Rapper Juvenile took to social media to express his dismay over the NFL's latest announcement that Kendrick Lamar has been chosen as the headliner for the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, slated for February 9, 2025, in New Orleans. The announcement has ripped the internet apart, with many who believe that the spot should've gone to Lil Wayne instead.
The NFL and Kendrick Lamar both announced their decision on September 8, 2024. A day later, Juvenile, 49, expressed his disappointment with the NFL at large, and not with anyone in particular, but more so towards the ones who set the wheels in motion in the first place. According to him, they have yet to "put a hip-hop act from New Orleans" on the Super Bowl.
"I feel like every time y'all come here y'all should put somebody from our city on the sh**. This time it hit hard when you don't have Lil Wayne on the show."
Juvenile also questioned the reason behind such a move, citing Lil Wayne's expansive portfolio and several hits. According to him, Wayne more than "deserves it."
He then took shots directly at Roger Goodell, the NFL Commissioner. He said that he needs to "get it right." Juvenile claimed that he was swooping into their city and leeching off of their culture, all while putting "bread," a.k.a. money, in other people's pockets and hanging them to dry. He concluded with a call to end the whole charade.
Juvenile, Birdman, Cam'Ron, and more comment on Lil Wayne's snub
Juvenile isn't the only unhappy one, as Lil Wayne's sound engineer also shared his frustrations. He equipped the use of social media to voice it, stating that he was "confused."
“Confused. Disappointed. Angry. But most of all. Inspired. Will never again be in a position of having the [goat emoji] at the mercy of someone else’s decision. We will make the decisions.”
To add to the list, record executive Birdman also took to X to share his disappointment, echoing the other's sentiments. He was upset that Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, and Drake were not given a shot at the spotlight.
"Hatin sh** 4real," he tweeted.
Yet another rapper, Cam'Ron, reacted to the announcement with similar feelings. On the 'It Is What It Is' podcast, he said thinks Lamar is one of the giants of this generation, but he was not a fan of the choice.
"It’s in New Orleans. You don’t get Lil Wayne? That’s what we doing?”
Lil Wayne says he is "part of the New Orleans showcase"
Lil Wayne himself expressed an interest in performing at the next Super Bowl, per Bleacher Report. He likened such a feat to winning a Grammy. He said,
“There’s so many people that’s not from the city there. So it’s a showcase. It’s something that tourists take back with them, and everybody not coming from an American city. People come from out the country, they gonna remember that. They're gonna remember, ‘OK, I went to New Orleans for the game…I kind of remember the halftime show, I remember the food.’ It's a showcase and I believe that I'm a part of the New Orleans showcase.”
In February, he reiterated his desire, when he spoke on YG's 4HUNNID podcast. He said that they were all "praying" for him to land the gig, and that he was working hard to ensure all of his upcoming work would be a massive hit. He said that his goal was to "make it very hard" for anyone to overlook him for the position.
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While there is a window open for Lil Wayne to make a guest appearance on Lamar's set, many are enraged that he was not selected to headline the act instead.
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