Nicki Minaj, Birdman and more have hit out over the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime booking, expressing their disappointment that Kendrick Lamar was picked over Lil Wayne.
Last weekend it was announced that Lamar would be headlining the prestigious Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show next year, which will take place on February 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
However, while the news was warmly received among sporting and music fans, it hasn’t gone down too well with some fellow rappers – particularly given that the host city is Lil Wayne’s hometown – with both Minaj and Birdman taking issue with the announcement.
“Denying a young black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego,” Minaj wrote in a post on X.
“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.”
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.…
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 9, 2024
The rapper also seemed to take aim at Jay-Z, who was named the co-producer of the Super Bowl halftime show in 2019.
“One n*** took a knee The other n*** took the bag. He gon get you ‘n******’ in line every fkng time,” she wrote, referencing Jay-Z’s signing after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began taking a knee to protest police brutality.
Throughout a series of posts yesterday (September 9), the ‘Super Bass’ rapper also wrote that Lil Wayne “literally changed the face of hip hop”.
And btw, you don’t know the half of what lil Wayne has done for me & others. Wayne had drake & I on his tour w/no papers signed. He was on all of my mixtapes w/no papers signed. This man has literally changed the FACE of hip hop. The hair too. IYKYK. He inspired so many to tat…
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 9, 2024
“God forbid if Wayne was to leave this earth right now, the culture would be in mourning,” she wrote in another post. “That’s why so many ppl keep saying to give our legends their flowers while they are still around to smell them.”
Another read: “You can love & respect Kendrick and still love & respect Wayne. Even Kendrick loves & respects Wayne. Every real rapper loves & respects Wayne.”
You can love & respect Kendrick and still love & respect Wayne. Even Kendrick loves & respects Wayne. Every real rapper loves & respects Wayne. #GagCityDC TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT!!!!! The whole DMV AREA I’ll see yall soon. We will have a beautiful, magical, successful show. #DTLR 💋
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 9, 2024
Birdman has also expressed his disagreement over the booking. Following the NFL announcement, the rapper and Lil Wayne collaborator wrote “Smfh” (shaking my fucking head).
In a follow-up post, he wrote: “These n***** Pussi @NICKIMINAJ @Drake @LilTunechi YMCMB. I’m make these n***** respek us on Gladys.”
In a third post he wrote: “Hatin shit 4real.”
Smfh
— BIRDMAN (@BIRDMAN5STAR) September 9, 2024
The rappers appear to be in strong agreement with Master P, who has also publicly called for the NFL to include Lil Wayne in the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show.
“I have to agree with the fans that [Lil Wayne] should be a part of this celebration as well. He’s one of the greatest Hip Hop artists alive, still relevant and he’s a New Orleans native,” he wrote in an Instagram post.
According to Rolling Stone, rapper Cam’ron weighed in on his web series It Is What It Is, stating: “There’s no reason why Lil Wayne shouldn’t be performing in the Super Bowl.”
Following the news of Kendrick Lamar’s booking, Jay-Z threw his support behind the ‘Not Like Us’ rapper: “Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. 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.”