When California rapper Kendrick Lamar was named as the performer for the Super Bowl halftime show, Lil Wayne, a native of New Orleans, drew attention for not being selected, with many considering it a snub.
Lil Wayne, the Grammy-winning rapper from New Orleans, revealed through a social media post that he would be skipping Super Bowl LIX. Instead, he hinted at an upcoming project that he described as “very special.”
Update: Lil Wayne skips Super Bowl LIX to focus on ‘Carter IV’ album, teases date
Despite being a prominent figure in his hometown, Lil Wayne attracted headlines after Kendrick Lamar, a rapper from Los Angeles, was chosen as the Super Bowl halftime performer. This led to speculation that Lil Wayne had been overlooked for the opportunity to perform in his own city.
The rapper even publicly expressed his feelings in an Instagram post nearly a week after Lamar was named the headliner. He said being overlooked “broke” him, adding that “I’m just trying to put myself back together.”
Over the years, Wayne has been vocal about his desire to perform during halftime of the NFL’s championship game. It will be the second time Lamar will perform during the halftime show after he made a guest appearance with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Eminem in 2022.
Wayne appeared upset in the video, where he said he had to muster up enough strength to express his thoughts “without breaking.”
“That hurt a whole lot,” he said. “I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown, for automatically mentally putting myself in that position. I thought there was nothing better than that spot, on that stage, on that platform in my city.”
In a recent appearance on the Skip Bayless Show, Wayne cleared the air and said he spoke to Lamar and “wished him all the best.”
In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, Wayne posted an Instagram story that started with him saying, “Y’all know I’m not going to be there this week.”
“Shoutout to New Orleans, but I’ve been working on something very special. I’ve got something exciting coming for you,” he said in the video,
Wayne said the surprise would come Thursday, Feb. 6.
“Until then? I’m just chillin’,” he said.
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