Lil Wayne has broken his silence on being passed over for next year’s Super Bowl halftime show in his hometown of New Orleans, admitting it “hurt a lot.”
Following outrage from peers and fans alike over the NFL’s decision to book Kendrick Lamar instead of NOLA’s own Weezy to perform at Super Bowl LIX on February 9, the Young Money leader finally addressed the situation in a video posted on Instagram early Friday morning (September 13).
A solemn-sounding Wayne began by thanking those who have spoken up in his defence, saying: “First of all, I want to say forgive me for the delay. I had to get strength enough to do this without breaking. I’ma say thank you to every voice, every opinion, all the care, love and support out there. Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back.”
He then shared his heartbreak and disappointment at the snub and blamed himself for getting his hopes up over the gig, which he had openly coveted prior to last week’s announcement.
“That hurt. It hurt a lot. You know what I’m talking about. It hurt a whole lot,” he continued. “I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown, and for automatically mentally putting myself in that position like somebody told me that was my position. So I blame myself for that.
“But I thought that was nothing better than that spot and that stage and that platform in my city, so it hurt. It hurt a whole lot. But y’all are fucking amazing. It made me feel like shit not getting this opportunity and when I felt like shit, you guys reminded me that I ain’t shit without y’all… and that’s an amazing reality.”
Wayne concluded: “So, like I said, it broke me and I’m just trying to put me back together. But my God, have you all helped me. Thanks to all of my peers, my friends, my family, my homies on the sports television and everybody repping me. I really appreciate that, I really do.
“I feel like I let all of y’all down by not getting that opportunity, but I’m working on me and I’m working. So thank you.”
Birdman, Juvenile, Master P and Boosie Badazz were among those who expressed disapproval over Lil Wayne not being picked as the 2025 Super Bowl halftime headliner.
Few were as vocal as Young Money disciple Nicki Minaj, though, who slammed the decision in an explosive social media rant.
Nicki seemingly directed her anger at JAY-Z, who alongside Roc Nation has helped organize the halftime show since 2020, accusing him of denying Wayne the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity over personal greivances.
“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?!!!!!!!!!!!” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“Nola what’s good?!!!!!! Eminem stood firm on having 50Cent come out. A white man. Shit sad. House N-GGER TINGZ. but it’s GOOD FI DEM!!!!!!! No loyalty ? Welp. then n-ggaz will keep son’ing you!!!!!”
Appearing to throw more insults at Hov, Nicki added: “Got everything in the world. Still spiteful & evil. Disgusting. Be happy Abeg. Go be fkng happy n!gg@!!!!!!!! In rap business. In women business. When you got the Politicians & the police you good tho. Plus dat ugly laughy taffy alien.”
Nicki’s sentiment was echoed by Cam’ron, who also implied that his former Roc-A-Fella label boss was to blame for Wayne being overlooked.
“It’s one person who’s stopping this. It’s not really a secret. Lil Wayne had a problem with somebody before who’s kinda part of the organization running it,” he said on his sports talk show It Is What It Is, referencing Jigga and Tunechi’s past rivalry.
“This is payback. Who’s Lil Wayne’s artist? Drake. This is crazy, bro. It’s ridiculous.”
He added: “Lil Wayne not to be performing in New Orleans for the Super Bowl is egregious, and it gotta stop.”
Neither JAY-Z nor Kendrick Lamar have yet to address the backlash, although the Compton rapper did release a combative new song earlier this week hitting out at themusic industry, which some have interpreted as something of a response to the uproar.
Man, you’re trash. Nothing more to understand about this situation. You got put on a pedestal by the young generation as the goat but you’ve never been endorsed by the 80s generation considering that your music is trash as fvck. The only reason some OGs collaborated with you is to get some visibility before the youngsters who idolize you. Who gives a fvck of you being from New Orleans. If your music is garbage there is no way you can perform in a show as big as the halftime of the Super Bowl. Kissing your manager in the mouth midget drug addict gremlin look alike motherfvcker.
Preach.
This dude has two songs “Lollipop” and “A Milli” to his name that are okay. Not really talking about anything. Even on God Did, he’s not talking about anything. Dude is trash with no substance to his music. Just a skate boarder weed head head and no we don’t want to see it at the NFL Super Bowl.
@theripper I grew up as a major lil wayne hater… I really didn’t like ANY newschool rap at that time, and stayed 50 cent era and earlier. But if you’re gonna say “lollipop” and “a mili” when discussing good Wayne songs, then you’re either a pop fan following Taylor Swift around, or you just have never actually gone through Wayne’s cataloque. And I’m still not a fan of his, but I do know that those two songs are not sloght examples of his best music.
@SC Thank you! All facts! @ Jay i think those Wayne songs are trash but they are his most….stage ready….songs.
Bruh, keep bad takes like that to yourself. Wayne could go back to the 90s with hits that are recognizable and could have brought the whole crew out with him. We had that geriatric Interscope set with dudes performing hits from 20 years ago and nobody said anything. It was the only way to go if you’ve been doing these acts to cater to the cities: the G-Funk set with LA, Usher with the Vegas residency, J-Lo and Shakira who are also not in the popular mainstream anymore to cater to Latino Miami. It was some fuck shit, plain and simple. People who are being contrarian including this website talking about metrics and who is hottest right now don’t even deserve to voice the opinion. Sometimes, you’re just flat out wrong, and stop talking about last time. Last time, Roc Nation wasn’t heading the shit, which was supposed to be the point of them taking over with it so we didn’t see anymore 80 year old rock and rollers, but alas, fuck shit is still afoot.
look at this dick ridin clown, even usin jay’s name. you got a real talent there, ridin and suckin his dick at the same time.
I just hope he does die prematurely. The way he’s been propped up his whole career is insulting. Dude has 1 and a half decent albums, stop it.
Thats crazy to think about. “I don’t really like his music so I hope he dies young”
Typo, meant “doesn’t” meaning if he died earlier, his fans will act like he’s really the goat.
A mentally deranged person hoping a rapper dies because he doesn’t like his music.
Fuck Jay-Z, he always was garbage.
You really think RD, Blueprint and Black album are all trash? Not even decent, just plain garbage? All three?? Stop it. I hate Wayne, even I can admit Carter II is dope.
LMAO, that’s the pain talking. You don’t even believe that.
I’ll give you Reasonable Doubt and Blueprint, but The Black Album is definitely trash.
@Real Talk OG Just another MAGA opinion no real one respects.
My social circle set me up more disappointment. More fake laughs and prayer hands coming his way.
Boo-hoo. Get over yourself, dude.
Boo-hoo. Get over yourself, dude.
I’m mad he deserves this he’s succ a sweet guy jay z is not nice at all I’m sry lil Wayne football never really cared for good artists if it hit them on ass
@Lil Wayne Fan Jay Z helped pay Lil Wayne’s tax debt off, ffs. Tf you mean he ain’t nice at all? He bailed your guy out. Get out of your feelings and do some research before you type.
He also helped Scarface when he was locked up for child support. He waived 12 million in debt for DMX so he can leave Def Jam. He bought 100 copies of Crenshaw basically giving Nip 10 grand. I’m a fan of all these rappers I heard it directly from them – Jay never said a word.
As great as a lyricist as Wayne is — he’s made hundreds of millions of dollars from music — violent music about killing black people and degrading black women so…you don’t get an automatic pass to perform on the biggest stage in the world instead of a dude who’s music is about real life challenges, uplifting the community and healing
While I agree with this statement and feel this is a big reason why he wasn’t chosen, the counterpoint to this argument is Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent, etc. did the show, and there is some violence and misogyny going on in their music as well. Perhaps Wayne doesn’t have enough radio friendly hits for the NFL to promote to 100 million people watching.
Some? These mofos are way more violent and misogynistic than anything Wayne has ever done on or off the mike. Dre beat the whole shit out of a woman quite violently, and Eminem made a whole song about killing his wife, the mother of his child and made it an anthem. Let’s not even get into Snoop bringing set trippin’ to the mainstream and beating a murder rap that by all accounts he committed. That wasn’t the reason, so stop reaching. It was just some fuck boy shit. For the metrics crowd, don’t complain when it’s the Post Malones and Jack Harlows next time since we’re reaching with that excuse. None of the recent acts were at the peak of their powers and were specifically chosen for the city the game was in, but this time it was about who had the #1 song right now, even though he was just on the Interscope show in 2021.
They’re all recognizable mainstream stars though, which Wayne is not. The Super Bowl isn’t an all hip-hop crowd and most of them don’t know shit about Wayne and the Super Bowl isn’t the place to try to put them on…
Keep telling yourself that the biggest rapper from 2005 to 2013 is not a recognizable star. The guy who is the only reason you know who Drake and Nicki Minaj are. SMH. Never mind little buddy,you got it. You’re one of those people who thinks you can bend reality because you said so. For better or worse, every rapper including the dude who got chose to do the show calls him their inspiration, but he’s not a mainstream star, lol. The ignorance in 2024 is breathtaking.
You gotta go back ten years ago to find a recognizable song from Lil’ Wayne…😂
How entitled can you be? 🤣
By no means am I a super Wayne fan. But let’s stop the BS please. First and foremost, he has enough guest features on other people shit to do a 20-minute set. Secondly, even if the carter 3 was his only classic- he could do twenty minutes of the carter with a pop-up guest or two. But stop the BS. What superstar that does the Superbowl usually have a current hit. Prince did have a hit out when he did it, neither did RR or Usher. The point of the matter is he put in work for hip hop, his city and the culture. He brought a way that people followed like it or not. He’s been here since the early 90’s, but his run from 2006-2018 was nothing like it. Trust this man has over 100 features solid. and at least 2 classic albums. Kendrick is cool, but he’s no Wayne. It’s not about liking or loving a person… it’s about being right. Even a broken clock is right at least twice a day. Goggle Wayne’s music from Young Money, Khalid shit on down. He’s a goddamn beast.
@No Worries The fact that most of his hits are features alone is disqualifying. Wouldn’t make logistical or performative sense because people would want to hear the people he’s featured with too. An artist needs to have his OWN hits to be on the NFL stage. And Lollipop and A Milli aren’t enough. Wayne’s subject matter is usually hot garbage. Definitely not for kids because the NFL is a family event. Prince is a global and live performance legend. Wayne is popular but puts on an atrocious live show. Usher came off a highly successful Vegas residency and has the 2nd most watched Half Time Show behind MICHAEL JACKSON. Don’t know who RR is. Wayne fans are operating off feelings. The NFL is operating off DATA. They know what they are doing. Wayne should be grateful he performed a Wrestlemania. That’s more his speed.
Ok cool. Stats win. A biotic idiot peace. Now u work for NFL. Kool white guy!!!
Gem lord. What u gonna name Kendrick baby that sits in your mouth. Typical white man or hippy digging on Kendrick. He’s ok/ Wayne better. Just focus on the baby in your mouth. Stop worrying about me. Congratulations to you second time dad
@No worries. You can’t even spell “piece”, ffs. You 🤡 So, of course you hate stats. And of course someone who deals in data just must be white. FOH, Step n Fetchit.
@No problem How bout you save your strung out Mama from her ho stroll, troll? Or are you proud of her for doing what she loves to do?
Definitely white. Who talks like u. When’s the baby shower. U sucking hard. Probably twins . Cave man!!! Gem lord
EVERYONE I’VE TALKED TO IN NORTH CAROLINA WANTS LIL WAYNE ‼️ JAY Z SHOULDN’T EVEN BE APART OF ANY PART OF THE NFL SUPERBOWLS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PICKING Artist. Lil Wayne can’t help he’s better than him. He’s great and the only one that should be performing that Show. He is Nola not dimension. Look at his career who doesn’t love Lil Wayne. Y’all have really made a fucked up decision.
@Amber No one gives af what North Carolina thinks about the New Orleans Super Bowl. And Jay Z picked Usher for the last Super Bowl…the 2nd highest rated Half Time Show ever. You all in your feelings but don’t know wtf you’re talking about.
If he had stayed loyal to ymcmb, he would have gotten the show instead of backstabbing baby like that. Fuck wayne
I’ll never have sympathy for a Massive Dump supporter. Much less a Black one. Lyrical as he is, Wayne has been nothing but a negative force in Hip Hop. The only person he gives af about is himself. And that’s evident in how personal he took another Black man’s shine. FFS, you don’t get to perform at the Superbowl just because you’re from the city it’s hosted in. Why tf can’t people compute this? And Wayne ain’t even a Saints fan. He loves the Packers, a team from one of the whitest cities in America. Go figure….
You s real one for that. Wayne has been nothing but a k00n and Kendrick actually tries to help the black community but Wayne thinks he’s owed something while Kendrick is just grateful for the opportunity
For the record, Wayne puts on terrible live shows. The NFL and Jay Z knows it, so does most of the viewing public. Why put him on the main stage to be bum?
What makes wayne think hes more worthy than a guy like Wynton Marsalis? Who also embodies the sound of New Orleans. Or what about Master P?
The Trump endoresement and Jay Z diss on the Carter 4 aint help either.
Lil Wayne has lived in Atlanta the past 22 years. He was never under consideration in the first place. He shows up late to his own concerts high off drugs and just mumbles his way through his short time on stage.
Never understood why everyone loved lil Wayne when I was in Highschool. Couldn’t stand that he was always touted as the best rapper ever…after the Carter 2 he was just…basically mumble rap, like today’s shit.
Kendrick, I’d much rather see performing the Superbowl, especially after the last 3-4 months.
Wayne sold a lot of records, def no GOAT… in the words of Immortal Technique, “just cuz you went platinum, it’s got nothin to do with luck..it just means that a million people are stupid as fuck**”
Never understood why everyone loved lil Wayne when I was in Highschool. Couldn’t stand that he was always touted as the best rapper ever…after the Carter 2 he was just…basically mumble rap, like today’s shit.
Kendrick, I’d much rather see performing the Superbowl, especially after the last 3-4 months.
Wayne sold a lot of records, def no GOAT… in the words of Immortal Technique, “just cuz you went platinum, it’s got nothin to do with luck..it just means that a million people are stupid as fuck**”
Never understood why everyone loved lil Wayne when I was in Highschool. Couldn’t stand that he was always touted as the best rapper ever…after the Carter 2 he was just…basically mumble rap, like today’s shit.
Kendrick, I’d much rather see performing the Superbowl, especially after the last 3-4 months.
Wayne sold a lot of records, def no GOAT… in the words of Immortal Technique, “just cuz you went platinum, it’s got nothin to do with luck..it just means that a million people are stupid as fuck**”