DJ and rapper Funkmaster Flex shared his thoughts regarding Kendrick Lamar’s performance at Super Bowl halftime which will be held in New Orleans at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025. He took to his X account on September 9, 2024 and wrote that Roc Nation founder Jay-Z must not be blamed for the decision.
Kendrick Lamar shared a teaser on September 9, 2024, revealing the news of his Super Bowl performance. However, after the news went viral, fans reportedly expressed outrage as Lil Wayne would not perform. Pertaining to this social media hue and cry, Funkmaster Flex wrote:
“We gotta stop blaming Jay-Z for everything… The NFL has never cared about people of color. (Before Jay-Z) (Before Colin) The NFL has accomplished turning us against each other! This wouldn’t have happened in Taylor Swift’s hometown! Lil Wayne’s legacy is already written in stone!”
The upcoming performance will mark Kendrick Lamar’s second appearance at the halftime show. This performance also comes after Lamar's musical rivalry with Drake. According to Variety, the feud was a decisive victory as it brought one of the year’s biggest hits Not Like Us. In between all these, Nicki Minaj also responded to the decision by saying:
“Denying a young black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego."
Lil Wayne has allegedly expressed his desire to headline the Halftime Show and wanted the opportunity very much. He reportedly said so in a December interview with Bleacher Report. In August 2019, Roc Nation began working with the NFL in an advisory capacity to curate music for the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Roc Nation’s Jay-Z reportedly called Kendrick Lamar a ‘once-in-a-generation’ artist
Jay-Z allegedly praised Kendrick Lamar as a rare, once-in-a-generation artist and performer. He highlighted Lamar’s profound passion for hip-hop and culture, which shaped his artistic vision. Jay-Z also noted Lamar's exceptional ability to define and influence global culture, emphasizing that his work extends beyond music to create a lasting impact.
DPS will produce the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show. The company will work alongside Roc Nation and Jesse Collins as executive producers and Hamish Hamilton as the director. According to Oliver Schusser, Apple’s Vice President, the half-time show is a celebration of beloved music and exceptional artists on a global stage.
He also mentioned that Apple is eager to present this show featuring Kendrick Lamar to fans around the world, showcasing it with Apple Music’s top-notch Spatial Audio quality.
Lamar’s performance will be directed by his company, pgLang, which also managed his impressive Big Steppers tour. Since the release of his groundbreaking major label debut, Good Kid, m.A.A.d City, in 2012, Kendrick Lamar has become one of the most significant and influential rappers globally.
Kendrick Lamar has won 17 Grammy Awards as of September 2024, and, in 2018, he was the first non-classical, non-jazz artist to receive a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album Damn. His latest album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, came out in May 2022.
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