super bowl halftime show Archives

Rihanna Doesn’t Understand The ‘Doubt’ Around Kendrick Lamar Headlining The 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show

October 25, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Rihanna Fenty Hair Launch London 2024 (1024x437) — Getty Image

The debate over Kendrick Lamar’s selection as the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show headliner has died down. But is is sure to pick back up closer to the performance’s date in February 2025. For now, the “Not Like Us” rapper’s musician friends are in full support of him.

Yesterday (October 24), Rihanna doubled down on her stance at the Fenty x Puma Avanti launch held at BLT Studios in Los Angeles, California. During a chat with Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier (viewable here), Kendrick’s “Loyalty” collaborator and former Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime performer expanded on her subtle nod when she liked the announcement on Instagram with a full statement.

“GOAT,” she said. “Let’s go. What is there to doubt on that? It’s a diamond on a ring finger, honey; it’s meant to be. It’s Kendrick Lamar.”

While many rap fans felt the slot should’ve gone to Lil Wayne, Rihanna expressed why it was Kendrick’s for the taking.

“Kendrick Lamar is the one that’s supposed to do it right now,” she said. “He’s going to crush it. We should never doubt him. He’s an amazing artist. Top-tier. He had an incredible year. He actually brought so many people together. It’s to be celebrated. That’s what culture is. He deserves it. I can not wait to see it. Kendrick, thank you.”

Rihanna isn’t the only superstar to throw their support behind Kendrick’s upcoming set. Despite the pushback, last month Jay-Z, the show’s curator gave his stamp of approval with a statement.

Jay-Z And The NFL Have Reportedly Extended Their Partnership, So There Are More Jay-Curated Halftime Shows To Come

October 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Jay Z The Book Of Clarence LA Premiere 2024 (1024x437) — Getty Image

Jay-Z has become a major figure in the NFL in recent years, ever since he took the reigns on deciding who performs at the Super Bowl Halftime Shows. The NFL is apparently pleased with how this professional relationship has worked out, as Jay and the league have reportedly agreed to extend their deal. This is according to a new Bloomberg report (as XXL notes).

The the NFL owners meeting in Atlanta on October 15, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said, “It’s been a mutually positive relationship. I’m not sure either one of us really spend much time talking about contracts. Jay is happy. [Roc Nation CEO] Desiree Perez is happy. I’m happy, so we’re all good.”

It’s not currently clear how much the new deal is worth. Per ESPN, though, the original deal was worth $25 million over five years.

Kendrick Lamar is set to headline the 2024 halftime show, and Jay said of that pick, “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.”

Fat Joe recently gave Jay flowers for his work on the halftime shows, saying, “If he wasn’t doing shows, it’d be no hip-hop.”

Mustard Predicts Whether Kendrick Lamar Will Bring Him Out For “Not Like Us” At Super Bowl

October 11, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Like all of us, Mustard seems to not have a clue what’s going to happen at Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show performance. However, even though he apparently hasn’t gotten the call from K.Dot to come out for “Not Like Us” – if he even performs that track – he’s still very excited for the show. The producer recently spoke with Billboard in an interview published Wednesday (October 9) about the upcoming headline event and whether or not he’ll be a part of it. Fortunately, he didn’t really spill a lot of secrets, as he was more focused on his excitement to just witness the spectacle like the rest of us.

“I definitely can’t wait to watch the Super Bowl, man,” Mustard remarked of the Kendrick Lamar extravaganza coming next year in New Orleans. “Can’t wait. This year’s going to be pretty special. I might shed a tear [if he performs ‘Not Like Us.’] I am grateful for him to perform it on stage. If he performs it on stage by himself and doesn’t call me, I wouldn’t give a s**t. Just perform it.”

Mustard Speaks On Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

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“Don’t get me wrong – call me,” Mustard clarified to Kendrick Lamar via this Billboard interview, indicating that he and his team might still be putting stuff together for the Super Bowl halftime show. “If you want me, I’ll slide. But I’ll be there regardless going crazy, acting like I’m on stage. If I’m in a box, they might show me on TV from how crazy [I’ll be going]. I might stand on a chair. They might show me on the TV like, ‘He’s going berserk!’” Meanwhile, there are a lot of people who would probably react exactly like this, too. After all, it’s one of the biggest hits of the y ear for a reason.

Still, amid all the other Super Bowl halftime show theories, there’s no telling whether or not Kendrick Lamar performs the West Coast banger. If he does, then we hope that Mustard is right there with him to celebrate his latest massive hit. But no matter what’s on the horizon, we can’t wait to see the whole thing for ourselves.

[via]

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Kendrick Lamar Will Reportedly Embark On Stadium Tour After Super Bowl

October 7, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Ever since the Drake battle ended, Kendrick Lamar fans have been wondering if he will stay quiet for a while longer or if he will follow right back up with more material. When he announced his Super Bowl halftime show earlier this year, it was clear that he plans to make a big splash next year, hopefully with a new album to move on from the beef. Moreover, Bloomberg recently reported that K.Dot is apparently planning a 2025 stadium tour after the Super Bowl, which is why he reportedly turned down a headlining slot at next year’s Coachella festival. Of course, this is all just speculative, so take it with a grain of salt.

However, this seems pretty plausible if Kendrick Lamar does plan to release a new album this year or the next. His last trek for Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers was one of the most successful hip-hop tours of all time, so a level-up doesn’t seem out of the question. Right now, the question is timing. But you know how fans are: they will continue their theorizing and speculation until they actually have an announcement or new release in their hands.

Kendrick Lamar Will Supposedly Hit The Stadiums Next Year

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All that said, before Kendrick Lamar embarks on this supposed stadium tour, he will see whether or not he will be up for any Grammys. He submitted three of his Drake diss tracks for consideration at the 2025 awards ceremony: “Like That” with Future and Metro Boomin, “Euphoria,” and “Not Like Us.” Both “Like That” and “Not Like Us” were submitted for Song/Record of the Year and Best Rap Song/Performance, with the latter also being submitted for Best Music Video. For “Euphoria,” on the other hand, we don’t have the info on what categories they submitted it for, but we can assume that it’s for the same ones as the others. Just to be clear, these aren’t official nominations; they’re only tryouts for a nomination, if that makes sense.

Meanwhile, as so many rumors continue to fly around Kendrick Lamar and Drake, many OVO Stans want Kendrick to thank Drizzy for “reviving his career” or whatever else you’ve seen on social media. One of the battle’s biggest consequences is that they will never be able to do anything without the other side holding their grudges…

[via]

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DJ Akademiks Claims Drake Denied Sending Cease And Desist To Kendrick Lamar

October 1, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar is a battle that is technically over. The two rappers went at it, and Lamar was crowned the winner. It was an all time battle, and both rappers came to play. The thing is, things have yet to completely blow over. Both camps have alluded to there being more disses around the corner, and Dot may very well close out his Super Bowl Halftime Show by playing his number one diss, “Not Like Us.” It’s been theorized that Drake send a cease and desist to keep the Compton rapper from doing. But Drake’s biggest fan, DJ Akademiks, is calling cap.

The hip hop personality claimed to have exclusive Drake information during his Monday night stream. He told his followers that the 6 God reached out to him personally regarding the rumor. “According to Drake himself, it’s not true,” Akademiks claimed. The DJ could sense that some followers would call him out for taking Drizzy’s side, but he made it very clear that he got this info on good authority. “Drake himself told me… A cease and desist means you have to send it to the person.” He then goes on to note that Drizzy got a cease and desist from Tupac’s estate for the song “Taylor Made Freestyle,” and can prove that he received it.

Drake Allegedly Challenged K. Dot’s Team To Show Proof

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What Drake and DJ Akademiks posit is that if the former sent a cease and desist to Kendrick Lamar, then Lamar’s team can prove it by making the cease and desist public. The accusations leveled at Drake don’t make any difference without prove that’s very easy to produce. Or at least, should be if the rumor is true. “He tells me, ‘If I sent a cease and desist, tell them people to put it out’,” Akademiks added. As of right now, there’s no evidence to suggest that the Toronto rapper has tried to block the performance of “Not Like Us” at the Halftime Show. It hasn’t even been confirmed that Lamar will perform the song.

Despite being months away, the Halftime Show has already generated tons of industry rumors. Fivio Foreign hopped on social media and claimed that Kendrick Lamar was actually going to use the Super Bowl to squash the Drake beef. He claimed that the Compton rapper would bring out hometown hero Lil Wayne, who would then bring out Drizzy. Foreign didn’t provide any evidence or sources. Given that both rappers still appear to be at each other’s throats, we think the chances of seeing this happen are slim to none.

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Orlando Brown Mocks Lil Wayne While Addressing Super Bowl Halftime Show Controversy

September 28, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Everybody has a hot take of their own about the Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl halftime show debate. However, no matter what choice you would’ve made if you were in charge of the selection process, we can all agree that we don’t need to disrespect either artist to make our arguments. But Orlando Brown is different. During a recent appearance on Cam Capone News, he gave his take on the whole situation and revealed his thoughts on Jay-Z’s (alleged) decision to purposely pick K.Dot and omit NOLA native Weezy despite Super Bowl LIX taking place in his city. But while doing so, the actor mocked the New Orleans legend and posited that he would be a poor performer.

“I think that Jay-Z made the best decision ever,” Orlando Brown’s remarks on Lil Wayne began. Then, he proceeded to imitate the rapper’s nasal, warbled, and mumble-heavy vocal tone and delivery. “What the f**k is that, bro?” Brown continued. “‘Put that s**t on stage!’ *laughs* ‘That’s hot!’ When you listen to [“A Milli”] today, it sounds like, ‘*gibberish*.’ If you actually go back and listen to the record, it’s just like, ‘What the f**k was he saying? He’s high. On pills.’ *laughs*.” At least he actually knew the “A Milli” lyrics…

Orlando Brown Wouldn’t Have Picked Lil Wayne For The Super Bowl Halftime Show

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On the other hand, here’s what New Orleans native Big Freedia told TMZ concerning the Super Bowl halftime show debate. “I don’t think that it was just, you know… People don’t really know, I guess, whose decision it was to have the headliner or whatever,” he shared. “And I think that, you know, me on the outside looking in, I think that Apple was the one who was able to pick the headliner because of that spot that Apple holds for the halftime show. A lot of people blaming Jay-Z, a lot of people blaming this one and that one. I think that it could be a collaboration effort for Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar to perform together. Who knows, you know, where the show might end up?

“New Orleans is definitely sad that Lil Wayne is not the headliner,” Big Freedia continued. “I think that they should have had some Southern artists for sure on the ticket. You know, I think the Cash Money and No Limit family should’ve definitely been involved. But who knows what’s going to happen with the days ahead? I think [Kendrick inviting Wayne to perform] would be a great gesture. And I think it would be a nice thing for Kendrick Lamar to do. I think he would definitely, you know, get his love from Louisiana and from down South if he was to make that happen.”

[via]

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Big Freedia Reveals New Orleans’ Reaction To Lil Wayne Missing Out On Super Bowl Halftime

September 28, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The hip-hop world and beyond continues to debate the Super Bowl LIX halftime show controversy over Kendrick Lamar getting the headlining slot instead of Lil Wayne. No matter what your thoughts are on the subject, there are a lot of different ways in which this debacle could develop before New Orleans hosts the game on February 9, 2025. But what better place to look at than the source? Furthermore, NOLA native Big Freedia recently spoke to TMZ about the matter, sharing what he perceives as the city’s general reaction to fellow native Tunechi not getting the main slot. Check out the interview clip by clicking the “Via” link down below.

First off, Big Freedia posited with a smile and a laugh that he should’ve been the one to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. “I should be up there making them bounce,” he expressed. “But seriously, I don’t think that it was just, you know… People don’t really know, I guess, whose decision it was to have the headliner or whatever. And I think that, you know, me on the outside looking in, I think that Apple was the one who was able to pick the headliner because of that spot that Apple holds for the halftime show. A lot of people blaming Jay-Z, a lot of people blaming this one and that one.

Kendrick Lamar At Super Bowl LVI

Lil Wayne Super Bowl Kendrick Lamar New Orleans Big Freedia Hip Hop News — INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 13: Kendrick Lamar performs in the Pepsi Halftime Show during the NFL Super Bowl LVI football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

“I think that it could be a collaboration effort for Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar to perform together,” Big Freedia continued. “Who knows, you know, where the show might end up? New Orleans is definitely sad that Lil Wayne is not the headliner. I think that they should have had some Southern artists for sure on the ticket. You know, I think the Cash Money and No Limit family should’ve definitely been involved. But who knows what’s going to happen with the days ahead?”

Then, Big Freedia elaborated on the chance that Kendrick Lamar may invite (or already invited) Lil Wayne to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show alongside him. “I think it would be a great gesture,” he shared. “And I think it would be a nice thing for Kendrick Lamar to do. I think he would definitely, you know, get his love from Louisiana and from down South if he was to make that happen.”

[via]

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Fivio Foreign Claims That Drake Will Perform During Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show

September 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Super Bowl Halftime Show has been more controversial than usual in recent weeks. JAY-Z’s decision to go with Kendrick Lamar over the New Orleans native, Lil Wayne, has fans everywhere riled up. A lot of fans believe JAY did this to slight Wayne and big up Lamar. Especially given the tensions between Lamar and Wayne’s most iconic protege, Drake. Fivio Foreign may be late to the party in terms of discussing the Halftime Show, but he claims to have exclusive info on what will go down. He predicts Lamar will actually bring Weezy and Drake out on stage with him during the Super Bowl.

Fivio Foreign shared his allegedly “exclusive” info on September 24. The rapper took to Instagram Live to share, and was adamant that Wayne is part of K. Dot’s master plan. “I heard that Kendrick is gonna bring out Lil Wayne,” Fivio Foreign asserted. The rapper’s claims only got wilder from there. “Then Lil Wayne is gonna bring out Drake,” he added. “Fivio “Then Kendrick is gonna squash their beef.” Fivio doesn’t give followers any information on his source, or any specific details on the Halftime Show itself. The rapper simply notes that the concept is “fire” while an unseen man hypes him up in the background.

Fivio Foreign Worked With Drake On “Demons”

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Fivio Foreign has collaborated with Drake in the past. He appeared on the song “Demons” from the 6 God’s Dark Lane Demo Tapes. He’s not completely out of the loop when it comes to the machinations of the biggest rappers in the world. That said, the notion that the biggest music industry story of next year would be spoiled by Fivio is a bit hard to believe. Fivio Foreign doesn’t hail from New Orleans, or Toronto or Compton, so he doesn’t have an inside scoop with any of the artists mentioned.

There’s also the massive leap that would need to be made to patch things up between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. The two artists really tore each other down over the course of the battle, and all signs point to there still being saltiness on both sides. It’s hard to imagine a world in which Drake agrees to go on a Halftime Show stage led by Kendrick Lamar, and effectively bend the knee. It’s also hard to imagine Lamar not playing “Not Like Us,” which has become the biggest hit of his career. Lil Wayne coming out in New Orleans is one thing. Drizzy burying the hatchet is another thing entirely. Take Fivio Foreign’s claim with an enormous grain of salt.

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Steve Stoute Claims Drake Turned Super Bowl Down Twice, But Defends Jay-Z

September 21, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Steve Stoute was the most recent guest on The Pivot podcast, where he and the co-hosts discussed a lot of business topics and their overlap with the music industry and other entertainment businesses. Of course, they had to touch on the Super Bowl halftime show controversy at some point, with some still arguing between Kendrick Lamar and Lil Wayne. However, Stoute focused instead on the rumors that Drake turned down the headlining slot in the past, and also defended Jay-Z’s decision-making and what he perceives as selflessness in the way that he handles the selection process.

“I will confirm: Drake was offered the Super Bowl twice,” Steve Stoute began. “Drake did turn down the Super Bowl twice. And I’m sure if Drake would’ve said yes, he would’ve brought Lil Wayne out at some point, right? He probably would’ve brought out Nicki, which is probably why she’s upset because she’s not on the stage. But Drake turned it down twice. So, like, this, ‘the NFL, somebody spoke to’ – No. He turned it down twice, which is fine. He didn’t want to do it.

Steve Stoute Speaks On Drake, Jay-Z & The Super Bowl Halftime Show

“I will confirm. Drake was offered the Super Bowl twice”. – @SteveStoute on the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show.

Steve Stoute feels the backlash that Jay Z has received for picking @kendricklamar over Lil Wayne is unfair, & confirms that @Drake has turned down performing at the… pic.twitter.com/q7JHNY36LS

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) September 20, 2024

“But nobody’s going to say, ‘Damn, why’d you turn it down? You could’ve got Lil Wayne on.’ Right?” Steve Stoute continued. “Nobody’s going to connect that dot. The other thing that no one seems to think about is why isn’t Jay-Z picking himself? Like, he’s not even being selfish about it for himself. Why isn’t somebody saying, ‘Man, you know what, he’s actually making a decision based on what he thinks the best performance is at the right time, music, et cetera’? Because he’s not even using this moment to satisfy himself.

“He has a catalog. He can rock. He’s nice. He’s not even choosing himself,” Steve Stoute concluded. “To me, that should be celebrated. That he’s not being selfish and he’s helping these artists and giving them what they deserve. And not being selfish about it and choosing only, you know, Roc Nation acts or himself. Because if it was just that, I could understand it. But for it to come down like this is just… To me, this s**t is corny. And it makes the hip-hop community, the Black community… It leaves a stain.”

[via]

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Snoop Dogg Offered His Thoughtful Take On The Super Bowl Booking Kendrick Lamar Over Lil Wayne

September 18, 2024 by newhiphopnews

While some in hip-hop were adamant that Lil Wayne should perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans next year, Snoop Dogg — who actually did perform in LA in 2022 — was more measured in his response to the controversy over the NFL booking Kendrick Lamar instead. Appearing on Nightcap with hosts Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson, Snoop addressed fans’ concerns while offering up a perspective some might not have considered.

“I don’t really have no opinion,” he said. “But what I do wanna say is that, just remember where the NFL was 15 years ago when it comes to hip-hop. How many hip-hop artists was able to grace that stage 15 years ago? So, I understand both sides of the coin and I understand how people feel.”

However, he acknowledged his own performance two years ago, noting, “I didn’t do any Snoop Dogg songs. I was up there helping Dr. Dre and it became a great moment for all of us.” Then, he reminded viewers that “it’s a 12-13-minute performance and you’re not getting paid. It’s more or less you have to spend money to upgrade your show to make it mass appealing for the audience that’s home watching.”

And that, more than anything, might be the reason for Kendrick’s selection over Wayne. Totally separate from the conversations we’ve already discussed here and here, what are the odds Wayne — who spent 15 years fighting Birdman for the rights and royalties to his music — would have the budget for a Super Bowl-level show? We’ve seen Kendrick do it time and time again, whether on tour for Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers or on the Grammy stage.

While it would have been cool for the local act to get some shine in his hometown, the fact is, the show isn’t about the venue — it’s about keeping 100 million people from changing the channel between halves of The Big Game (true story; the Super Bowl Halftime in its current incarnation is the result of a ratings war with In Living Color). Those brands pay a lot of money for those Super Bowl ads, and they want people to see ’em. If the NFL feels that’s more likely with a contemporary superstar like Kendrick than a cult favorite like Wayne, then that’s just how it’s going to be.