Super Bowl LIX

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 Announced He’ll Perform At The Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show

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The first Sunday of the 2024 NFL season featured some big news about Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. It has nothing to do with the teams that will end up participating with the Lombardi Trophy on the line, but instead, we now know who will perform in the halftime show.

Kendrick Lamar announced on Sunday via his social media channels and his YouTube page that he will take the stage during halftime of the biggest football game of the year. In the video, which you can see at the top of the post, Lamar feeds footballs into a JUGS machine in front of an oversized American flag before addressing viewers.

“You ready?” Lamar asks. “Exactly. What’s the deal everybody? My name’s Kendrick Lamar, and I’ll be performing at Super Bowl LIX. Will you be pulling up? I hope so. You know there’s only one opportunity to win a championship, no round twos, let’s get it. BOOM. I wouldn’t want you to miss it — meet me in New Orleans, Feb. 9, 2025. Wear your best dress, too, even if you’re watching from home. Let’s go.”

This will not be the first time that Lamar takes the stage at the Super Bowl, as he was part of Dr. Dre’s star-studded halftime show at Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles.

Lil Wayne Reiterates Desire To Headline 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show

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Lil Wayne has once again stated that he wants to headline the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. However, Wayne revealed that he is yet to be contacted about the opportunity. “I will not lie to you, I have not got a call or nothing. But we are praying. We praying. We keeping our fingers crossed. I’m working hard. I’mma make sure this next album and everything I do is killer. I wanna just make it hard for them not to holler at the boy,” Wayne told the 4HUNNID podcast.

Wayne first broached his desire to do the show during an interview with Taylor Rooks and Bleacher Report last year. “Going to the Super Bowl and watching the Halftime Show and wishing, when you see the artist, you be like, ‘They could’ve sung the song that I was featured on!”. I’m featured on everybody’s song — you could’ve brought me out! Please do not feel disrespected if you’re an artist from New Orleans. Or an artist tied to me any kind of way in the music [industry], but know that’s my moment and I earned that moment. So no, I’m not bringing no one!” Wayne said. However, he later amended his statement to note that he would bring out Beyonce if she wanted to join him.

Read More: 50 Cent Already Trash-Talking Lil Wayne Ahead Of NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

Lil Wayne Walks Back Anthony Davis Trade Talk

However, the 2025 Super Bowl is not the only thing that Wayne has been rehashing as of late. Wayne also reversed course on one of his bolder basketball takes, arguing that Anthony Davis is now irreplaceable for the Lakers. “You can’t get nobody for him that’s gon’ replace what he can do. There’s nobody out there like that. If you could get Jokic, but you can’t do that,” Wayne said on UNDISPUTED this week.

As mentioned, the sentiment is a major departure from something that Wayne had previously advocated for. “If the Lakers want to be a championship team, they have to get rid of AD,” the rapper said on the show last November. It was a bold take at the time, despite Davis’ injury struggles. He was still the No. 2 scoring option behind LeBron and his trade value was considered prohibitively high, at least in terms of immediate impact players.

Read More: Lil Wayne Taps Ja Morant To Be The Next “Face Of The NBA”

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