The stage is set for Super Bowl halftime in New Orleans’ Caesars this February, with Kendrick Lamar recently named as headliner — though not without controversy.
In a joint video that Lamar, Roc Nation and the NFL posted to Instagram last week, the rapper stands at the 50-yard line against a fluttering background of stars and stripes, plainly announcing that he will be performing at the upcoming 2025 Super Bowl.
This is not Lamar’s first foray at the sporting event either, as he shared the stage with fellow West Coast legends Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary J. Blige just two years ago at the 2022 Super Bowl in Los Angeles. Critics couldn’t get enough. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone liked what he saw so much that he ranked the 2022 performance as the fourth-best halftime show of all time, dually calling for Kendrick to headline his own solo show — a sentiment that will now come to fruition.
This is just the cherry on top of a big year for Kendrick, who went toe-to-toe in a rap battle with Drake last spring and subsequently topped the charts with his hit single “Not Like Us,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May.
Lamar’s resume of successes does not end there, either. He has received an impressive 17 Grammy Awards and 29 BET Hip-Hop Awards so far in his career. In 2018, he made history by winning the Pulitzer Prize in music for his album “DAMN.,” becoming the first non-classical, non-jazz musician ever to do so.
Still, the selection comes as a surprise to many who thought New Orleans native Lil Wayne would be a shoo-in for the event. Wayne is no stranger to success himself, having won a comparable 5 Grammy Awards and 16 BET Hip-Hop Awards for his music.
Perhaps even more impactful is Wayne’s clear and abundant pride for his hometown, especially in the face of Hurricane Katrina. After the disaster, Lil Wayne helped fundraise for community relief, also donating $200,000 of his own money to rebuild a local park he used to play at when he was younger.
Following Lamar’s announcement, Wayne took to Instagram, saying that “it hurt a lot” that he was passed up on for the opportunity in a somber response video.
Many other notable artists, including Nicki Minaj, Birdman and Boosie Badazz also took to social media to criticize the choice, with Boosie calling the snub a “smack in the face to every hip-hop legend from Louisiana.” Minaj took yet another angle, choosing to critique the role Jay-Z and his record label, Roc Nation, played in the decision making.
Still, there may be some hope left for Louisiana hip-hop fans after all, as the vast majority of halftime shows in the last decade have featured special guests. Lil Wayne’s 2018 song “Mona Lisa” features a verse from Lamar, leaving the door open for a potential halftime collaboration between the two.
Kendrick also shares songs with other major artists like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Rihanna, ensuring that the event will be a star-studded performance no matter who shows out.
So, whether you think Kendrick Lamar or Lil Wayne deserves the spot, one thing remains abundantly clear — all eyes will be on New Orleans this Feb. 9.
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