Lil Wayne Explains Why He Expected To Be Selected For New Orleans Super Bowl, Says Execs Advised Him To ‘Be More Public’ In Preparation For The Show

Lil Wayne Explains Why He Expected To Be Selected For New Orleans Super Bowl, Says Execs Advised Him To ‘Be More Public’ In Preparation For The Show

Lil Wayne is getting candid about being passed over for the Super Bowl Halftime show in New Orleans earlier this year.

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, the rap legend explained that he genuinely thought he was a shoo-in for the gig—especially after execs allegedly encouraged him to become more visible ahead of the February performance. He shared:

“To perform, it’s a bunch of things they’re going to tell you to do and not do, a**es to kiss and not kiss… If you notice, I was a part of things I’ve never been a part of. Like [Michael] Rubin’s all-white parties. I’m doing sh*t with Tom Brady. That was all for that. You ain’t never seen me in them types of venues. I ain’t Drake. I ain’t out there smiling like that everywhere. I’m in the stu’, smokin’ and recording.”

But after Kendrick Lamar was announced as the headliner, Wayne claimed those same execs suddenly backtracked, telling him:

“We ain’t in charge [of the selection].”

He added:

“All of a sudden, according to them, they got curved. So, I’m going to have to just settle with whatever they say.”

Jesse Collins, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar

Super Bowl halftime show producer Jesse Collins has since clarified that Jay-Z, whose Roc Nation has overseen the show since 2019, has the final say in choosing the performers. Wayne didn’t directly criticize Jay for picking Kendrick over him, and shared that they’re still on good terms.

Wayne also made it clear there’s no beef with Kendrick, either. He said he even called the Compton rapper to encourage him before the performance, despite previously expressing his frustrations in a video. Kendrick even referenced Wayne’s disappointment on his “GNX” album track “Irony,” rapping:

“I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down.”

Still, Wayne admitted he didn’t watch Kendrick’s performance—and doesn’t see himself ever doing the halftime show now. He stated:

“Every time I looked, it was nothing that made me want to go inside and see what was going on.”

And added:

“They stole that feeling. I don’t want to do it. It was perfect.”

 

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