. BEYONCÉ (you have to say it like Tiffany Pollard)??? Not from New Orleans (although her mama from Louisiana).
Even in the past half-decade, you’d have to replace Shakira and Jennifer Lopez with Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine (who previously performed in 1999, one of the only four hometown headliners at the Super Bowl), The Weeknd with Outlaws (basically the only non-metal band on the Tampa music acts Wiki page with any level of mainstream notoriety), Usher with Ne-Yo, and Rihanna with, yes, Jimmy Eat World. No offense to these alternatives, but you get the drift: The stage demands an equal level of popularity and a reliable selection of absolutely massive hits.
And look, we all loved seeing Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg rock out for their hometown crowd in LA in 2022, but keep in mind that these two are 30 years deep in careers that comprise at least three of the most pivotal records in hip-hop’s history, a branding empire encompassing everything from cooking shows with Martha Stewart to on-site Olympics coverage, and more identity changes than Spider-Man in the ’90s.
They also had to bring a slew of fellow stars, from 50 Cent and Eminem to Mary J. Blige and, yes, Kendrick Lamar to expand their show’s appeal past California hip-hop heads in their ’50s. Because, yes, there are stadiums with 50,000 people to entertain, but the Super Bowl is a national event, averaging well over 120 million viewers. Those 50,000 attendees — many of whom aren’t even from the host cities in the first place — are a drop in the bucket compared to all the viewers tuning in at home.
So, yes, the NFL has greater priorities than simply paying homage to host cities’ hometown heroes. The whole reason the halftime show exists in its current form is because someone figured out pop stars keep viewers from changing the channel better than marching bands. So while it’ll be nice if Lil Wayne or Juvenile or Trombone Shorty or Big Freedia pop out during Kendrick’s set, Kendrick is headlining for a whole lot of good reasons — none of which were ever hometown pride.
It’s safe to say that the internet is pretty split on the decision to invite Kendrick Lamar to perform at Super Bowl 59. Drake fans are definitely seething right about now, especially with the potential for him to be dissed on one of the biggest national stages in the world. However, it seems that the majority of the people who disagree with this choice are Lil Wayne fans. With the NFL championship in New Orleans for the third time this century, supporters of his don’t understand the snub.
In just the five days since the reveal, we have seen multiple friends of his speak out against it. Birdman, Weezy’s daughter Reginae Carter, Master P, and and Cam’ron are just a few. Now, you can add fellow Hot Boys member Juvenile to that growing list. According to a repost from The Shade Room, the “Back That Azz Up” songwriter took to social media to share his passionate thoughts.
Instead of calling out JAY-Z and Roc Nation, Juvenile takes aim at the NFL and its controversial commissioner, Roger Goodell. “My hatred is toward the NFL”, he begins. “I feel like y’all should step in. Y’all have yet to put a hip-hop artist from New Orleans on the damn Super Bowl. I feel like every time y’all come here y’all should have someone from our city on it”. He continues, “But this time it hard when you don’t have Lil Wayne… I don’t see how the f*** y’all don’t have Lil Wayne doin’ the Halftime Show. Somebody that has a whole bunch of f***ing hits, and somebody that really deserves it, and somebody that can bring out multiple artists of all genres”. Juvenile signs off with a warning, saying, “So this goes out to you Roger Goodell. You comin’ into our city, suckin’ up our culture, and makin’ up all of this money… and leavin’ us dry… Gotta stop”.
What are your thoughts on Juvenile’s rant on the NFL being the one to blame for Lil Wayne’s Super Bowl snub? Do you think the commissioner will do anything about this? Are people’s frustrations about this decision to have Kendrick Lamar as the performer valid, why or why not? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Juvenile, Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, and the NFL. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
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