After news broke of Kendrick Lamar being chosen to headline the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans, there was much discussion within hip-hop circles about why hometown rapper Lil Wayne wasn’t booked instead. Now, Weezy himself has opened up about the emotional letdown he’s felt since JAY-Z and the NFL made the decision.
“It hurt a whole lot,” Wayne said on Instagram Live, blaming himself for “not being mentally prepared” for a letdown and assuming he would be picked as the Super Bowl Halftime performer. “I thought there was nothing better than that spot and that stage and that platform in my city. So it hurt. It hurt a whole lot.”
He continued by thanking his fans, peers, friends, and family for their support. “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,” he said. “So like I said, it broke me, and I’m just trying to put me back together.”
After the announcement, there was speculation over whether Wayne and his camp’s lingering tensions with JAY-Z, whose company Roc Nation produces the Halftime Show, led to the presumed snub. Leading the charge were Young Money artist Nicki Minaj, Wayne’s mentor Birdman, and Cam’ron and Mase.
Others who expressed their support were Wayne’s former Cash Money labelmate Juvenile and fellow New Orleans legend Master P. For his part, Wayne previously said he had been “praying” to headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show in an appearance on YG’s 4HUNNID podcast.
All that being said, Kendrick and Wayne have seemingly always been on good terms, so there’s no reason to rule out a special guest appearance.
For now, Wayne has booked a string of North American dates through mid-November. The tour includes this year’s Lil’ WeezyAna Fest, headlined by his reunion with Hot Boys. Purchase remaining tickets here.
Wow… Lil Wayne was just on IG Live talking about how hurt he was not performing at the Super Bowl in New Orleans
“It broke me but I’m just trying to put myself together. Thank you to my fans, my peers and my friends
I’m working on me thank you” pic.twitter.com/F8uM7QlIyk
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) September 13, 2024