Nicki Minaj is sounding off about the announced lineup for Super Bowl LIX. Yes, the big show returns to New Orleans on February 9, 2025, with Kendrick Lamar headlining. This was the reason for jubilation from many quarters, but a wave of discontent heaved through the hip-hop community as it went on record that Lil’ Wayne, one of their native sons, should have been given the nod. `
On September 9, Kendrick dropped a high-octane trailer that hit the internet. In no time, fans went to their feelings, and the consensus among many was pretty clear: Lil Wayne should perform in his hometown. Weezy hasn’t spoken much since the news, but Nicki Minaj hasn’t held back. The Queens rapper jumped onto X-formerly known as Twitter, shared her thoughts, and boy, were they not subtle.
“Denying a young black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego,” she tweeted, apparently directed at Jay-Z. The Roc Nation mogul has been long aligned with the NFL, teaming up with them in 2019 to reimagine the Super Bowl Halftime show, but Nicki seems to believe this deal has come at others’ expense.
She didn’t even stop there. Nicki further poured fire on the already burning topic when she brought Drake into the mix. “Your hatred for BIRDMAN, Drake & Nicki got you punishing Lil Wayne?!?!!! LIL WAYNE!!!!!!!!!! THE GOAT?!!!!!!!!!!! Nola what’s good?!!!!!!” she exclaimed, pointing out what seems like a lack of loyalty to her. Besides, her comments didn’t just bring out her support for Wayne but showed a deeper frustration with music politics.
Birdman, one of the co-founders of Cash Money Records and a longtime ally for Lil Wayne, took to retweeting Nicki with one of his own, speaking to the triad of Drake, Nicki, and Wayne. “These ngaz Pussi @NICKIMINAJ @Drake @LilTunechi YMCMB. I’m make these ngaz respek us,” he says, really driving the point across that these three are supposed to be respected within the hip-hop community.
Nicki made it a point to remind all of the massive impact Lil Wayne had on her career and the culture in its entirety. She went into a slight reflection, showing gratitude to how Wayne helped shape her journey in music. “Wayne had Drake & I on his tour w/no papers signed. He was on all of my mixtapes w/no papers signed. She referred to him as the man who has “single-handedly changed the FACE of hip hop,” in appreciation of the deep bond and respect she has for her mentor.
This isn’t some off-the-cuff remark; this mines years of conflict. The backstory between Jay-Z, Lil’ Wayne, and Birdman goes as far back as 2009, when Birdman boastfully stated that Wayne was the better rapper. In fact, the competition between these three rappers has barely cooled down, while Jay-Z’s decision to go with Kendrick over Wayne is widely perceived as a strategic move in this ongoing war.
Minaj isn’t alone in her critique. Fellow artists chimed in, too, including Cam’ron, who even went so far as to speculate the choice had to do with long-standing conflicts between Jay-Z and Wayne. Lil Wayne himself, earlier this year, made a big declaration of wanting to headline the Super Bowl-which only makes the decision to go with Kendrick hurt even more for his loyal fanbase.
Interestingly, Minaj and Jay-Z have collaborated, most notably on Kanye West’s track “Monster,” showcasing their talents. This was one of the highlights in hip-hop, further showing that artists could still come together and create something powerful despite the presence of rivalries.
Putting the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show together is a combination of enjoyment and anxiety. With Kendrick Lamar leading, anticipation will be high. Lamar, who performed during the Super Bowl in 2022, Jay-Z calls a “once-in-a-generation artist.” His company, pgLang, which will also oversee the creative direction of the show, promises a performance that fans will not soon forget.
As the date draws near, the whole hip-hop world is on it. From costume malfunctions to political statements, countless controversies have none other than marred the history pages of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and this year will add another layer to that guru. All the remarks by Minaj have added fuel to the heat in the discussion, and one thing is for sure: the spotlight is on, and all eyes are on how this drama unfolds.