Lil Wayne’s absence is taboo during Super Bowl halftime show

One aspect of the Roc Nation-led Super Bowl halftime show releases is the local aspect. When the sport was held in Miami, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira performed to appeal to the local Latino community. In 2022, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar showed up in InglewoodCalifornia, right in their very own backyards. Usher performed last yr in Las Vegas, where he had just accomplished a residency.

So when it was announced that the 2025 Super Bowl could be held in New Orleans, rapper Lil Wayne was at the highest of the shortlist for headliners. With the announcement that it could be one other rapper, Lamar, Lil Wayne’s exclusion might be a subject of controversy, speculation, and debate for the subsequent five months.

First, let’s get this straight: Lil Wayne is a sufficiently big artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. He’s one of the vital achieved artists in the sport and he can placed on a dynamic show. Songs like “Lollipop” and “A Milli” are crossover hits. Add guest appearances from the Hot Boys and shutting track “Back That Azz Up,” and you could have the makings of an unforgettable show that may appeal to a wider audience and pay homage to 504 in a single go.

Lil Wayne, for his part, was adamant about his desire to do the show. “I won’t lie, I didn’t get a call or anything,” YG said on his podcast 4HUNNID in February. “We’re praying. We’re keeping our fingers crossed. I’m working hard… I just want to make it harder for them to stop yelling at the boy.”

However, Roc Nation and the NFL selected Lamar, prompting many on social media to debate who deserved the spot more. Another New Orleans legend Master P chimed inleaving an Instagram comment defending Lil Wayne’s position: “As the Ambassador of Entertainment for the City of New Orleans, I have to agree with the fans that Lil Wayne should also be a part of this celebration.”

Much of the confusion has been over who ultimately made the choice, with people placing blame on Roc Nation, the NFL, and town of New Orleans itself. Jay Cicero, president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and a member of the Super Bowl LIX Host Committee, provided some clarity in an email to Andscape: “This is solely the NFL’s decision regarding all Super Bowl entertainment. We found out about it at the same time as everyone else, this past weekend.”

The whole debate is complicated, and there are arguments on either side. And two things could also be true. First, Lil Wayne is one in all the largest rap artists from New Orleans who could carry a show just like the Super Bowl. That’s not up for debate. But the opposite truth is that Lamar is arguably the larger star and largest name in rap straight away. And while the local thread is a pleasant tie-in for Lil Wayne, an area artist’s appearance on the Super Bowl has mostly happened in recent times, and the connection has been indirect at best, because the Snoop/Dre/Lamar show was the just one where the performers were of their hometowns. That’s to not say the league doesn’t pay homage to local artists during the Super Bowl halftime show. For example, when Super Bowl LIII was played in Atlanta in 2019, Maroon 5 headlined the night, and Atlanta native Big Boi of Outkast made a cameo appearance. So the door is still open for local representation, and I imagine it all the time might be.

I expected a lineup of New Orleans legends to take the stage, from Juvenile to Master P. No Limit and Cash Money coming together could be a triumphant moment and a continuation of Lamar’s message of unity he delivered at Pop Out earlier this yr.

Then in fact there’s the choice of Lil Wayne himself appearing. Lamar has made no secret of his love and admiration for Lil Wayne. The two share a song on Lil Wayne’s album, , and Lamar has quoted and referenced Lil Wayne in songs throughout his profession. The two would create some dynamic moments. The key to success here is Lil Wayne’s friendship/partnership with Lamar’s rival Drake. Lil Wayne stepping out on stage with Lamar could be a press release of loyalty to Lamar and one more blow Drake would should endure.

Maybe this has something to do with Lamar’s chess match with Drake. TDE CEO Punch has already posted a preliminary proposal on Twitter to Young Money Entertainment CEO Mack Maine, suggesting there’s potential for a collaboration, unless this is just trolling. An official collaboration would only strengthen Lamar’s stance on Drake. So much of Lamar’s perspective on this feud revolves around the concept Drake has no real friends and that the people closest to him cannot be trusted. There’s even a touch in “Not Like Us” that Drake cheated on Lil Wayne just a few years ago.

Now Lamar could put Lil Wayne able where he either plays a rival to one in all his closest friends within the industry or turns down a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform on the Super Bowl in his hometown out of loyalty to 1 guy. That’s a mystery to Mr. Carter, who has yet to say anything, whilst rappers Bird Man AND Nicki Minaj took to Twitter to precise their deep dissatisfaction over the incontrovertible fact that Lil Wayne was not invited to perform.

Regardless, I hope something happens that permits Lil Wayne to seem on stage in some capability. Especially one which honors his legacy and role in New Orleans rap history. The fans who spent the past day discrediting his contributions as a option to promote Lamar are as out of touch because the individuals who act like Lil Wayne cannot placed on an incredible show that might be worthy of a halftime show. The truth is somewhere in the center, and the largest truth is that Lamar is objectively the warmer act. The show will go on, and it could be an excellent greater spectacle if Lil Wayne were able where he was performing with other New Orleans legends and a child from Compton, California, with the world at his feet.