Super Bowl LIX

Joe Budden Reacts To Lil Wayne & Kendrick Lamar Talking Out Super Bowl Controversy

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In September of this year, Kendrick Lamar announced that he’ll be headlining the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show in February. The event is scheduled to take place in New Orleans and the news prompted mixed reactions from social media users. While some saw this as a solid choice, considering Kendrick’s huge year, others thought Lil Wayne was snubbed. Weezy himself even hopped online amid the controversy to confirm that he was hurt.

“That hurt, it hurt a lot,” he said at the time. “Thought there was nothing better than that spot, on that stage, on that platform.” Kendrick went on to reference the debacle on his album GNX, seemingly acknowledging the lack of support he received from Lil Wayne. Since then, the two of them patched things up with a phone call, which Lil Wayne revealed during a recent appearance on The Skip Bayless Show. “I’ve spoken to him, and I wished him all the best,” he shared. “[I] told him he better kill it.”

Read More: Hip-Hop Albums That Grew On Us The Most In 2024

Joe Budden Notes How Lil Wayne Spoke To Kendrick Lamar Before Hearing “Wacced Out Murals”

Joe Budden recently shared his take on the situation, however, claiming that Lil Wayne left a huge detail out. According to him, Lil Wayne and Kendrick spoke before the latter dropped “wacced out murals,” and before Lil Wayne seemingly tweeted about it. “He left a small part out of that,” he said. “He spoke to him, and then he started tweeting. Which would make somebody say, ‘N***a, didn’t we just talk?’”

At another point in Lil Wayne’s conversation with Skip Bayless, he said that he’d yet to hear Kendrick’s line about him on GNX. “Used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud,” he raps. “Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down.” Upon having the lyrics read to him, he explained why he took it as a sign of mutual respect. “He’s a fan like I’m a fan,” described. “He saw like everybody else, he saw how much it meant to me. I think that’s all he mean.”

Read More: Top 10 Best Athletes Of 2024

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NFL Unveils Star-Studded Pregame Entertainment for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans

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The NFL has announced a powerhouse lineup for the pregame entertainment at Super Bowl LIX, set for Sunday, February 9, 2025, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Celebrating the rich musical heritage of Louisiana, performances will feature New Orleans natives Jon Batiste, Trombone Shorty, Lauren Daigle, and Ledisi.

Jon Batiste, a five-time Grammy and Academy Award-winning artist, will perform the national anthem. Known for his dynamic work as a composer and performer, Batiste’s roots in New Orleans and his genre-blending artistry make him a fitting choice to kick off the game.

Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle will collaborate on “America the Beautiful,” blending their distinct styles in a powerful performance that embodies the spirit of Louisiana. Ledisi will deliver an inspiring rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” showcasing her soulful command and deep ties to New Orleans’ vibrant culture.

In addition, Super Bowl LIX will include American Sign Language (ASL) performances by Stephanie Nogueras, Otis Jones IV, and Matt Maxey, ensuring inclusivity across all festivities.

This year’s celebration precedes a halftime performance by Kendrick Lamar, promising a dynamic blend of music and culture for fans worldwide. For more details, visit SuperBowl.com.

The post NFL Unveils Star-Studded Pregame Entertainment for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans appeared first on The Source Magazine.

Who Is Performing The National Anthem At The 2025 Super Bowl?

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As you are probably aware, especially if you’re Drake, Kendrick Lamar was selected as the halftime show performer for Super Bowl LIX. The “TV Off” rapper isn’t from New Orleans (it’s a whole thing), where the game is scheduled to be played, but the NFL is going with some Big Easy representation for the pre-game performers.

Jon Batiste will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” (and probably do a better job than Ingrid Andress). “Music is the ultimate unifier. Coming home for National Anthem,” the five-time Grammy winner, including Album Of The Year for 2021’s We Are, wrote on Instagram. The NFL also revealed that Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shorty will join forces for “America The Beautiful” and Ledisi will sing “Lift Every Voice And Sing.”

“We’re honored to work with this year’s pregame lineup to celebrate the rich musical legacy of New Orleans and the entire state,” NFL head of music Seth Dudowsky said in a statement. “The Super Bowl is a rare moment to unite fans around the world, and this year’s performers will bring the energy, soul and vibrant sounds of the region to a global stage, as we kick off Super Bowl LIX with a celebration to remember.”

Super Bowl LIX will be played on February 9, 2025.

Kendrick Lamar Calls Out Lil Wayne For Lack Of Support After Super Bowl Announcement

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Earlier today, Kendrick Lamar shocked the world by dropping his new album GNX with absolutely no notice. The release followed months of rumors that he had a new project on the way. So far, social media users aren’t disappointed. As reactions continue to roll in, listeners are taking note of any particularly interesting references. This includes a few on the opening track, “wacced out murals.”

In the second verse, Kendrick appears to call out Lil Wayne and others for their reaction to him securing a headlining slot at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show. This was announced back in September and quickly sparked outrage among hip-hop fans and artists. Many felt as though the opportunity should have gone to Lil Wayne, a pioneer of the genre who’s from New Orleans, where the event will take place. Weezy himself even hopped online amid the backlash to address the apparent snub, admitting that he was hurt by it. “That hurt, it hurt a lot… I thought there was nothing better than that spot, on that stage, on that platform,” he said at the time.

Read More: Kendrick Lamar Recalls Snoop Dogg Supporting Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” On New Album

Kendrick Lamar Addresses Lil Wayne Super Bowl Snub On GNX

It looks like Kendrick is feeling a bit slighted himself, however. In his song, he recalls supporting Lil Wayne and expresses disappointment that it’s not been reciprocated. “I used to bump Tha Carter 3, I held my Rollie chain proud / Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down,” he raps. “Got the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulate me, all these n***** agitated I’m just glad it’s on they faces.”

Lil Wayne isn’t the only one Kendrick calls out in the track, however. He also recalls Snoop Dogg posting Drake’s infamous AI diss, “Taylor Made Freestyle,” on his Instagram Story shortly after it was released. He seemed let down by that too, claiming that he couldn’t believe it and hoped it was just “the edibles.”

Read More: Kendrick Lamar Fans Can’t Believe They Have A Whole New Surprise Album In Their Hands

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

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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.

Why Nicki Minaj Is More Upset Than Anyone That Lil Wayne Isn’t Headlining The Super Bowl

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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!!!!!

Another tweet with a political bent:

One nigga took a knee

The other nigga took the bag.

He gon get you “n***ers” in line every fkng time

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.

She’s still going, by the way:

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.

Nicki Minaj Clarifies Her Stance On Kendrick Lamar After Heated JAY-Z Rant

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Nicki Minaj says she loves and respects Kendrick Lamar, despite yesterday’s rant about the NFL and JAY-Z choosing him to perform at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show instead of her longtime collaborator, Lil Wayne. She had complained that the league should’ve honored Wayne, considering the game is being held in his hometown of New Orleans.

“You can love & respect Kendrick and still love & respect Wayne. Even Kendrick loves & respects Wayne. Every real rapper loves & respects Wayne,” Nicki wrote. When one user replied to her post claiming Republic Records called her up, she countered: “LOLLLLL they did? Today? If they did call me I def didn’t get the call chi. Maybe they left a vm. You must rlly not know Oniqua hungry pie. This rly just shows that you’re caged & have never been able to simply do & say as you please w/o any fear (other than the fear of GOD) stopping you.”

Read More: Nicki Minaj Goes Scorched Earth On JAY-Z In Lil Wayne-Inspired Twitter Rant

Nicki Minaj Performs On “Pink Friday 2 World Tour”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 07: (Exclusive Coverage) Nicki Minaj performs onstage during her Pink Friday 2 World Tour – New York at Madison Square Garden on September 07, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Live Nation)

As for her original rant, Minaj wrote: “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****R TINGZ. but it’s GOOD FI DEM!!!!!!! No loyalty? Welp. then n****z will keep son’ing you!!!!!”

Nicki Minaj Shows Love To Kendrick Lamar

She was just one of several artists to voice their support for Wayne in the wake of the NFL’s decision. Cam’ron, Master P, Birdman, and more also spoke up. Check out Minaj’s latest post on social media below. Be on the lookout for further updates on Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, and the Super Bowl Halftime Show on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Nicki Minaj Thanks Sabrina Carpenter For Beating Travis Scott With Stunning Bouquet

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Why Wasn’t Lil Wayne Selected To Perform At The Super Bowl?

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While the announcement that Kendrick Lamar would perform the Super Bowl LIX halftime show in New Orleans was met with general excitement from fans, some fans questioned the pick, believing that local artist Lil Wayne would have been a better selection. So, why wasn’t Lil Wayne chosen to perform at the Super Bowl?

First things first: There’s never been a rule that the Super Bowl halftime performers must be local acts. That’s a recent development from hip-hop fans online after a “wouldn’t it be cool if…” proposition evolved like the monsters from an Alien movie into something far less innocuous.

In the last five years, we’ve had Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, who are most notably not from Miami; The Weekend, who is not from Tampa; and Rihanna, who is not from Arizona. The first show to be performed entirely by locals in pretty much the whole modern history of the Super Bowl Halftime Show was 2022’s combination of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Kendrick Lamar in Los Angeles, and they were joined by two New Yorkers and a Detroiter.

Of course, coming off an impressive showing by Usher in Las Vegas this past February, it only makes sense fans would want the newly minted “tradition” to return. However understandable it is, though, Roc Nation, the NFL’s music partner, hasn’t ever had an obligation to hometown performers (and when you think about where all the NFL has teams, let’s all just be thankful for that).

Kendrick’s pick also meets pretty much all the criteria Roc Nation would be looking for in a performer. To let Audiomack co-founder and longtime industry insider Brian Zisook tell it, K. Dot’s available, popular, and culturally impactful, with enough hits to fill up the 15-minute performance slot and a penchant for showmanship that will translate well both live and on TV.

Now, as to why Lil Wayne was not selected. While some fans — and even some veteran performers like Cam’ron and Mase — would rather believe in elaborate conspiracies about Roc Nation founder Jay-Z holding a decades-long grudge against Wayne, the truth is probably a lot simpler: Wayne just doesn’t meet the above criteria.

While his popularity is undeniable, it’s equally undeniable that the peak of that popularity is past him; for contrast, Lil Wayne hasn’t had a top-ten-charting single in the past five years (2019’s “Don’t Cry” featuring the late XXXtentacion). And while he’s got more than enough hits to fill the allotted set time, Wayne’s always been a meat-and-potatoes kind of performer; he certainly isn’t going to break out roller skates and costume changes, let alone construct a whole hall of mirrors on the field or hover on a platform above it.

Meanwhile, we aren’t even sure Wayne would be available to perform next February; he could have a tour booked, he could be working on new music, or be involved in one of a thousand other projects. As a hardcore sports fan, he may be planning to take in the show from the stands. Or, on the other hand, perhaps he is available, does have the desire, and actually is part of K. Dot’s plan for the show — although their respective relationships with Drake make this outcome unlikely.

After all, Wayne’s one of Kendrick’s biggest inspirations aside from Kurupt, and it’s not like the Compton native is averse to including guest stars in his sets. It’d probably be far easier for Wayne to appear for a verse of “A Milli” than put together a whole show for a national audience who may not even be all that familiar with his work (try to remember that country music is the most popular genre on the charts this year, so there may not be much demand for a “Bling Bling” performance outside Wayne’s existing audience).

So, while we can’t say for sure why Wayne wasn’t picked to lead the show, we do know that there are plenty of good reasons for Kendrick Lamar’s selection. And, since we can’t completely count out a Wayne appearance, it seems premature to call it a snub. We don’t even know who’s playing the actual game yet, so maybe a little patience is warranted — and could pay off when halftime actually hits.

SOURCE SPORTS: Fans Suggest That Lil Wayne Is Better Fit Than Kendrick Lamar For Super Bowl LIX In NOLA

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It was announced yesterday that Kendrick Lamar would be taking the stage for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, but there are some fans and other celebrities who believe that there’s one star from NOLA that should’ve been the top pick for the NFL’s biggest gig of the year.

Even though K Dot took the stage for Super Bowl LVi alongside rap stars such as Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and 50 Cent, many believe that Weezy should’ve been offered the headlining spot for the biggest sport event of the year.

Culture critic DJ Akademiks argued that Kendrick is without a doubt a great artist, but Super Bowl 61 is supposed to be in Lamar’s hometown and the NFL could’ve waited two years to put him on centerstage. Another New Orleans legend, Master P, saluted Kendrick as an artist, but also questioned who the Hot Boys superstar wasn’t chosen to perform in his hometown.

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No one os saying that Kendrick doesn’t deserve to make it on the Suer Bow halftime stage, but many people on social media are echoing the same sentiments. There is still a possibility that Wayne might take the stage with Kendrick, being that they have “Mona Lisa” on “Tha Carter V” together, but it doesn’t seem satisfactory to Wayne fans or NOLA natives.

Do YOU think Wayne should perform at the Super Bowl instead of Kendrick?

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Fans Suggest That Lil Wayne Is Better Fit Than Kendrick Lamar For Super Bowl LIX In NOLA first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Fans Suggest That Lil Wayne Is Better Fit Than Kendrick Lamar For Super Bowl LIX In NOLA appeared first on The Source.

Jay-Z Issued A Statement Of Support After Kendrick Lamar Was Announced As The Super Bowl 2025 Halftime Show Performer

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Apple Music Super Bowl 2025 Halftime Show is already facing backlash. Today (September 8), Kendrick Lamar was announced as the show’s featured performer. Given the chart-topping year Kendrick has had and his victory in the Drake beef, you’d think the public would rally behind the choice. However, this not the case for one understandable reason—its location.

Next year, the big game is heading to New Orleans. Based on the alone hip-hop heads assumed Lil Wayne was a sure in, which included his longtime engineer Fabian Marasciullo. Well, not Jay-Z. Thanks to his role as the NFL’s music strategist and the Roc Nation partnership with the league, he’s opinion far outweighs the public. In a statement, Jay-Z stood by Kendrick Lamar’s selection.

“Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer,” he said. “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.”

Jay-Z isn’t alone. Former Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show headliner, Rihanna, subtly showed her support by liking Kendrick’s reveal post on Instagram.

Contrarily, Master P agreed with users online’s sentiments urging that Lil Wayne be considered for the slot.

“As Ambassador of Entertainment in the City of New Orleans I have to agree with the fans that Lil Wayne should be a part of this celebration as well,” he wrote. “He’s one of the greatest hip-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.”

The show isn’t set until February 2025, so this saga is far from over.